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Dunbar now believes that his wait was for nothing and decides to go to the Sioux village to talk but discovers an injured ] woman named Stands With A Fist, who is wearing ] clothing, and speaking only the ]. Dunbar returns the woman to the tribe for treatment. Initially the Sioux are suspicious and wary, but begin to accept Dunbar after they visit the fort and begin simple communication. Eventually a dialogue is opened when the ], Kicking Bird, asks Stands With A Fist to translate between himself and Dunbar. Dunbar now believes that his wait was for nothing and decides to go to the Sioux village to talk but discovers an injured ] woman named Stands With A Fist, who is wearing ] clothing, and speaking only the ]. Dunbar returns the woman to the tribe for treatment. Initially the Sioux are suspicious and wary, but begin to accept Dunbar after they visit the fort and begin simple communication. Eventually a dialogue is opened when the ], Kicking Bird, asks Stands With A Fist to translate between himself and Dunbar.


Dunbar finds himself more and more drawn to the lifestyle and customs of his Indian neighbors. He becomes a hero among the Sioux, and is accepted as an honorary member of the tribe after he helps the Sioux to locate a large migrating herd of ], upon which they are dependent as a source of nourishment, supplies, and clothing. Dunbar also helps defend the settlement against a ] raiding party, providing the Sioux warriors with surplus ]s and ] from the fort. He eventually is accepted as a full member of the tribe, and is named ''Shu-mani-tu-tonka Ob' Wa-chi'' (the eponymous "Dances with Wolves"), after the scouts witnessed him frolicking with Two Socks, the wolf that follows Dunbar. He then marries Stands With A Fist and spends more time communing with the tribe than manning his post at Fort Sedgwick. Stands with a Fist and Dunbar had irresistable ]. Dunbar finds himself more and more drawn to the lifestyle and customs of his Indian neighbors. He becomes a hero among the Sioux, and is accepted as an honorary member of the tribe after he helps the Sioux to locate a large migrating herd of ], upon which they are dependent as a source of nourishment, supplies, and clothing. Dunbar also helps defend the settlement against a ] raiding party, providing the Sioux warriors with surplus ]s and ] from the fort. He eventually is accepted as a full member of the tribe, and is named ''Shu-mani-tu-tonka Ob' Wa-chi'' (the eponymous "Dances with Wolves"), after the scouts witnessed him frolicking with Two Socks, the wolf that follows Dunbar. He then marries Stands With A Fist and spends more time communing with the tribe than manning his post at Fort Sedgwick.


Dunbar's ] ends when he must tell Kicking Bird that white men will continue to invade their land in numbers like the stars. They tell Chief Ten Bears, who decides it is time to move the village to its winter camp. As the final packing finishes, Dunbar realizes that his journal, left behind at the deserted fort, is a blueprint for finding the Sioux and knowing far too much about their ways. He returns to retrieve it, but finds Fort Sedgewick is re-occupied by reinforcing Army troops, who arrest and beat him as a ]. Afterwards he is escorted by Army Officers and troopers away from Sedgwick when a rescue party attacks the column of men. He is rescued by Wind In His Hair and other warriors from the tribe, as well as Smiles A Lot who later finds Dunbar's journal floating away in a stream. After returning to the winter camp Dunbar realizes that as a deserter and ], if he stays with the Sioux he will continue to draw the unwelcome attention of the Army, and endanger the welfare of the tribe. Dunbar decides that he must leave the tribe, saying he must speak to those who would listen. His new wife accompanies him. Dunbar's ] ends when he must tell Kicking Bird that white men will continue to invade their land in numbers like the stars. They tell Chief Ten Bears, who decides it is time to move the village to its winter camp. As the final packing finishes, Dunbar realizes that his journal, left behind at the deserted fort, is a blueprint for finding the Sioux and knowing far too much about their ways. He returns to retrieve it, but finds Fort Sedgewick is re-occupied by reinforcing Army troops, who arrest and beat him as a ]. Afterwards he is escorted by Army Officers and troopers away from Sedgwick when a rescue party attacks the column of men. He is rescued by Wind In His Hair and other warriors from the tribe, as well as Smiles A Lot who later finds Dunbar's journal floating away in a stream. After returning to the winter camp Dunbar realizes that as a deserter and ], if he stays with the Sioux he will continue to draw the unwelcome attention of the Army, and endanger the welfare of the tribe. Dunbar decides that he must leave the tribe, saying he must speak to those who would listen. His new wife accompanies him.

