Custer Fans (1 Viewer)

[maddadicus]

I found a documentary on this site, done by the BBC and seems to be well done and reasonably accurate, in my humble opinion...www.custerwest.org..Michael

 

[Andanna]

I agree. I had been looking for a more accurate representation of the "battle" for a long time. And with 6:16 minutes, the duration of the battle also seems to be appropriate. I also like that the film covers various locations of the battle.

 

[cantinetozzo]

The link is broken..by the way i bought the dvd Wil Wild West where the documentary is contained (alongside others on Billy the Kid and the O.K.Corral)..is really well made (apart for calling captain Benteen a Colonel...), and the music too add pathos to the story..did you know that trumpeter John Martin (the runner with the white horse saying "The indians are skedaddling")was an italian guy?

 

[The General]

Speaking of Custer, I bought the 1941 film They Died with their Boots On on DVD today.

It replaces the video cassette of the film I recorded from cable a few years back.

 

[trooper]

The link is broken..by the way i bought the dvd Wil Wild West where the documentary is contained (alongside others on Billy the Kid and the O.K.Corral)..is really well made (apart for calling captain Benteen a Colonel...), and the music too add pathos to the story..did you know that trumpeter John Martin (the runner with the white horse saying "The indians are skedaddling")was an italian guy?

It was quite correct to refer to Benteen as Colonel. His army rank was captain, but he had been brevetted as colonel for his actions at Saline River, Kansas in August 1868. It was customary to address officers by their brevet rank, Custer himself was always refered to as "General", which pleased him, and if he insisted upon calling Benteen "Captain" Benteen would have had every right to call Custer "Colonel", a verbal demotion which would not have sat well with the boy wonder.

 

[Andanna]

Here is the correct link:

http://www.custerwest.org./

I have not yet watched the movie "Son of the Morning Star" - which I believe this clip shows a compilation of shots of. Here is a review from IMDB by someone who seems to have some background on Custer and the various films:

"Best Custer movie yet., 26 March 2005


Author: Bobster21 from Owings Mills, Md.

I generally find Gary Cole rather uninteresting as an actor. But he does a good job in edgy roles, like Jeffrey MacDonald in "Fatal Vision" and George A. Custer in "Son of the Morningstar." The movie has its flaws. It takes too long to get going and I found the Indian narrative tiresome.

But it provides the most accurate Hollywood depiction of the events leading up to Custer's last battle and of the battle itself. Cole portrays Custer as a driven man, but not the madman of "Little Big Man" or the saint of "They died with Their Boots On." And it accurately captures the scenery of the Little Big Horn, not the bizarre desert setting of "Custer of the West." Most details, some not so well known, are handled accurately. Custer's men did not have sabers with them (little did Errol Flynn know). Custer refused gatling guns because they were too cumbersome to haul over the hilly areas the cavalry was expected to cover quickly. Custer couldn't see the Indian village from a distance when it was pointed out to him by his scouts. Custer hastily made his plan of battle after being informed Indians had taken some lost supplies and, thus, discovered his whereabouts. All of this comes out in the movie, so that we don't just get the standard Hollywood Custer-as-egotistical-glory-seeker story. The real story was far more involved than most people realize, and this film portrays most of those events. The film also shows that Custer's Last Stand was a combination of orderly resistance and chaos, as Indian witnesses contended.

The film also does a good job with some of the other characters; Crazy Horse, Tom Custer, Major Reno, Captain Benteen and Captain Weir. Where the film misses out, in my opinion, is its failure to adequately depict the events involving Reno and Benteen during the battle. The film does an excellent job with Reno's charge, dismount and retreat to the bluffs, and with Weir's attempt to rescue Custer. But it should have gone further. The film has Weir's company merely returning to the reinforced bluffs. What we don't see is that Reno and Benteen actually mounted a slow moving trek following Weir's path, and all were forced to retreat to their original position where they fought valiantly into the night, while some soldiers who were left behind in Reno's retreat rejoined them after some harrowing moments hiding from the Indians. This portion of the battle has never been accurately portrayed on film (although "The Glory Guys" does a reasonably good job of it). And Morningstar squanders a great deal of time on far less interesting scenes instead of devoting time to this portion of the fight.

