I Watch Films: Sitting Bull (1954)

Sitting Bull (1954)

It’s 1876 and Major Robert Parrish of the US Seventh Cavalry is in trouble. Settlers and prospectors are complaining that he’s been hassling them and refusing to chase raiding Sioux – when they are in fact in Sioux treaty land. His commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Custer notes that his career is stalled, after all he was a promising brevet colonel in the civil war*.

His fiancée Kathy breaks off their engagement and he’s sent to garrison an Indian agency. The Sioux there are treated very badly, many of them locked up in a stockade. When there’s an escape, Parrish refuses to open fire at the order of the agent. He’s court-martialled but appeals to President Grant, who demotes him to captain and orders him out to try and make peace with the Sioux, and their leader Sitting Bull.

Parrish returns to the fort to discover Kathy has a new beaux, a reporter and former solder. He then releases several prisoners including Sam, a former slave, now a Sioux, who guide him to Sitting Bull. Sitting Bull is a respected spiritual leader has been gathering the Sioux nation and allies, waiting for a sign, holding back the more militant leaders including Crazy Horse (Iron Eyes Cody**). Parrish shows respect for Sioux traditions, fights Crazy Horse in a ring and wins. He and Sitting Bull come to an agreement; he will negotiate if President Grant comes in person to show it’s serious.

Reports come in that the US Army has shot some scouts and Sitting Bull gives his blessing to Crazy Horse to fight the Battle Of Little Bighorn. Custer and his troops turn up on time along with the war correspondent and are killed. Knowing the reprisals will be horrendous Parrish leads Sitting Bull and the Sioux north to safety (Canada?). On returning he’s court martialled again, stripped of rank and sentenced to death by firing squad. At the last moment Sitting Bull returns, agrees to peace if they pardon Parrish which Grant does, Parrish and Kathy then kiss.

What to make of this, a frankly bizarre re-mix of history, a sympathetic revision for the Sioux and especially Sitting Bull? It makes the Great Sioux War no one in particular’s fault, a variety of confrontations and skirmishes escalating. The US treats the Sioux poorly and in return the Sioux massacre people and back and forth it goes, with men of good will unable to make peace. Thankfully Parrish is there to be a go between. Anyway everything ended up okay just as it did in real hist… [checks real history] oh, oh no.

Watch This: Western that engages seriously with the Sioux perspective of the Great Sioux War
Don’t Watch This:…seriously although it just makes a lot of things up on all sides

* Custer himself was a brevet Major General, known in the press as “The Boy General” when he became a brigadier at the age of 23.

** Cody, credited as Famous TV Star and Technical Adviser, claimed falsely to be a Native American, playing one on screen and in life for many years.