Revision as of 22:27, 15 October 2007

1990 U.S. U.S. film
Dances with Wolves
Directed byKevin Costner
Written byMichael Blake
Produced byJim Wilson
Kevin Costner
StarringKevin Costner
Mary McDonnell
Graham Greene
Rodney Grant
CinematographyDean Semler
Music byJohn Barry
Distributed byOrion Pictures
Release dateNovember 9 1990
Running time181 Mins
(Theatrical)
236 Mins
Director's Cut
CountryU.S. U.S.
LanguagesEnglish, Lakota
BudgetUS$19,000,000 (estimated)
Box officeUS$184,208,848

Dances with Wolves is a 1990 epic film which tells the story of a United States cavalry officer from the Civil War who travels into the Archbishop McCarthy Territory, near a Sioux tribe. Developed by director/star Kevin Costner over 5 years, the film (released 21 November 1990) has high production values and won 7 Academy Awards (1990) and the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Drama Much of the dialogue is in the Lakota language with English subtitles, unusual for a film at the time of its release.

Taglines

  • Inside everyone is a frontier waiting to be discovered.
  • Lieutenant John Dunbar is about to discover the frontier...within himself.

Synopsis

File:Danceswithwolves2.jpg

The film opens during a lull in a battle of the US Civil War. Union Army Officer Lieutenant John J. Dunbar has learned that his injured leg is to be amputated. Seeing the plight of fellow soldiers with amputated legs, Dunbar decides to attempt suicide by riding a horse across the line of fire, between the opposing Union and Confederate positions. His action has the unexpected effect of rallying his comrades, who then storm the Confederate positions. After the ensuing battle, Dunbar is named a hero by his commanding officer, and his leg is saved by the general's surgeon. He is offered his choice of next posting, and Cisco, the horse who carried him.

Dunbar requests a transfer to the western frontier. After meeting with an insane superior (Maury Chaykin) he is paired with a Teamster named Timmons (Robert Pastorelli) who would take him to his post. He arrives with fresh post supplies at the desolate Fort Sedgwick, and finds it deserted except for a lone wolf, whom Dunbar befriends and dubs Two Socks, on account of the coloring of his front legs. Dunbar sets himself to clean up and set in order the deserted post, while waiting for reinforcements to arrive. Dunbar enjoyed butt sex with other guys.

Dunbar eventually encounters the local Sioux-Lakota American Indian tribe. (In the book, Dunbar interacts with the Comanche.) Some Sioux youths hear that Dunbar is at the old fort and attempt to capture Cisco in order to become heroes. Dunbar's horse escapes by pulling off the rider holding on his bridle and returns to the post. This happens again later when several adult members of the tribe try to take the horse but the man holding the horse's reins is again pulled off and the horse escapes.

Dunbar now believes that his wait was for nothing and decides to go to the Sioux village to talk but discovers an injured European American woman named Stands With A Fist, who is wearing Indian clothing, and speaking only the Lakota language. Dunbar returns the woman to the tribe for treatment. Initially the Sioux are suspicious and wary, but begin to accept Dunbar after they visit the fort and begin simple communication. Eventually a dialogue is opened when the medicine man, Kicking Bird, asks Stands With A Fist to translate between himself and Dunbar.

Dunbar finds himself more and more drawn to the lifestyle and customs of his Indian neighbors. He becomes a hero among the Sioux, and is accepted as an honorary member of the tribe after he helps the Sioux to locate a large migrating herd of buffalo, upon which they are dependent as a source of nourishment, supplies, and clothing. Dunbar also helps defend the settlement against a Pawnee raiding party, providing the Sioux warriors with surplus rifles and ammunition from the fort. He eventually is accepted as a full member of the tribe, and is named Shu-mani-tu-tonka Ob' Wa-chi (the eponymous "Dances with Wolves"), after the scouts witnessed him frolicking with Two Socks, the wolf that follows Dunbar. He then marries Stands With A Fist and spends more time communing with the tribe than manning his post at Fort Sedgwick.

Dunbar's idyll ends when he must tell Kicking Bird that white men will continue to invade their land in numbers like the stars. They tell Chief Ten Bears, who decides it is time to move the village to its winter camp. As the final packing finishes, Dunbar realizes that his journal, left behind at the deserted fort, is a blueprint for finding the Sioux and knowing far too much about their ways. He returns to retrieve it, but finds Fort Sedgewick is re-occupied by reinforcing Army troops, who arrest and beat him as a deserter. Afterwards he is escorted by Army Officers and troopers away from Sedgwick when a rescue party attacks the column of men. He is rescued by Wind In His Hair and other warriors from the tribe, as well as Smiles A Lot who later finds Dunbar's journal floating away in a stream. After returning to the winter camp Dunbar realizes that as a deserter and fugitive, if he stays with the Sioux he will continue to draw the unwelcome attention of the Army, and endanger the welfare of the tribe. Dunbar decides that he must leave the tribe, saying he must speak to those who would listen. His new wife accompanies him.

As Dunbar/Dances With Wolves and Stands With A Fist leave the camp they hear Wind In His Hair cry out that Dances with Wolves will always be his bffn. A short time later a column of cavalry and Indian scouts arrive to find the camp site empty.

