Son of The Morning Star [VHS]
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VHS Movie Reviews of Son of The Morning Star [VHS]
Movie Review: "Here's to a star...or a coffin"
Summary: 5 Stars
General George Armstrong Custer and his famous "Last Stand" at the Battle of the Little Bighorn on June 25, 1876 in Montana has proven to be not only one of the most controversial events in American history, but has been the inspiration for countless books and films and continues to fascinate people today. "Son of the Morning Star" is the 1991 made-for-cable film starring Gary Cole as the arrogant and flamboyant General Custer, fresh from his victories during the Civil War and now sent West to subdue the Plains Indians in the bid for western expansion by a growing United States. Custer is idolized by the American public, but often despised by his own men, particularly Captain Will Benteen, who sees Custer as a egotistical fop more concerned with his own glory than with his own mens' lives.
Custer and the 7th Cavalry are sent west to force the Cheyenne and Lakota Sioux onto reservations, thus opening up their homelands to prospectors and settlement. The Indians however, fight back. Following his bloody "victory" at the Wachita River and numerous other exploits, Custer is sent by President Grant to pacifiy the Black Hills Region of the Dakotas, and to crush the growing Indian resistance there. This proves to be his last campaign, leading to his reckless bid for glory and fame at the Little Big Horn where thousands of Sioux and Cheyenne warriors lead by Crazy Horse annihilate Custer and the 7th Cavalry.
Though a great victory for the Indians, as so many times in the past, even this stunning achievement only strengthens the Army's resolve and would lead to the end of the Indians way of life. Custer has been romanticized as an American hero by some and decried as a murdering villain by others. The man and the battle continue to haunt us and this excellent retelling of a momentous event in the history of the west is well done and well worth watching.
Movie Review: If you liked the mini series, you'll enjoy this!
Summary: 4 Stars
Excellent, thoughtful music. If you enjoyed the mini series as much as I did, you will certainly enjoy the memories the soundtrack brings to mind. My only carp, No Garry Owen! I wish the mini-series were on DVD!Movie Review: Well Done!
Summary: 4 Stars
This is as good a version of the Little Bighorn that has ever been done for film.Gary Cole is very good- although he does not look like a horseman. Unfortunatly, Rosanna Arquette, who plays Libbie Custer the General's wife, seems just to be interested in collecting a paycheck. She is as wooden as it gets. However, I think David Strathairn, a regular of John Sayles' films, does an excellent job as Capt. Benteen. Although, the horrendous wig he is outfited with detracts from his performance, he does capture, IMHO, the cranky complainer personality of Benteen very well. (Anyone familiar with the writings of Fred Benteen can tell you he WAS angry with the world.)
"Son of the Morning Star" relied on the services of dedicated re-enactors who brought a sense of authenticity to the uniforms and equipment not seen in other Little Bighorn movie re-creations. Unfortunatly, although re-enactors are great at dressing their parts, they don't often look their parts- the 7th Cavarly was not as heavily populated with middle-aged, overweight men as "Son of the Morning Star" would have you believe.
Finally, the outfit Gary Cole is wearing for the Little Big Horn scenes is based on an actual photo. In 1875, a picture was taken of Custer at a picnic near Ft. Lincoln wearing a hat and a white buckskin jacket, which look alot what was depicted in the movie. Of course, we don't know if Custer wore that outfit a year later, but that photo shows that the producers for the movie just didn't make it up. However, the movie's Little Big Horn scenes show Gary Cole with his face shaven and hair immacutely clean, conditioned, and styled. Hardly realistic.
Movie Review: Cole and Arquette miscast in their roles
Summary: 2 Stars
And the actor who portrayed Benteen was even worse. He had a perpetual scowl and looked truly angry at the world, not just at Custer. Gary Cole looked more suitable to be riding a Harley, zipping around with his mouth agape. Arquette was her usual air-headed self, and did a grave injustice to Libby Custer's memory. Some of the supporting cast was wooden as is the case in some of these biopics, as they seem to be just filling the space of real characters and are usually portrayed with not much personality of their own. As all Custer historians know, everything concerning the movements of the five troops with Custer is purely speculative. After passingthe bluffs no one saw them alive and their movements have been the subject of hot debate for many years. The Hollywood version portrayed here is as good as any, and the terrain should look familiar to anyone who has spent time at the Battlefield, as it was filmed a short distance away, showing that rolling, treeless terrain that is easily recognized. Thumbs down to the costume designer who came up with the supposedly buckskin outfit Cole wore. It looked like the bleach bottle got loose in the wash. in truth the troopers were dirty, grimy, and on a day that had temperatures in the 90's, Custer would surely have not been zipping around in a full, well tailored buckskin outfit.
Movie Review: Good enough to get you started reading the real history
Summary: 4 Stars
Without a doubt, this is the best fictionalization of the Battle of Little Big Horn available today. I have watched it many times and the acting and overall effect eclipse the saccharine Dances with Wolves in every category including the musical score. If you are an historian of the event, armchair or otherwise, numerous inaccuracies and omissions will strike you as they did me. That is the beauty of this movie: it stirs you to find out the real and complete story. Read the books including Grinnell's, the books on the recollections of the Arikara scouts and Lakota Noon, the Story of Wooden Leg etc. and the Hearings on Reno's role that tell you so much more you need to know to understand this event. The desire to do so may be this movie's most lasting legacy and its greatest tribute to the Native Americans and soldiers who died June 25 and 26, 1876.