SunnyHello Nice effects though.

Platicsco Good story, Not enough for a whole film

CommentsXp Best movie ever!

Allison Davies The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

weezeralfalfa There have been any number of films familiar to me featuring one or more white females captured by Native Americans and attempts to rescue them, whether or not they wanted to be rescued. But this story is unique, in that it's planned from the beginning to release the captive unharmed after the infirm chief takes a look at her, he being said to be her father, unbeknown to her until he greets her in his native village. According to one reviewer, about 40 min of this film was hacked off, presumably to reduce its run time. That may explain some of the confusing events. However, it's not so bad that some viewers might find it a worthwhile experience. Lana Wood: Natalie's younger sister, makes a beautiful-looking '70s urbane woman, who looks and acts quite out of place as an 1840's pioneer woman. Unfortunately, she couldn't act the part, serving mainly to add sex appeal. Putting several bits of information together, I gather that Beth's(Lana)father was actually Chief Running Wolf. I wonder how this came about, since trapper John Colter seems to have been her acting father all along, apparently unaware that he was not her biological father. Her mother most likely was a Native American, which would make her a full N.A.! She hardly looks the part.The lunatic called The Bugler is quite a character, played by the director Charles Pierce, who was also the producer and one of the writers. Apparently, he was a white, whose madness was considered by the Shoshone a sign of having special spiritual powers. In consequence, he usually led a bunch of Shoshone. I can't recall another character in a western quite as consistently demented.Ben Johnson's character, John Colter, is the namesake, of a famous trapper in this area, who was included in the Lewis and Clark expedition, and given credit for discovering the Yellowstone and Teton region. However, he died elsewhere in 1812, and this story takes place in 1848. I don't believe he had any children.After the Shoshone captured trappers Colter and Willis, they played with them, challenging them to beat a brave, while tethered to a pole in the ground. Willis eventually was shot in the back with a couple of arrows. In contrast, Colter killed his opponent and was released from captivity. This episode much reminds me of a famous incident involving the real John Colter, in which he was captured by Blackfeet, stripped naked, and made to run a race for his life, given a head start. He killed the front runner behind him, then continued to run for his life. Meanwhile, his trapper partner was killed, as in the film.Some Cheyenne braves are depicted playing a stylized game of "counting coup", in which they are supposed to spear a series of rings on hooks, each on a pole in a line. I wonder if this game was actually a feature of Cheyenne culture? None of the principle actors playing Native Americans was actually a N.A.. Iron Eyes Cody, often assumed to be a N.A., was actually born a Sicilian. Jack Elam, barely recognizable, played trapper Willis. Paul Fix played Running Wolf, while Alex Cord played Grayeagle. All of the "good" N.A. were Cheyenne, whereas the Shoshone, along with the Bugler, were cast as "bad".

Robert Book Grayeagle has the makings of a cult film that needs to be viewed multiple times in order to get some of the back story. Written in the late 1970's, it marks something of a transition between the old-style Westerns that don't care a hoot about political correctness, to an increasing awareness that is neither fully-developed yet nor overly strident.Most of the key actors are veterans to the screen, with the one exception being Lana Wood who is still a bit of an ingenue here, but enjoyable nonetheless.Much of Jaime Mendoza-Nava's music is excellent in the film, though my guess is that a few odd pieces are borrowed from elsewhere, as they come across in sort of a strikingly uneven way in tone, and seem vaguely familiar.To the film's credit, attempts have been made toward authentic portrayal of Native culture, although key roles were played by non-Natives. What little of the Native languages are spoken is lovely to listen to. Other authentic aspects include reverence toward elders, interaction between multiple cultures in mutual contact, and Native spirituality, particularly with regard to topics such as dreams and death.One of the underlying ironies of the film involves the fact that Grayeagle initially performs the kidnapping out of reverence for the dying wish of his elderly chief (Beth's biological father) who must see his absent child once again or face becoming a ghost. Grayeagle has no thought of himself in the act, but is rewarded richly for his selflessness and self-control by winning the heart of the girl who might have despised him for the deed, and by being endowed by the chief with material wealth.Another irony of the film lies in the chief's likely perception of the growing attachment between Grayeagle and the girl, and of the material endowment that he gives Grayeagle functioning as an odd reverse of the Cheyenne custom of Bride Price, which ordinarily would have been paid by the groom's family to the bride's family. Here however, the chief is functioning as both sides of the family, and giving the groom what he needs to win the bride's hostile surrogate white father (who could be doubly hostile when he learns of his deceased wife's infidelity with the chief). The chief is further seeing to the upcoming needs of his daughter, whose aging father and uncle (Iron Eyes) will not always be present to care for her in their isolated prairie homestead existence. One wonders then, if the chief's initial dream of his daughter may have involved much more than just seeing her face to face one more time.The fact that this film came out when it did in the late 1970's means that it came out just as the sexual revolution was losing a bit of its initial steam (hemlines were beginning to come down again), but nevertheless was a genie that could never be put back in its bottle. The film is sensual but surprisingly clean for the era, although the viewer may be surprised at the level of tension that is both produced and alleviated by simple physical acts such as hand-holding. An interesting balance is struck between patriarchy of the men in Beth's life, and of the growing strength of her own inner person, which appears to be increasing ironically the more she submits to Grayeagle, who clearly must be a good half-generation older than she (he is graying at the temples a bit), although still young enough to be a more-than-competent defender. Both young people by the end of the film have saved the life of the other twice, further putting the female on an equal footing.Some possible sexual symbolism in the film may include the spear and ring game, as well as the entry of Grayeagle into the door of Beth's father's house in the extended final scene as credits are rolling.Subtle humor is one reason to view the film more than once, as much of it is easy to miss upon the first viewing. Viewers might want to pay special attention to Alex Cord's easy-to-miss smirks and how they are timed. As mentioned before, the music itself sometimes jarringly moves from serious to comical.It would be impossible to come away from this film without a sense of the inter-relatedness of the various humans on the frontier, in spite of racial and cultural tensions that were easily inflamed at the time. Ben Johnson is a Caucasian with an inter-racial household; Cheyenne turn to Shoshone for hospitality; Ben Johnson puts aside multiple justifications for malice and receives the young Cheyenne warrior into his home for convalescence at the end, and probably inter-racial marriage to his daughter.Kudos to Paul Fix for being the believable and lovably humble elderly chief; to Alex Cord for overcoming the iron lung in his youth to go on and become a picture of physical health; and to Iron Eyes Cody for being the endearing easy-going uncle who is one of the few characters who know the whole back-story in this film.

lanalou127 It's a classic story. It has love, action, culture, and that old timely feel. I've watched it since I can remember and it never gets old. A White woman is kidnapped by an Indian warrior and travels to Cheyanne camp encountering a few adventures. Soon she finds she's the daughter of the chief and falls for the warrior that took her there. Finally she returns home with the love the Cheyanne. Grayeagle had good actors and awesome scenery. I enjoy it every time I watch it. Most all family could watch and enjoy. So I recommend it if your tired of the old gun fighting Indian movies and ready to see a good old fashioned western love/action story.

grteton Set in 1848, Montana Territory, this film is an excellent & accurate portrayal of frontier life. Starring Ben Johnson, Iron Eyes Cody, Jack Elam, Lana Wood & Alex Cord, it shows indians and settlers as they really were. Thoroughly enjoyable for the Western Film Fan.