MovieChat Forums > Little Big Man (1970) Discussion > What's up with this guy's priorities?

What's up with this guy's priorities?

posted 20 years ago by Liver4ever
18 replies | jump to latest

I just saw this movie again for the first time in maybe fifteen years, and I still think it's a great one.

Can't help but to wonder about one thing, though. When Custer's soldiers come to wipe out the "safe" indian village Jack lives in, how the hell can he rush away from his wife (wives) and newborn baby to save the old man??

It just strikes me as a really strange and horrible thing to do, no matter how much he loved his "grandfather" he should have tried to save his family first.

E.Tengesdal
Norway.

[–] joeblondiemonco 20 years ago

I think earlier (could be wrong) you can see one of her sisters shot down from the tepee (the bearskin and in the nude proves it). It suggests he saw this too. I think he assumed that since they shot her, surely Sunshine, his son, and the sisters were dead. It wasn't until later did he realize she could still be alive, but a little too late.

[–] bjnumb9 20 years ago

I believe he tried to save the old chief because he was blind, and so Jack thought he had no prayer without his help.
Of course, they were invisible, so he didn't need Jack's help after all.

Great stuff!

[–] 20 years ago

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[–] borogroves 20 years ago

I believe that the idea is that he's cut off from them. It's impossible for him to get to them, so he saves his grandfather who he happened to be with, and then hopes to save them later. But they could have made an effort to make this more clear. In any case, initially, he does run towards his wife's tent, but his path is blocked by the fighting. Then, he goes back to his grandfather.

I just resaw this movie for the first time, since I saw it when it came out, and I was 8-years-old. The scene where his wife, Sunshine, runs towards him by the river and is shot down just before she makes it has stuck in my mind all these years, and I found it just as moving now.

[–] Anscules 20 years ago

yeah, it's a great moment, especially when the sound drops out and the moment is exploded by temporal downshifting in the editing.

"Rampart: Squad 51."

[–] nunquam 20 years ago

I watched it again last night after buying the DVD...Jack hears the ponies "screaming" and remembers his grandfather's dream. He leaps to his feet and we hear him say, "Grandfather's dying..." He then runs to his grandfarther's tent (which is far from Jack's, as we are told earlier).

It is while he is at his grandfather's tent that he sees the soldiers for the first time...he watches them in confusion and then disbelief as they begin to break into columns for attack. At that point, he says, "Sunshine..." and leaves his grandfather to go back to Sunshine and their children, but is forced to turn back by soldiers charging on horseback. That's the point when he starts trying to save his grandfather. He tries to get back to Sunshine as quickly as he can, but is too late by seconds.

[–] mfvaughn 20 years ago

Interesting ideas and all valid....but I am wondering if the entire film is not also very strongly influenced by the following: Little Big Man was a real Native American of some significance and was with Crazy Horse when Crazy Horse died (murdered or not??). It was Little Big Man who led Crazy Horse to the makeshift cell and he was the only Native American there when Crazy Horse was said to have pulled a knife. Little Big Man was stabbed in the arm and was on top of Crazy Horse by most accounts when the murder occurred.

Of course the film depiction of the man is not necessarily an accurate one, is probably purely fictionalized, but the scene of which you speak may be intended to comment on the act of betrayal against Crazy Horse. Mere speculation on my part.

[–] 20 years ago

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[–] mfvaughn 19 years ago

Hey, thanks for that clarification. I always wondered......Thanks again

[–] HikerBoy57 19 years ago

Is this the Indian Jack is named after? I believe he was "Little Man"? Or is that a different or fictional person?

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] spittle8 20 years ago

You've got to realize that he didn't really love, or know his family. His wife wasn't really a wife, more like a friend. He didn't really ever come to understand the whole culture, or fully assimilate. But that's not why, Lodge Skins was closest, and if you read the book (greatest book ever) you'd understand this.

[–] nunquam 20 years ago

The novel is good, and it does differ from the film...but the film is a complete work that stands perfectly well on its own, and audiences can enjoy, appreciate and learn something from it without having read the novel.

In the scene that 'Liver4ever' asked about, Jack's "priority" was his wife and child. I don't think 'Liver4ever' was watching closely enough (and apparently never posted to IMDB again).

[–] misschicken 20 years ago

He is definitely with Old Lodge Skins before he realises that soldiers are coming. He asks Old Lodge Skins 'Whats wrong with the horses?' and Old Lodge Skin say 'Can't you hear that'. Jack listens and then hears the music (Garry Owens is the tune, I believe).

[–] jporter-6 18 years ago

Actually, you're not far wrong. The tune is Garryowen.
On the other hand, Gary Owens was the announcer on
Laugh In.

[–] vicky_lc2001-1 18 years ago

I actually have to agree w/ the OP, I did see him initially try to get back to his wives & kid but he just didn't seem to try hard enough. & even if he didn't really love his wife as you say, she is still his family & he had a duty as a husband to try to protect them. Now let's say that, he really couldn't bring himself to care more for her as he should, didn't it ever occur to him to protect his only child (& the adopted 1 as well- you could of course also argue that this isn't really his child so why should he bother(?) but where I come from, you take care of your family, & that includes adopted children)?

I still love the film though.

Is it safe?
...its so safe u wouldnt bliv it
Is it safe?
...its vry dangerous b careful

[–] nutsberryfarm 12 years ago

he was having a bad day. it happens.

Why is Cloud 9 so amazing? What is wrong with Cloud 8?

[–] gribfritz2 12 years ago

I had similar feelings, but as others pointed out, he couldn't make it to Sunshine in time so he gave up. I blame the editing. What really felt strange was when the sister's were killed, all I could think about was how he at least got to bone them all first. They needed some padding between the sexy-go-round and the attack.