A Man Called Horse (film)

English aristocrat John Morgan is captured, enslaved, and treated like an animal by a Native American tribe. He comes to respect his captors' culture and gain their respect. He is aided in understanding the Sioux by another captive, Batise, the tribe's half-breed fool, who had tried to escape and was hamstrung behind both knees. Determining that his only chance of freedom is to gain the respect of the tribe, he overcomes his repugnance and kills two warriors from the neighboring enemy Shoshone tribe, which allows him to claim warrior status. After his victory, he proposes marriage to one of the women with the horses taken in battle as bride-price and undergoes painful initiation rites, taking the native name "Shunkawakan" (or "Horse") as his Sioux name. When one of the warriors takes a vow never to retreat in battle, Morgan's changing perspective is shown, as he turns angrily on the uncomprehending Batise, telling him, "Five years you've lived here, and you've learned nothing about these people – all his death is to you is a means of escape". After successfully helping to fend off an attack by the enemy tribe, he becomes a respected member of the tribe and ultimately their leader. ==Cast==

• Richard Harris as John Morgan / Shunkawakan • Dame Judith Anderson as Buffalo Cow Head • Jean Gascon as Batise • Manu Tupou as Yellow Hand • Corinna Tsopei as Running Deer • Dub Taylor as Joe • James Gammon as Ed • William Jordan as Bent • Eddie Little Sky as Black Eagle • Lina Marín as Thorn Rose • Tamara Garina as Elk Woman • Manuel Padilla Jr. as Leaping Buck • Iron Eyes Cody as Medicine Man • Sonny Skyhawk (Sonny Roubideaux) as Yellow Hand ==Production==

Sandy Howard read the story in Japan while recovering from an illness. He bought the rights for $250 and tried to set it up as a movie. Howard claims Richard Harris was the fifth actor he offered the lead role to - Robert Redford being the first. Finance came from Cinema Center Films. Filming took place in Mexico. For the crucial Native American initiation ceremony (Vow to the Sun), wherein actor Richard Harris is hanged on pins in his chest, make-up artist John Chambers created a prosthetic chest. Harris and Silverstein reportedly clashed during filming. ==Release==

The film was initially released in Italy where it played to large audiences in Rome and Naples. It expanded on April 29 to other states, including New York, California, Missouri, Michigan, Washington and North and South Carolina and grossed $297,842 in its first 11 days from 25 of the theaters. It was one of the most popular movies from Cinema Center Films. ==Reception==

The film has received generally positive critical reviews. ==Sequels==

Two sequels to the original film were made, both with Harris reprising his role: • The Return of a Man Called Horse (1976) • Triumphs of a Man Called Horse (1983) ==Representation of cultures==

The film purportedly shared the perspectives of white settlers and Native Americans. It was the first American Western to attempt to portray the Sioux as the protagonists and eulogize their culture, but fell short with Native American audiences because it still had leading white actors as the main characters in order for the film to appeal to white audiences. However, many people criticized the film harshly. Author Vine Deloria, Jr. (Standing Rock Dakota) said: "As we learned from movies like A Man Called Horse, the more 'accurate' and 'authentic' a film is said to be, the more extravagant it is likely to be in at least some aspects of its misrepresentation of Indians." Folksinger and Indigenous rights activist Buffy Sainte-Marie said: "Even the so-called authentic movies like A Man Called Horse—that's the whitest of movies I've ever seen." ==Home media==

A Man Called Horse was released to DVD by Paramount Home Entertainment on April 29, 2003, as a Region 1 widescreen DVD and on May 31, 2011, as a Blu-ray disc. ==See also==