Custer of the West: The Epic Saga of the Man Who Became a Legend
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Movie Reviews of Custer of the West: The Epic Saga of the Man Who Became a Legend
Movie Review: MGM DVD Not Up To Par
Summary: 3 Stars
I bought this movie because I indulge myself in Custeriana. As history it is highly flawed as I suspected it would be. As in most Custer movies this one manages to capture some facets of a highly complicated life and personality. For contrast, I think thatMovie Review: Custer of the West
Summary: 2 Stars
CUSTER OF THE WEST (1967) might be a good movie, although it's definitely not a very good or great one. I say it might be a good movie because the version I watched was the Simitar Video release from 1998, which is the full screen, pan-and-scan version. Sorry, you just aren't supposed to watch an action movie that's missing more than a quarter of the image.
Robert Shaw plays Custer in this biopic, director Robert Siodmak's last American film and the weakest one of his I've seen. The movie follows Custer from the Civil War to his Last Stand at the Little Big Horn. Most of the film is devoted to Custer fighting the Cheyenne, warning Congress of government corruption, and leading his small host to its appointment with destiny. Episodic and detached, about the only high point in the movie is a short segment in the middle with the marvelous Robert Ryan playing an Irish calvary man who wants to leave the service to take up gold mining. Physically Shaw looks enough like Custer to pass, but he doesn't have the theatrical flair, the bigger-than-life quality that the role demands. Even if I'd seen this in a widescreen format I don't think I would have liked it much more than I did seeing it in its butchered state. You might want to rent this one before you consider buying it.
Movie Review: Good transfer, but where's the stereo soundtrack?
Summary: 2 Stars
This little-known Western epic from 1968 is flawed as biography, but is an action film first and foremost. Originally presented in 70mm Super Cinerama as a roadshow, this transfer begs the question - what happened to the 6-track stereophonic soundtrack? And, where are the overture and intermission? The picture is from 65mm negative/70mm print and is fairly sharp and clear, as befits the enlarged negative, but without the stereo sound, it becomes a hollow-sounding Western wannabe spectacular. Snaps to MGM/UA for actually releasing the full 141 minute version at all, but why not include all the accoutrements of the original presentation? The film was created for huge screens, and needs the support of the full-bodied original soundtracks to do the visuals justice. And those of us who love film always want the overture and intermission if the film was first presented that way!Movie Review: MOST BIZARRE TELLING OF THE CUSTER LEGEND
Summary: 1 Stars
It was once said that you shouldn't get your history or your religion from the movies, and this is a GREAT example why! It would have you think that ALL the battles of the U.S. Civil War were fought with about a dozen Confederates and a handful of Federal cavalry. There were even scenes of unmanned cannon firing themselves -- not an artilleryman (or anyone else) anywhere in sight! In fact, throughout this movie all cavalry battle sequences were anemic, lethargic and DULL! The Little Big Horn battle is a laughing stock. The warrior's charge is weirdly setup then staged -- probably the biggest historical inaccuracy in the whole sad world of historic inaccuracies. To make matters worse, it was shot mostly from long distance. Any detail of action you get will remind you of a bad-guy-indian raid on a wagon train in some obscure "B" western matinee. The story of Custer between these "battles" is BORING! You couldn't care less about the main characters! To be fair though, Mr. Shaw as Armstrong (very miscast) does his best with this weak script. In a couple of the early scenes he almost "channels" Errol Flynn. Jeffrey Hunter, Robert Ryan (who turns in the BEST performance here -- but brief) and Ty Hardin were all wasted in this project. BUT the MOST glaring fault of the movie: the 7th Cavalry's anthem of "Garry Owen" was never, ever played! Not once! Speaking of tunes, the odd soundtrack lends nothing to the flick at all. The music rarely matches up to what is happening on the screen. All-in-all, it is easy to see why this never made a splash (or dull thud) in the U.S. movie circuit. Vastly better films are: THEY DIED WITH THEIR BOOTS ON (historically off, but the Last Stand battle is probably the closest to the scope and intensity of the real fight); LITTLE BIG MAN (essentially an Old West history lesson that includes the Last Stand, Custer is portrayed as a total nut-case mostly for comedic relief -- but nice overall presentation of the Battle of Little Big Horn); and SON OF THE MORNING STAR (probably the most accurate of the Hollywood Custer stories). After all is said and done, CUSTER OF THE WEST is not worth the purchase, rent or trouble. Who could EVER fall asleep when the command "CHARGE!" is given? You will!Movie Review: Completely Bland. Seek a better movie.
Summary: 1 Stars
Robert Shaw as Custer ??? Yes, he was miscast. The scenes at Little Big Horn were laughable. I viewed this film in an attempt to find the most factually correct depiction of the events leading up to the battle of the Little Big Horn. This film was perhaps least satisfying of all. "Son of the Morning Star" still stands as the best effort to date, but it is also flawed. No film shows us the truth about Deep Ravine.... an extremely important aspect of the battle.