The Return of a Man Called Horse (1976)

"A Man Called Horse returns at full gallop" (Los Angeles Times) in this exceptional western that follows the plight of a horribly wronged tribe of Sioux Indiansand the quest of the one man who would lead them to victory. The Return of a Man Called Horse is a "visually stunning" (Variety) and "hauntingly beautiful vision of American history" (Los Angeles Times). Lord John Morgan (Richard Harris), disillusioned with the "civilized" aristocracy of England, returns to the American West in search of the vital and rugged life he once led among the proud Yellow Hand tribe. But what he finds instead is destruction: a brutal and bloody war inflicted on his adopted blood brothers by an unscrupulous trapper and his followers. Decimated, enslaved and swept from their home, their only hope of regrouping, retaining their ancient customs and fighting backfor their sacred homeland now lies with Morgan...a man they call Horse.

 Rescuing "Yellow Hands"
I'm always fascinated with books & movies that deal with the interaction of subjects from different cultures such as "Shogun", "Lawrence of Arabia", "Dances with Wolves" or "Broken Arrow".

The original film "A Man Called Horse" (1970) has had a very special place in my memory and heart. Its sequel "The Return of a Man Called Horse" (1976) wasn't so good, nevertheless is quite enjoyable.

It tells the story of Lord John Morgan's return to the plains around 1840. He was languishing at his states in England when suddenly he feels the urge to return to America.
He discovers that the Yellow Hands has been expelled from their sacred lands, her women enslaved and the rest of the tribe condemned to a miserable life due to the "in force" invasion of some fur traders.
The trader gang has constructed a stronghold including cannons and settling allied native around the fort.
Lord Morgan or Horse as he is known to his Sioux kin starts a new epic experience. Self imposing extreme hardships, first to attain a "vision", then he strengths very young tribesmen thru sacred rites, next he trains women to fight and finally devices a plan to expel the usurpers.
The final combat is film's culmination and a very good action piece.

Harris performs again with deep conviction even if the script is not as good as the original one he extract the maximum from his character.
This time Sioux warriors are fleshed by Mexican actors and actresses instead of the multinational cast of the first film, without lose.

Even with its flaws this film moves the spectator to admire and respect Native American culture.

Give this film a try, you won't be disappointed!
Reviewed by Max Yofre. July 25, 2006

 gritty realism

Whether fact or fiction, everytime I watch this movie you can taste the era. March 25, 2006

 The Sioux fight for their lands

This is a sequel to the 1970 A MAN CALLED HORSE. In that movie Richard Harris is John Morgan, an Englsih baron captured by the Yellow Hand Sioux in the early 1800s and raised by them; being a great fighter he was given his freedom and returned to England in 1821.

Now, three years later, Harris is bored in England and decides to return to America. When he does he finds the Yellow Hand have been driven off their lands or enslaved by white traders. He leads them in a fight to regain their lands.

The movie is shot almost totally from the Indians' perspective, and great care has been taken to get it right and to treat the Indians and their ways honestly. There is a lengthy self-mutilation ceremony that is quite gory (but authentic); it was cut from some earlier prints as being too graphic, but it's essential as to why the tribe decides to fight for their land (they must purge themselves of the evil spirit first). The really memorable thing about the movie is the photography: the Dakota landscape is spectacular. December 6, 2005

 What, More Horse Chunks?
Harris reprises his weak and tepid role of an 1800's gentleman who can't stomach modern life in England so he goes back to the Plains to find his adopted tribe of Sioux Indians. He finds them on the verge of extinction, starvation and he is there to lead them to new hope, which means bowing to his leadership. Why the Sioux didn't kill him in the first film goes beyond reason. More silly stuff from hippies in the 1970's in this second installment of the wildly popular but empty "A Man Called Horse" saga. Look for a psychedelic scene where Harris is "behind" naked while emerged in color shots of eagles flying in the sky.

December 15, 2004

 Still stands Up
The first movie was a departure from the everyday" Cowboy Indian movie with a few good twists albeit you could see them comming. Good story to be told, and Part 2 Still with Richard Harris is one of the best follow up movies to come down the pike for it's Genre. I owned and discoverd part 2 recently and was surprised how good it was, and stood up on it's own. All I'll say is in part 2 Harris becomes restless in England and revists his adopted indian family and it takes off from there. Harris is perfect for the role, an english Gentelman with a conscience. November 25, 2004

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