So, while far from perfect, this is very much the best Custer movie ever made and highly recommended to anyone who wants to learn more about what really happened. I keep hoping that one more major Custer movie will get made and finally get it all right."

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102962/

 

[Andanna]

Talking of Captain Banteen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1xcn7gKVdI

 

[cantinetozzo]

Thanks Trooper , i didn't know that..indeed if it was an error it should be too great not to note it (Capt.Weir addressing "Colonel" Benteen who at his turn receives orders from Major Reno , confusing situation at first and without your help) ..i knew of the rank of Custer but not of Benteen's .maybe in the documentary was said somewhere , i must check it!

 

[marco55]

Son of the Morning Star is indeed the best movie about Custer and the Little Big Horn.This hasn't come out on DVD but I copied it from VHS to DVD.
Mark

 

[maddadicus]

Son of the Morning Star is indeed the best movie about Custer and the Little Big Horn.This hasn't come out on DVD but I copied it from VHS to DVD.
Mark

I agree that Son of Morning Star is the definitive Custer movie. Since I own some 8 Custer books, the movie was actually a compilation of 2 books, Son of Morning Star and Crazy Horse and Custer. Actual dialogue and scenario was taken almost verbatim from the second book I mentioned, which is where most of the movie's Indian events were taken from. I actually hated the actress ,playing Libby..I usually fast forward through her moments...The Reno scenario was well done..another big gripe was that Cole could not ride worth a ****! Wish there was a dvd..Michael

 

[HistoryfortheAges]

Yes, I saw "Son of the Morning Star" when it was first televised. I believe that was back in the early 90's. Probably the most accurate "Last Stand" action ever filmed. I think Gary Cole did a reasonable portrayal of Custer. Several years ago, I heard that a new film was planned about the Battle of the Little Big Horn supposedly with Brad Pitt. Not sure, if he would take the role of Custer or of someone else. Haven't heard anything new since!

 

[trooper]

I think PeeWee Herman or Woody Allen would make a better Custer than Brad Pitt!!

 

[lancer]

i would say it depends on which Pitt you get, the good actor from "Seven" or the one who portrayed Achilles in "Troy". So much depends on the writing and how the actor decides to play his part. -- lancer

 

[UKReb]

I too am a massive Little Big Horn nut and have the BBC version on DVD which I consider to be a superb mini depiction of Custer portrayed by Toby Stephen-I must have watched it a dozen times-well recommended and well worth purchasing plus you get Earp and Bonney docu/dramas on the same disc.

Whether it's the best/most accurate I'll leave to you guys as your comments refer to Son of the Morning Star which was indeed a cracking book written by Connell. Problem I have is that I saw it eons ago here on UKTV and can't remember much of the detail although I do recall the actor playing Benteen looked nothing like the real man-reminded me more of an Apache scout than a white-haired martinet.

Obviously I would say it's time for Hollywood to give us the definitive Custer version on celluloid but I doubt we will get that in lieu of the plethora of comic super heroes. Still one can live in hope.

Reb

 

[maddadicus]

I too am a massive Little Big Horn nut and have the BBC version on DVD which I consider to be a superb mini depiction of Custer portrayed by Toby Stephen-I must have watched it a dozen times-well recommended and well worth purchasing plus you get Earp and Bonney docu/dramas on the same disc.

Whether it's the best/most accurate I'll leave to you guys as your comments refer to Son of the Morning Star which was indeed a cracking book written by Connell. Problem I have is that I saw it eons ago here on UKTV and can't remember much of the detail although I do recall the actor playing Benteen looked nothing like the real man-reminded me more of an Apache scout than a white-haired martinet.

Obviously I would say it's time for Hollywood to give us the definitive Custer version on celluloid but I doubt we will get that in lieu of the plethora of comic super heroes. Still one can live in hope.

