Post by Beth on Jul 26, 2015 22:29:15 GMT
Review—Son of Morning 1991.
Based on the book Son of the Morning Star: Custer and the Little Bighorn by Evan S. Connell .
Son of Morning Star was originally broadcast as a two night made for TV miniseries but was later made combined into a 186 minute TV movie. It is only available for purchase in VHS format. It is also easily found on youtube though some video versions have been edited to support points in the political world of Battle of Little Bighorn. I would suggest selecting a version that includes the opening credits.
The story is related mostly from two narrative voices; Libbie Custer, and Kate Bighead, a Cheyenne woman who witnessed the battle. The story moves briskly and tries to covers a lot of information-perhaps too much in given the timeframe--about events leading up to the battle as well as the battle itself. However the information will never cover enough details to please a true student of the battle
Morning Star is a mixed bag when it comes to movies based on Little Big Horn. It was filmed in the Little Bighorn area so the terrain is correct. There was an effort to make sure costumes and weapons were for the most part accurate-with a few mistakes noted by sharp eyed viewers. They also used Cavalry reenactors and Native Americans for more accurate battle sequences. A battle diehard can find amusement mentally noting inaccuracies.
Personally I find it an uneasy mix between fictitious storytelling and actual history. It checks all the boxes for the battle’s myths and legends. Custer is a brave but flawed commander, Benteen is discontent and questions every order and Reno either confused or drunk and confused. It works too hard to include items like the battlefields paired headstones with mounted soldiers being shot off their horses and dying side-by-side. (It was produced before archeological studies of the battlefield)
On the whole though, it is probably the best movie about LBH especially for the visual feel of the battle. I wouldn’t recommend it as a shortcut basis of a term paper.
Trivia: Keven Costner was offered the role of Custer but turned it down to film Dances With Wolves
IMDB Son of Morningstar
Based on the book Son of the Morning Star: Custer and the Little Bighorn by Evan S. Connell .
Son of Morning Star was originally broadcast as a two night made for TV miniseries but was later made combined into a 186 minute TV movie. It is only available for purchase in VHS format. It is also easily found on youtube though some video versions have been edited to support points in the political world of Battle of Little Bighorn. I would suggest selecting a version that includes the opening credits.
The story is related mostly from two narrative voices; Libbie Custer, and Kate Bighead, a Cheyenne woman who witnessed the battle. The story moves briskly and tries to covers a lot of information-perhaps too much in given the timeframe--about events leading up to the battle as well as the battle itself. However the information will never cover enough details to please a true student of the battle
Morning Star is a mixed bag when it comes to movies based on Little Big Horn. It was filmed in the Little Bighorn area so the terrain is correct. There was an effort to make sure costumes and weapons were for the most part accurate-with a few mistakes noted by sharp eyed viewers. They also used Cavalry reenactors and Native Americans for more accurate battle sequences. A battle diehard can find amusement mentally noting inaccuracies.
Personally I find it an uneasy mix between fictitious storytelling and actual history. It checks all the boxes for the battle’s myths and legends. Custer is a brave but flawed commander, Benteen is discontent and questions every order and Reno either confused or drunk and confused. It works too hard to include items like the battlefields paired headstones with mounted soldiers being shot off their horses and dying side-by-side. (It was produced before archeological studies of the battlefield)
On the whole though, it is probably the best movie about LBH especially for the visual feel of the battle. I wouldn’t recommend it as a shortcut basis of a term paper.
Trivia: Keven Costner was offered the role of Custer but turned it down to film Dances With Wolves
IMDB Son of Morningstar