A film analysis prepared by K. P. Eagan
Directed by: Kevin Costner
Writing credits: Michael Blake (also the novel)
Cast:
| Kevin Costner...Lieutenant Dunbar Mary McDonnell...Stands With a Fist Graham Greene...Kicking Bird Rodney A. Grant...Wind in His Hair Floyd Red Crow Westerman...Ten Bears Tantoo Cardinal...Black Shawl Robert Pastorelli...Timmons Charles Rocket...Lieutenant Elgin Maury Chaykin...Major Fambrough Jimmy Herman...Stone Calf Nathan Lee Chasing His Horse...Smiles A Lot Michael Spears...Otter Jason R. Lone Hill...Worm Tony Pierce...Spivey Doris Leader Charge...Pretty Shield Tom Everett...Sergeant Pepper Larry Joshua...Sergeant Baker Kirk Baltz...Edwards Wayne Grace...Major Donald Hotton...General Tide Annie Costner...Christine Conor Duffy...Willie Elisa Daniel...Christine's Mother Percy White Plume...Big Warrior John Tail...Escort Warrior |
Steve Reevis...Sioux #1/Warrior #1 Sheldon Wolfchild...Sioux #2/Warrior #2 Wes Studi...Toughest Pawnee Buffalo Child...Pawnee #1 Clayton Big Eagle...Pawnee #2 Richard Leader Charge...Pawnee #3 Redwing Ted Nez...Sioux Warrior Marvin Holy...Sioux Warrior Raymond Newholy...Sioux Courier David J. Fuller...Kicking Bird's Son Ryan White Bull...Kicking Bird's Eldest Son Otakuye Conroy...Kicking Bird's Daughter Maretta Big Crow...Village Mother Steven Chambers...Guard William H. Burton...General's Aide Bill W. Curry...Confederate Cavalryman Nick Thompson...Confederate Soldier Carter Hanner...Confederate Soldier Kent Hays...Wagon Driver Robert Goldman...Union Soldier Frank P. Costanza...Tucker James A. Mitchell...Ray R.L. Curtin...Ambush Wagon Driver |
Original music by: John Barry, Peter Buffett ("Fire Dance")
Cinematography by: Dean Semler
Film Editing by: William Hoy, Chip Masamitsu, Steve Potter, Neil Travis
Tagline: "The Civil War had ended, but one man's battle with himself was just beginning..."
Filming Locations for Dances with Wolves (1990):
Badlands National Park, South Dakota, USA
South Dakota, USA
Pierre, South Dakota, USA
Rapid City, South Dakota, USA
On-line Reviews and Commentary:
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/MRC/danceswithwolves.html
http://www.netcomuk.co.uk/~media/DanWolA.html
http://www.ariztlan.org/mov/wolves.htm
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Theater/8256/zdanceswithwolves.htm
http://www.lasierra.edu/~dlin/movies/dances.htm
Film Analysis
Dances With Wolves is one of the most important motion pictures to ever come out of Hollywood. For all its shortcomings, the film still goes a long way in bringing a snapshot of Native American culture into the collective consciousness of dominant America. The screenplay promotes a greater understanding, acceptance, and sympathy for the Lakota culture. There are many scenes within the film that seem to support this idea. The humanity of the Lakota people and the familial bonds of tribal life are made accessible through these moments also. I am thinking especially of the multiple scenes in which "gift giving" is witnessed. The first exchange of gifts occurs when Kevin Costner, Lt. Dunbar, makes coffee for the small Lakota band that comes to visit him at the soldier fort. As the scene winds down, we see the warriors leaving him with new tin coffee cups strapped to their backs and through a voice over narration, it is revealed that he has also given them some coffee and sugar to take back to their camp circle with them.
As the bonds of friendship develop, we see this act of kindness reciprocated in the form a buffalo skin that is given to Lt. Dunbar by Kicking Bird, played by Graham Green. Later in the film, Costner's character is allowed to marry Stands With A Fist, played by Mary McDonnell. In the extended version of the production, he must "buy" the woman according to Lakota custom. The only problem is that he has nothing in the way of possessions in which to give for her. All he has is his horse and it is decided that his mount has too "strong a medicine" to simply trade it for a woman. The entire camp circle then takes up a collection for him, so he can "buy" Stands With A Fist. Even the poorest members of the tribe offer something to him so he may exchange it for this woman. It is a wonderful example of the true nature of these people.
