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The Only Good Indian

  • 20092009
  • 1h 54m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
362
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • IMDbPro
The Only Good Indian (2009)
Set in Kansas during the early 1900s, a teen-aged Native American boy (Winter Fox Frank) is taken from his family and forced to attend a distant Indian "training" school to assimilate into White society.
Play trailer2:37
1 Video
6 Photos
  • Western

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 assimila... Read allSet 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), ... Read allSet 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. F... Read all

IMDb RATING
6.4/10
362
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Kevin Willmott
  • Writer
    • Thomas L. Carmody
  • Stars
    • Wes Studi
    • J. Kenneth Campbell
    • Winter Fox Frank
Top credits
  • Director
    • Kevin Willmott
  • Writer
    • Thomas L. Carmody
  • Stars
    • Wes Studi
    • J. Kenneth Campbell
    • Winter Fox Frank
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 13User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 6 wins

    Videos1

    The Only Good Indian: Trailer
    Trailer 2:37
    The Only Good Indian: Trailer

    Photos6

    Winter Fox Frank in The Only Good Indian (2009)
    J. Kenneth Campbell in The Only Good Indian (2009)
    Wes Studi in The Only Good Indian (2009)
    Winter Fox Frank in The Only Good Indian (2009)
    Winter Fox Frank in The Only Good Indian (2009)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Wes Studi
    Wes Studi
    • Samas Sam
    J. Kenneth Campbell
    J. Kenneth Campbell
    • McCoyas McCoy
    Winter Fox Frank
    • Charlieas Charlie
    Paul Butler
    • Harkinas Harkin
    Thirza Defoe
    • Sallyas Sally
    Christopher Wheatley
    • Mean Joeas Mean Joe
    Laura Kirk
    Laura Kirk
    • Miss Harrisas Miss Harris
    Delanna Studi
    Delanna Studi
    • Aqueneas Aquene
    Blake Robbins
    Blake Robbins
    • Molleras Moller
    Kevin Geer
    Kevin Geer
    • Peairsas Peairs
    Kip Niven
    Kip Niven
    • Dr. Hummberas Dr. Hummber
    T. Max Graham
    • Finkleas Finkle
    David Midthunder
    David Midthunder
    • Nawkawas Nawkaw
    Scott Allegrucci
    • Pharmicistas Pharmicist
    Queen Bey
    • Ms. Tillieas Ms. Tillie
    Larry Peterson
    Larry Peterson
    • Jonusas Jonus
    George Forbes
    • Coodyas Coody
    Harvey A. Williams
    • Rufusas Rufus
    • Director
      • Kevin Willmott
    • Writer
      • Thomas L. Carmody
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    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. —sr
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Genre
      • Western
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    User reviews13

    Review
    Top review
    1/10
    A Parody of "The Searchers" utterly bereft of any value, aesthetic or otherwise
    I had the dubious pleasure of catching this title at the Santa Fe Film festival.

    I'm baffled as to how this has a 7.5 rating. I wasn't going to say anything until I heard this won "best picture" at the festival.

    This movie is essentially a native American / first American revenge story; its didactic goals are to remind us of the atrocities committed against the Indians by the federal government and people working under its tacit permission and to re-figure the typical "wild west" narrative into something that actually does justice to the story of Native Americans. This is accomplished by a kind of "modernization" of the plot setting: The protagonist, Sam (played by Wes Studi) is a roving bounty hunter who captures Indian runaways from a nearby Indian School. This movie has some heavy political undertone. I grew up near "Indian School" road without the slightest notion of what the name of the road was derived from. This movie's job, then is to make a kind of "Indian Drama" in the story of the escapees of the school, their interactions with Sam, and their ultimate destiny. But also, it is there to portray the horrors that Indians faced in early-20th century America, horrors that are too often missing from Americans' self-knowledge.

    These two drives end up pulling the film apart. But all of the above was written as if the movie above actually had any idea what they were trying to say with the film. It's running length (114 minutes) is ridiculous for a film of this subject and budget, the acting abysmal, the story banal.
    helpful•13
    67
    • modularsky
    • Dec 6, 2009

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 1, 2009 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Lawrence, Kansas, USA
    • Production company
      • TLC Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,700,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 54 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

    Related news

    Sliff 2016 – Kevin Wilmott Teaches a Master Class on Narrative Screenwriting November 12th
    Nov 9WeAreMovieGeeks.com
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    Nov 14WeAreMovieGeeks.com

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