Little Big Man (1970)

Director:

Arthur Penn

Writers:

Thomas Berger (novel)
Calder Willingham (screenplay)

Release Date:

23 December 1970 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | History | War | Western

Tagline:

Either The Most Neglected Hero In History Or A Liar Of Insane Proportion!

Plot:

Jack Crabb, looking back from extreme old age, tells of his life being raised by Indians and fighting with General Custer.

Plot Keywords:

Little Big Horn | George Armstrong Custer | Custer's Last Stand | Aged Person | Desertion

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 5 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Dustin Hoffman	...	Jack Crabb
Faye Dunaway	...	Mrs. Pendrake
Chief Dan George	...	Old Lodge Skins
Martin Balsam	...	Mr. Merriweather
Richard Mulligan	...	Gen. George Armstrong Custer
Jeff Corey	...	Wild Bill Hickok
Aimée Eccles	...	Sunshine (as Amy Eccles)
Kelly Jean Peters	...	Olga Crabb
Carole Androsky	...	Caroline Crabb (as Carol Androsky)
Robert Little Star	...	Little Horse
Cal Bellini	...	Younger Bear
Ruben Moreno	...	Shadow That Comes in Sight
Steve Shemayne	...	Burns Red in the Sun
William Hickey	...	Historian
James Anderson	...	Sergeant

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense battle sequences and some sexual content. (2002 re-rating)

Runtime:

139 min | USA:147 min (copyright length)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (Spanish release) | Stereo

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 | West Germany:12 (f) (re-rating) | West Germany:16 (f) (original rating) | UK:15 (1987) | UK:AA (1970) | Sweden:15 | Argentina:M | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:PG-13 (re-rating) (2002)

Filming Locations:

Alberta, Canada

Company:

Cinema Center Films

Trivia:

The main tune played when the the 7th Cavalry were attacking on the Washita River and during the Battle of Little Big Horn is an Irish jig titled "Garry Owen". This song was the official song of the Seventh Cavalry of the U.S. Army - General Custer's cavalry. However, the music is actually a medley which consists of The Garry Owen and St. Patrick's Day

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In the saloon scene where Wild Bill Hickok is killed (1876), there is a Miller beer "Girl on the Moon" picture on the wall. Although Miller beer started operations in 1855, the "Girl on the Moon" advertising was first used in 1907 and it wasn't the same picture as the one in the movie.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Jack Crabb: I am the sole white survivor of the battle of Little Big Horn.

Movie Connections:

References They Died with Their Boots On (1941)

Soundtrack:

Bringing In the Sheaves

My favorite movie.

The story of Jack Crabb, "last of the old timers" is the funniest, most moving, and enlightening history lessons you'll ever experience. This is a beautiful, sometimes tragic story of the west as told by Little Big Man, who managed to see some of the most important moments in America's history, most notably Custer's Last Stand. Dustin Hoffman gives his best performance. Chief Dan George as his grandfather will make you cry. And Richard Mulligan pulls off an incredible performance as General Custer.

The book is often taught in High School; I hope teachers also show the film because it is a rare example of a movie doing a classic justice.