The scene in the film where the Lakota are preparing to send a war party against the Pawnee is also quite revealing. The camera shifts from warrior to warrior as the men bid farewell to their families and loved ones. It is particularly poignant for me personally because of my own past involvement with the United States military. When I was a younger man, I too left my wife, home, and family in order to go forth against an enemy of my nation. The feelings the scene conjures up are very strong, especially when Kicking Bird embraces his wife and they touch their heads together for what may be the last time. There is also a short scene in the film where Kicking Bird is preparing to go to sleep in his teepee. He lies down under his robes and immediately we see a look of puzzlement on his face. Moments later he pulls one of his children's dolls out from under the robe. Without any dialogue, the film has provided us with a beautiful portrait of the humanity of these people and also touched upon a commonality inherent to all persons, regardless of race.
This cognizant examination of Lakota culture reaches its zenith with the last scene of the film. At this point, Dances With Wolves/Lt Dunbar, has decided to leave the camp circle in order to provide some measure of safety from the United States Army for his tribal brethren. Kicking Bird is shown rifling through his possessions within his teepee. He is trying to find a ceremonial peace pipe that he wants to give Dances With Wolves as a parting gift. His wife gives the pipe to him and moments later he and Dances With Wolves are shown exchanging pipes with one another. It is their final act of kindness and friendship towards each other. As the scene ends, Wind In His Hair, played by Rodney Grant, screams a lonesome farewell to Dances With Wolves. Over and over again, the audience hears the Lakota pronunciation of Dances With Wolves' name being yelled out from the top of the canyon by Wind In His Hair. It is an extremely emotional and powerful scene.
On the filpside, Dances With Wolves has quite a few faults. Let's rewind for a moment and ponder the opening scenes of the film. First of all, I don't by into the notion that an individual would have been able to charge a Confederate line alone and on horseback without getting killed outright. That first scene is simply not realistic. However, if the filmmaker's intentions are to portray Lt. Dunbar as having "strong medicine" then yes, I would have to say it WAS possible!
The film's portrayal of the Pawnee was not very flattering either. These Native Americans are shown in the traditional Hollywood role of the "Savage Indian". That is all we get from them throughout the film too. We see them do nothing but kill both whites and Lakota. They are alienated further from the audience when we see them acting as scouts for the United States Army at the end of the film. The roles of the majority of whites are not necessarily positive either. The whites are seen in constant conflict with one another and the natural world around them throughout the film. Dances With Wolves and Stands With A Fist are really the only white characters in the film who could be said to be portrayed positively at all.
This film also embodies a dynamic of dominant American culture that cannot be ignored. The notion of "Going Indian". Ý The process of, "the white discovery of and the renaming and adoption into the tribal society of the American Indian" (Baird 153). As I stated previously, the screenplay yields a unique perspective on Lakota culture, but also at its center is this dramatic story of a disillusioned white man trying to find himself. According to the underlying message of the film, he will only accomplish this personal catharsis by his immersion into the world of the Native American.
Historical Accuracy
As far as the historical background of the film is concerned, the Lakota chief called Ten Bears was actually a Southern Plains Yapparika Comanche chief. The real Kicking Bird was not a "medicine man", but a chief in another Southern Plains tribe called the Kiowa. The original novel centered around the Comanche of the Southern Plains. However, due to the fact that the film production company secured filming access to a herd of buffalo in South Dakota, a change of tribes occurred. The most significant historical error involves the winter campaign launched by the United States Army in search of Dances With Wolves and Ten Bears' band. The year is supposed to be 1864. No United States Army winter campaigns were launched against any Native Americans until November of 1868. The massacre that took place that month was led by Lt. Col. George A. Custer's 7th Cavalry against Chief Black Kettle's people of the Cheyenne Nation. It occurred at Washita Creek on Thanksgiving Day.
Sources of Applicable Information:
Baird, Robert
Blake, Michael
Castillo, Edward D.