Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson (1976)

THE FILM:
Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson is a film that sounds utterly stupid, looks utterly stupid and is utterly stupid. This is every single Robert Altman ensemble film we've ever seen - except, what makes Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson unique, is it takes all of the crap off these ensemble films Altman makes, and combines them into one film. It was hated upon original release, but over time it has become more respected over time.

This film was intended to be a repairing of George Roy Hill, the director of The Sting and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and Paul Newman. As time passed, Roy Hill decided to drop out of the film, but Paul Newman liked the film - and so he stayed in. Altman was soon hired to fill Roy Hill's shoes, and that's how Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson came to be.

Where does Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson stand today? It's not a well known film, nor is it a beloved film. Critics have come to terms with it generally, but it is still not very well liked. Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson holds a 6.1 on IMDb and a 83% on Rotten Tomatoes. I can assure you now... Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson is certainly one to skip!

THE PLOT:

Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson is the story of the cowboy myth. Buffalo Bill is not the man everyone around him apparently seem to consider him to be. All of the stories of his bravery and heroism have been faked by a writer, Bill's producer and finally Bill's producer. As a giant Wild West showing to promote Buffalo Bill begins, an evil Indian named Sitting Bull comes to Buffalo Bill, with nothing by threats.

THE FILM:
Sometimes, complete craziness can be great for the background of great comedies (take the three Monty Python films (Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Monty Python's Meaning of Life and Monty Python's Life of Brian), but sometimes, sheer craziness can act as stupidity, and give in no way benefit your film (I Heart Huckabees, every Adam Sandler film with the exception of Punch Drunk Love and Reign Over Me, and finally, Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson). Filled with 500 character you could care less about, bizarre colours that make you want to close your eyes and finally, people acting strange in an excuse for jokes.

There is no good acting in Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson. There are great actors, but they all give the worst performances of their careers (for the most part). Paul Newman is emotionless and dull. He is a great actor and if you want to see him in a great performance, see The Hustler. But in this film, he stands in front of the camera and speaks his dialogue  Burt Lancaster falls into exactly the same category of acting as Paul Newman. Harvey Keitel is completely unmemorable, I saw the film three or so days ago... and I can barely remember his role in the film. Finally, Geraldine Chaplin is a great actress, but what was she doing here? It's as though she's acting as some upper class  British woman... but saying the lines of a fairly trashy American. Overall, Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson biggest weakness could very easily be the horrendous acting.

I put Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson into the DVD player, and in the end, I feel as though 123 minutes of my life had been wasted. All of the redeeming qualities are very minor aspects, where as the film is boring. We view several acts of the Wild West showings. If we wanted to see Altman direct musical numbers, for goodness sake - we'd watch Nashville.

Is Altman trying to show us something with this? Perhaps his attempt was to shatter the image of the modern cowboy and show the true nature of the Wild West, but I can't seem to find anything whatsoever. Altman's best films searched for meaning in life, but not only can I not find any meaning in Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson, but I have never heard anyone say they themselves have been able to find something in it.

The excessive array of colours used in Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson are distracting, but if they had not been so pointlessly used in this film, they would have been impressive. We get to see a great orange-ish vintage tint in every scene that reminds us of every classic Technicolor western. However, there's actually a generally interesting usage of oranges and reds in the backgrounds especially during the musical numbers. But I would come right out and say Altman had no idea what he was to do with Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson.

Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson is a complete waste of your time. Don't watch it.

Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson,
1976,
Directed by Robert Altman,
Starring: Paul Newman, Burt Lancaster and Geraldine Chaplin
5/10 (D-)


Ranked:
1. 3 Women
2. The Player
3. Nashville
4. Brewster McCloud
5. Gosford Park
6. A Prairie Home Companion
7. The Company
8. Cookie's Fortune
9. Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson
10. Fool For Love
11. Dr. T and the Women