Sitting Bull Reviews

This version of the battle of Little Big Horn has both its bad and good points. The drama unfortunately is overlong and tediously directed in parts. However, SITTING BULL ranks as one of the more accurate accounts of the battle, with none of the racism found in so many programmer westerns. Robertson is the cavalry major who believes the Indians should receive just treatment under the law. He tries to prevent Kennedy from riding into disaster but to no avail. Robertson is court-marshaled for befriending the enemy and sentenced to death. However Naish, as the great Indian leader Sitting Bull, intervenes by petitioning the President, Hamilton, who had been Robertson's commander during the Civil War. Robertson and Naish give good performances but are hampered by the spotty direction and some bad photography. Naish also played Sitting Bull in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN (1950). Cody, who does a good job as Crazy Horse, served as technical advisor, which undoubtly contributed to the more favorable treatment of the native Americans in this film. The historical tale presented here is far closer to reality than the overrated epic THEY DIED WITH THEIR BOOTS ON. Cody later achieved national recognition as the "crying Indian" in some TV commercials for environmental protection.