Dances with Wolves (1990)

Lieutenant John Dunbar, assigned to a remote western Civil War outpost, befriends wolves and Indians, making him an intolerable aberration in the military.

Director:

Kevin Costner

Writers:

Michael Blake (screenplay), Michael Blake (novel)

Stars:

Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell, Graham Greene

Won 7 Oscars. Another 44 wins & 37 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kevin Costner	...	Lieutenant Dunbar
Mary McDonnell	...	Stands With A Fist
Graham Greene	...	Kicking Bird
Rodney A. Grant	...	Wind In His Hair
Floyd 'Red Crow' Westerman	...	Ten Bears (as Floyd Red Crow Westerman)
Tantoo Cardinal	...	Black Shawl
Robert Pastorelli	...	Timmons
Charles Rocket	...	Lieutenant Elgin
Maury Chaykin	...	Major Fambrough
Jimmy Herman	...	Stone Calf
Nathan Lee Chasing His Horse	...	Smiles A Lot
Michael Spears	...	Otter
Jason R. Lone Hill	...	Worm
Tony Pierce	...	Spivey
Doris Leader Charge	...	Pretty Shield

Storyline

Lt. John Dunbar is dubbed a hero after he accidentally leads Union troops to a victory during the Civil War. He requests a position on the western frontier, but finds it deserted. He soon finds out he is not alone, but meets a wolf he dubs "Two-socks" and a curious Indian tribe. Dunbar quickly makes friends with the tribe, and discovers a white woman who was raised by the Indians. He gradually earns the respect of these native people, and sheds his white-man's ways.

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Plot Keywords:

friendship | native american | 19th century | wolf | famous score | 

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Taglines:

Lt. John Dunbar is about to discover the frontier...within himself.

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Western

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English Sioux Pawnee

Release Date:

21 November 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dances with Wolves

Filming Locations:

Kansas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$22,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$598,257, 11 November 1990

Gross USA:

$184,208,848

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$424,208,848

Company Credits

Production Co:

Tig Productions, Majestic Films International, Allied Filmmakers

Technical Specs

Runtime:

181 min 236 min (extended cut)

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) Dolby SR (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Stands With A Fist's original name is Christine. Her name is heard during Stands With A Fist's flashback dream when both her mother and her friend are shouting at her to escape from the Pawnee who attacked her family's farm.

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Goofs

When Dunbar hits his head on the door frame he gets a wound in the middle of his forehead (1.5 inches from his hairline). When he washes his wound it has moved upwards to 0.5 inches from his hairline.

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Quotes

Major Fambrough: The king is dead...
[raises a pistol to his head]
Major Fambrough: Long live the king...
[pulls the trigger]

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Alternate Versions

The 236-minute "extended version" has been released on DVD, containing the scenes that were missing from most of the previous VHS releases.

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Connections

Referenced in Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee: I Want Sandwiches, I Want Chicken (2012)

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Soundtracks

Fire Dance
By Peter Buffett

User Reviews

Hard to believe

It's hard for me to believe this movie is not in the top 250 on IMBD all time list. Without question my favorite movie. We live in a strange world when Pulp Fiction ranks #18, and Dances with Wolves just misses the top 250. Maybe people thought the movie was too long. I thought it was too short if anything. I wish they would have gone on forever. What an incredible story. The way Costner continued to get closer and closer to the Indians way masterfuly done.