Reb

David Straithern...as Benteen. They had him in long shoulder length white locks. Not sure if that was how Benteen ever wore his hair. Would seem that might attract too many injun knives..Michael

 

[eborris]

Here is the correct link:

http://www.custerwest.org./

I have not yet watched the movie "Son of the Morning Star" - which I believe this clip shows a compilation of shots of. Here is a review from IMDB by someone who seems to have some background on Custer and the various films:

"Best Custer movie yet., 26 March 2005


Author: Bobster21 from Owings Mills, Md.

I generally find Gary Cole rather uninteresting as an actor. But he does a good job in edgy roles, like Jeffrey MacDonald in "Fatal Vision" and George A. Custer in "Son of the Morningstar." The movie has its flaws. It takes too long to get going and I found the Indian narrative tiresome.

But it provides the most accurate Hollywood depiction of the events leading up to Custer's last battle and of the battle itself. Cole portrays Custer as a driven man, but not the madman of "Little Big Man" or the saint of "They died with Their Boots On." And it accurately captures the scenery of the Little Big Horn, not the bizarre desert setting of "Custer of the West." Most details, some not so well known, are handled accurately. Custer's men did not have sabers with them (little did Errol Flynn know). Custer refused gatling guns because they were too cumbersome to haul over the hilly areas the cavalry was expected to cover quickly. Custer couldn't see the Indian village from a distance when it was pointed out to him by his scouts. Custer hastily made his plan of battle after being informed Indians had taken some lost supplies and, thus, discovered his whereabouts. All of this comes out in the movie, so that we don't just get the standard Hollywood Custer-as-egotistical-glory-seeker story. The real story was far more involved than most people realize, and this film portrays most of those events. The film also shows that Custer's Last Stand was a combination of orderly resistance and chaos, as Indian witnesses contended.

The film also does a good job with some of the other characters; Crazy Horse, Tom Custer, Major Reno, Captain Benteen and Captain Weir. Where the film misses out, in my opinion, is its failure to adequately depict the events involving Reno and Benteen during the battle. The film does an excellent job with Reno's charge, dismount and retreat to the bluffs, and with Weir's attempt to rescue Custer. But it should have gone further. The film has Weir's company merely returning to the reinforced bluffs. What we don't see is that Reno and Benteen actually mounted a slow moving trek following Weir's path, and all were forced to retreat to their original position where they fought valiantly into the night, while some soldiers who were left behind in Reno's retreat rejoined them after some harrowing moments hiding from the Indians. This portion of the battle has never been accurately portrayed on film (although "The Glory Guys" does a reasonably good job of it). And Morningstar squanders a great deal of time on far less interesting scenes instead of devoting time to this portion of the fight.

So, while far from perfect, this is very much the best Custer movie ever made and highly recommended to anyone who wants to learn more about what really happened. I keep hoping that one more major Custer movie will get made and finally get it all right."

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102962/

Di Rudio had his sword with him, for killing snakes he claimed.

Anyway, this movie appears to follow along pretty closely with the book I am now reading, "A Terrible Glory". This book pretty slays Reno's reputation, probably deservedly and pretty much makes Benteen the hero of the defense of the bluffs. Good book, I'm only about 2/3 done and the battle is already over, but it does go into great detail on the battle.

 

[UKReb]

Di Rudio had his sword with him, for killing snakes he claimed.

Anyway, this movie appears to follow along pretty closely with the book I am now reading, "A Terrible Glory". This book pretty slays Reno's reputation, probably deservedly and pretty much makes Benteen the hero of the defense of the bluffs. Good book, I'm only about 2/3 done and the battle is already over, but it does go into great detail on the battle.

I second Ed's comment it was the best book I read last year and a must read for any real Custer "nuts".

Second best recent read on the Little Big Horn and the title is taken from a supposed quote made by Bloody Knife- Custer's Indian scout just before the fight when he said to him "Good hunting to you old friend you and I are both going home tonight by A Road We Do Not Know by Frederick J Chiaventone. Buy it-beg it-or steal it as it's another great greasy grass read.

Reb