This film is a highly fictionalised account of the events leading up to the Battle of the Little Big Horn; for example here we see Major Reno as a drunk and bitter former Confederate general when the real Reno was a Union officer...surely it would have been better to make an entirely fictional character. Another problem the film suffered from was the inconsistency of the characters; we are meant to believe that Custer risked his profession to make a stand against those abusing the native population then shortly afterwards when a senator suggests that with a few more victories under his belt he could run for president he instantly starts fermenting trouble and massacring Indians himself!
It isn't just facts and inconsistent characters that are a problem; in many places the film looks as if it was cut together with scenes from other films; in the 'exciting climactic battle' I found myself watching the sky switch from cloudless to totally overcast and back again in a matter of seconds! If you could ignore that the action wasn't bad and there is a fair amount of it.
The story is told from the point of view of a Capt Benton; an officer under Custer who is shocked at the way the Indians are treated; so much so that he reprimands his tracker for killing a captured and wounded Indian... no further action is taken though; presumably so we can see the man see the error of his ways and save an Indian child later. Benton is supportive of Custer until he starts killing the Indians. At one point he is court-martialled for striking Custer but the party taking him to trial is ambushed. He is spared because he spared Indians before; they take him to their camp where he sees the huge army they have amassed; as they take him away he is rescued and tells Custer of the Indian plans but because Custer is arrogant and history says he must die Benton is ignored.
Overall I'd only recommend this if you have nothing better to do and it is on television; it might provide a few unintentional laughs. Just don't consider it a history lesson!
It isn't just facts and inconsistent characters that are a problem; in many places the film looks as if it was cut together with scenes from other films; in the 'exciting climactic battle' I found myself watching the sky switch from cloudless to totally overcast and back again in a matter of seconds! If you could ignore that the action wasn't bad and there is a fair amount of it.
The story is told from the point of view of a Capt Benton; an officer under Custer who is shocked at the way the Indians are treated; so much so that he reprimands his tracker for killing a captured and wounded Indian... no further action is taken though; presumably so we can see the man see the error of his ways and save an Indian child later. Benton is supportive of Custer until he starts killing the Indians. At one point he is court-martialled for striking Custer but the party taking him to trial is ambushed. He is spared because he spared Indians before; they take him to their camp where he sees the huge army they have amassed; as they take him away he is rescued and tells Custer of the Indian plans but because Custer is arrogant and history says he must die Benton is ignored.
Overall I'd only recommend this if you have nothing better to do and it is on television; it might provide a few unintentional laughs. Just don't consider it a history lesson!