Thunderheart (1992)

A young mixed-blood FBI agent is assigned to work with a cynical veteran investigator on a murder on a poverty-stricken Sioux reservation.

Director:

Michael Apted

Writer:

John Fusco

Stars:

Val Kilmer, Sam Shepard, Graham Greene

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Val Kilmer	...	Ray Levoi
Sam Shepard	...	Frank Coutelle
Graham Greene	...	Walter Crow Horse
Fred Ward	...	Jack Milton
Fred Thompson	...	William Dawes (as Fred Dalton Thompson)
Sheila Tousey	...	Maggie Eagle Bear
Ted Thin Elk	...	Grandpa Sam Reaches (as Chief Ted Thin Elk)
John Trudell	...	Jimmy Looks Twice
Julius Drum	...	Richard Yellow Hawk
Sarah Brave	...	Maisy Blue Legs
Allan R.J. Joseph	...	Leo Fast Elk
Sylvan Pumpkin Seed	...	Hobart
Patrick Massett	...	Agent Mackey
Rex Linn	...	FBI Agent
Brian A. O'Meara	...	FBI Agent

Storyline

An FBI man with Sioux background is sent to a reservation to help with a murder investigation, where he has to come to terms with his heritage. Slowly he rejects the intimidating tactics of his fellow FBI agents, who are not so interested in solving the crime as covering up an incriminating situation with the locals, and as he becomes more tuned to his heritage, the locals begin trusting him. Based on actual Reservation occurrences of the '70s.

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Plot Keywords:

murder investigation | buddy cop | modern western | fbi agent | native american | 

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Taglines:

Two men from different worlds. Two cops after the same killer. Together they must uncover the secrets. Together they must discover the truth.

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Genres:

Crime | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, and for some areas of violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

The gravestone is a replica of the real one, with "Thunderheart" replacing the name "Swift Bird."

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Goofs

The Wounded Knee memorial stone shown in the movie is a replica of the original, on which the 19th name was changed from "Swift Bird" to "Thunderheart". However, the 11th name was misspelled, on the original monument is "Yellow Robe" while on the replica is "Yellow Rose".

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Quotes

William Dawes: [Authoritatively to Levoi] It's a sensitive operation. I want it closed in three days!

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Alternate Versions

The version prepared by Tristar for commercial television showing featured 270 separate cuts, removing 22 minutes of footage. To shorter the film even further, the film was time-compressed to gain an additional 4 minutes, and the credits speeded-up to lose another 2 minutes. Director Michael Apted asked to have his name removed from the mutilated TV version, or have a disclaimer shown before the title credits, stating that he disowned that version. After legal litigation, Tristar opted to remove Apted's name and credit the TV version to pseudonymous director Alan Smithee.

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Connections

Referenced in The Killing: Keylela (2012)

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Soundtracks

Gonna Take Time
Written and Performed by Ali Olmo

User Reviews

A magnificent movie!

This movie blasted me in the theater! I had heard from friends & relatives how beautiful the Badlands were. The cinematography of this film brought that beauty directly at me. The script was concise & smart. I enjoy scripts that require my attention to there detail.

Most of all, the actors excelled in their parts. Val Kilmer handled the transitions perfectly: from disinterested agent to nonbeliever to skeptic to reluctant believer to full realization without a seam! I really like Fred Ward and hated his character in this movie. Sam Shephard provided his consistent great performance. I think it was the first time I had seen Graham Greene. He turned in a fabulous performance.

This film insures that you question everything you learned from a textbook. It brings you in, shows you another viewpoint, illustrates the other side of the story, and demands that you think before you take a side. I paid to see this film twice in the theater and bought the DVD when it was released. I watch it regularly.

If I had to pick another film that had similar power, it would be "In Pursuit Of Honor" with Don Johnson & Craig Sheffer.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Sioux

Release Date:

3 April 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Thunderheart

Filming Locations:

Badlands National Park, South Dakota, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,507,425, 5 April 1992

Gross USA:

$22,660,758

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$22,660,758

Company Credits

Production Co:

TriStar Pictures, Tribeca Productions, Waterhorse Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

119 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1