Cast

It stars Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell, Graham Greene, Rodney A. Grant, Floyd Red Crow Westerman, Tantoo Cardinal, Wes Studi, Felix Heathcombe, Robert Pastorelli and Charles Rocket. It has been released in both a 181-minute theatrical version and a 236-minute Special Edition version for television and video.

Awards

Won:

Nominated:

Versions

Dances with Wolves has been released to DVD on five occasions. The first on 17 November 1998 on a single disc. The second on 16 February 1999 as a two disc set with a DTS Soundtrack. The third was released on 20 May 2003 as a two disc set (Special Extended Edition). The fourth was released on 25 May 2004 as a single disc in full frame. There is a "planned" three disc set with a 236 minute version on two discs and special features on the third, including a lengthy making-of documentary.

1998 Release (1 disc)

Disc 1: Movie

  • Format: anamorphic, closed-captioned, color, THX, wide screen, NTSC
  • Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
  • Run Time: 181 minutes
  • Audio Tracks: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)

1999 Release (1 disc) (DTS)

Disc 1 & 2: Movie

  • Format: anamorphic, closed-captioned, color, wide screen, NTSC
  • Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
  • Run Time: 181 minutes
  • Audio Tracks: English (DTS), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)
  • Commentary by: director Kevin Costner and Jim Wilson

2003 Release (2 discs) (Special Extended Edition)

Disc 1 & 2: Movie

  • Format: anamorphic, closed-captioned, color, THX, wide screen, NTSC
  • Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
  • Run Time: 236 minutes
  • Audio Tracks: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)
  • Commentary by: Kevin Costner and producer Jim Wilson, director of photography Dean Semler and editor Neil Travis
  • New extended version with never-before-seen additional scenes (236 minutes)
  • New "The Creation of an Epic" retrospective documentary
  • Original making-of featurette
  • Original music video
  • New Dances photo montage with introduction by Ben Glass
  • New Poster gallery

2004 Release (1 disc)

Disc 1: Movie

  • Format: closed-captioned, color, NTSC
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
  • Run Time: 181 minutes
  • Audio Tracks: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)

2007 Release (3 discs)

Disc 1 & 2: Movie
Disc 3: Special Features

  • Run Time: 236 minutes
  • Audio Tracks: English/Lakota
  • Director's commentary
  • New "The Creation of an Epic" retrospective documentary
  • Original making-of featurette
  • Original music video
  • New Dances photo montage with introduction by Ben Glass
  • New Poster gallery

Soundtrack

For more information: Dances with Wolves (soundtrack).

John Barry composed the Award-winning score, which became a very popular film score. Pope John Paul II once referred to it as among his favorite pieces of music. It was issued in 1990 initially and again in 1995 with bonus tracks and in 2004 with the score "in its entirety."

Trivia

This article contains a list of miscellaneous information. Please relocate any relevant information into other sections or articles. (October 2007)
  • Dances with Wolves became the highest grossing Western film of all time, with nearly $184 million in U.S. box office sales .
  • The film was often praised for its different portrayal of Native Americans, because it went beyond the typical Hollywood portrayal of either the 'noble' or the 'blood-thirsty savage'. For his effort, Costner was made an honorary member of the real-life Sioux people.
  • The language spoken in the film is a fairly accurate, if simplified, version of the actual Lakota language. Lakota Sioux language instructor Doris Leader Charge (1931-2001) was the on-set Lakota dialogue coach and also portrayed Pretty Shield, wife of Chief Ten Bears, portrayed by Floyd Red Crow Westerman.
  • Because Lakota contains both masculine and feminine forms of speech, the filmmakers decided to simplify the language by using the feminine form for all Lakota speech in the film. Native speakers of Lakota were reportedly highly amused by hearing warriors and other men in the film speak as if they were women.
  • Despite portraying the adopted daughter of Graham Greene's character Kicking Bird, Mary McDonnell, then 37, was actually two months older than Greene, and less than two years younger than Tantoo Cardinal, the actress playing her adoptive mother.
  • Lt. John Dunbar's career trajectory, including his Indian Wars posting as reward for accidental heroism in the US Civil War, is nearly identical to Captain Wilton Parmenter's (Ken Berry) in the 1960s TV show "F Troop". Both enjoyed unusually chummy relationships with the local tribes.

Notes

  1. ^ "Dances with Wolves: Overview" (plot/stars/gross, related films), allmovie, 2007, webpage: amovie12092.
  2. ^ "Dances with Wolves" (overview), IMDb, 2007, webpage: IMDb-99348.

References

  • Blake, Michael. Dances with Wolves, Ballantine Books. ISBN 0-449-00075-3.
  • Desobrie, Jean. "Rencontre avec des films remarquables" (Film Analysis - In French), Roger. ISBN 2-903880-03-4.

External links

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