Little Big Man (1970)

Jack Crabb is the only white survivor of the Battle of Little Big Horn and the centenarian shares his story in this picaresque fable of the Old West. In Arthur Penn's adaptation of Thomas Berger's novel, Dustin Hoffman plays Jack from teen years into old age in a bravura performance. And Jack's story is a fantastic one: captured by Indians as a boy, reared as an Indian, shuttling back and forth between the white and Indian worlds. In the process, he befriends everyone from Wild Bill Hickock to George Armstrong Custer and is a gunslinger, a snake-oil salesman, and an Army scout. This is a solid blend of comedy and tragedy, with a strong statement to make about America's treatment of Native Americans without sermonizing. A terrific cast includes Faye Dunaway, Martin Balsam, and Richard Mulligan. But this show is all Hoffman's. --Marshall Fine Amazon.com essential video

 Little Big Man
This movie is just a classic, I'm so glad to own a copy of it. It's so rich in irony and one liners, you just can't see it too many times! April 28, 2008

 DVD movie
Movie arrived safe and transaction was easy. The movie has already been enjoyed! Thank you! February 22, 2008

 The West was a small place.
Comedy.... Action.... Drama.... War... and Romance is another great combination in a film top with serious issues. "Little Big Man" starts you off in 1970, with a reporter interviewing Mr. Crabb (Dustin Hoffman, in one of his great performances), the sole white survivor of the Battle of Little Big Horn, a wrinkled visage who is 121 years old at the time of the interview. In the course of his tall tale about the taming of the west, he recounts his career as a Cheyenne Indian, a bible thumper, a snake-oil salesman, a gunfighter, a drunk, and just about everything else one could be in those days. Since he was a white man raised by the Cheyenne, and spoke both languages fluently, he moved back and forth between the two worlds.

His story is great when it is being funny. I laughed at the sight of Dustin Hoffman dressed as a gunfighter. He really was the fastest gun in the West, and also the surest shot. Only one little thing kept him from achieving gunfighter immortality. He didn't like shooting at any living things.

Thankfully this was produced before the forces of political correctness could bowdlerize it. Today this would be watered down to avoid the epithets and stereotypes that add color and authenticity to this wonderful film. It is a obvious precursor to `Dances With Wolves', but also to a movie where the influence is less patent like `Forrest Gump' where famous persons are infused into a historical comic-drama. Numerous interesting characters infuse the picture: the epicene (though lustful) sister, the wise, yet pixilated Indian grandfather (played brilliantly by Chief Dan George), the unconscionable General Custer, the libertine Mrs. Pendrake (Faye Dunaway) and of course Dustin Hoffman's own character.

A funny and sad study of a wild time in history mixed with modern sentiments. A tall tale that resonates with truth.

February 7, 2008

 Social Commentary infused classic fun
'Little Big Man' is a Western of sorts for the offbeat humor. It tends to have moments of pure light-heartedness in the style of 'The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean' and also has deeper commentary about American civilization versus that of the Native American tribes. It's interesting to watch. Insightful. Hilarious in parts - especially scenes involving the egotistical General Custer.

This is a classic well worth watching and remembering as it just provides not only a good story, but also perceptions of our culture and some philosophical ideals - something deeper for people to chew on. January 28, 2008

 History , comedy , and drama all rolled into one
Little Big Man is a classic , with a story how frontier life was a means of suvival, both physically , and mentally . Rugged , lonely , and sometimes downright suicidal , a young man emerges and lives to tell a story that spans 100 years of the days of Wild Bill Hickcock , and Gen. George Custer and the battle at Little Big Horn . He reflects the lives of Indians and Whites, the similarities of the races , and how protective of their heritage they were .Entertaining from start to finish , with an excellent cast . You can't watch this movie just once .
Danny Meacham January 27, 2008

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