The Only Good Indian (2009)

Set in Kansas during the early 1900s, a teen-aged Native American boy (newcomer Winter Fox Frank) is taken from his family and forced to attend a distant Indian "training" school to ... See full summary »

Director:

Kevin Willmott

Writer:

Thomas L. Carmody

Stars:

Wes Studi, J. Kenneth Campbell, Winter Fox Frank

6 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Wes Studi	...	Sam
J. Kenneth Campbell	...	McCoy
Winter Fox Frank	...	Charlie
Paul Butler	...	Harkin
Thirza Defoe	...	Sally
Christopher Wheatley	...	Mean Joe
Laura Kirk	...	Miss Harris
Delanna Studi	...	Aquene
Blake Robbins	...	Moller
Kevin Geer	...	Peairs
Kip Niven	...	Dr. Hummber
T. Max Graham	...	Finkle
David Midthunder	...	Nawkaw
Scott Allegrucci	...	Pharmicist
Queen Bey	...	Ms. Tillie

Storyline

Set in Kansas during the early 1900s, a teen-aged Native American boy (newcomer Winter Fox Frank) is taken from his family and forced to attend a distant Indian "training" school to assimilate into White society. When he escapes to return to his family, Sam Franklin (Wes Studi), a bounty hunter of Cherokee descent, is hired to find and return him to the institution. Franklin, a former Indian scout for the U.S. Army, has renounced his Native heritage and has adopted the White Man's way of life, believing it's the only way for Indians to survive. Along the way, a tragic incident spurs Franklin's longtime nemesis, the famous "Indian Fighter" Sheriff Henry McCoy (J. Kenneth Campbell), to pursue both Franklin and the boy.

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Genres:

Western

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User Reviews

Early 1900s native Indian drama highly watchable

James Boyd is certainly right in many of the things he says about this movie but this is definitely a movie to watch and not avoid.

We all know about cowboys and Indians from westerns. This is a western with a difference, the story obviously focuses on the young Indian boy and the bounty hunter character called Sam Franklin who also happens to be a native Indian himself.

The film does well to analyse the rights and wrongs of our actions in defending something which is clearly fundamentally wrong but the law permits it. As has been said, the early 1900s depicts a sign of the changing times, just as similarly depicted in 'Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee', another native Indian theme movie which I particularly liked.

Okay its not a great movie and it wont win any major awards but it tells the story it intends to tell and it brings to our attention a number of issues at political area about the treatment of native Indians which it seems the American government has not (and perhaps will never) addressed.

I liked the movie, the acting is acceptable to the quality of the script. Just enjoy the movie!

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 December 2009 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Cottonwood Falls, Kansas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,700,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

TLC Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min (European Film Market)

Color:

Color