Grayeagle

Grayeagle is a 1977 Western adventure film directed Charles B. Pierce, written by Pierce, Brad White, and Michael O. Sajbel, starring Ben Johnson, Iron Eyes Cody and Lana Wood. The theme is about kidnapping and interracial/cross-cultural romance.[1][2]

Grayeagle
Theatrical poster
Directed byCharles B. Pierce
Produced byCharles B. Pierce
Tom Clark
Written byBrad White
Charles B. Pierce
Michael O. Sajbel
StarringBen Johnson
Iron Eyes Cody
Lana Wood
Jack Elam
Alex Cord
Music byJaime Mendoza-Nava
CinematographyJames W. Roberson
Edited byJames W. Roberson
Distributed byAmerican International Pictures
Release date
  • December 28, 1977 (1977-12-28)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

Set in 1848, in the Montana Territory, Ben Johnson plays John Coulter who lives on the plains with his daughter Beth and his friend Standing Bear. The story is told mainly from a Native American point of view.

Beth is kidnapped by Greyeagle of the Cheyenne nation, who was tasked by the chief to bring Beth to him. Coulter and Standing Bear go through various adventures to find Beth, to bring her back safely home.

Main cast

Reception

A review in Variety stated that "there are enough jolts of variety, as in the fight sequences and crazed hermit subplot, to hold audience interest," but "Standing Bear, as played by Iron Eyes Cody, is one end of a simplistic and basically racist attitude Pierce holds towards Indians. Standing Bear is the passive 'Injun,' the Warrior Tom figure. Then there are the ragamuffin savages who whoop, paint their faces and misuse their pronouns as in 'Me want 'em wampum.'"[3] Linda Gross of the Los Angeles Times wrote, "Pierce's hammy performance is the nastiest thing in his film, which is flagrantly corny but good-natured, with colorful scenes of duels and tribal rituals."[4] Ray Conlogue of The Globe and Mail commented, "The major casting weakness is Natalie Wood's sister, Lana, who is very wooden in a major role," while Cord as Grayeagle was "agreeable enough. On balance, 'agreeable' is a good word, and a fair one, for the movie. It's one step better than a blood 'n' feathers epic, a movie that hoped to have some integrity while remaining marketable, and has somewhat managed both."[5]

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References
  1. Hilger, Michael (1995), From Savage To Nobleman: Images Of Native Americans In Film, Scarecrow Press, p. 199, ISBN 978-0810829787
  2. Loy, R. Philip (2004), Westerns In A Changing America, 1955-2000, McFarland, p. 261, ISBN 978-0786418718
  3. "Film Reviews: Grayeagle". Variety. December 28, 1977. 14.
  4. Gross, Linda (May 4, 1978). "A Kidnap Caper in Indian Setting". Los Angeles Times. Part IV, p. 19.
  5. Conlogue, Ray (December 30, 1977). "Cracks show in a wooden Grayeagle". The Globe and Mail. 11.
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