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Buffalo Bill and the Indians

Play trailer Poster for Buffalo Bill and the Indians PG 1976 2h 3m Comedy Drama Western Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
61% Tomatometer 18 Reviews 47% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
By 1885, beloved cavalryman Buffalo Bill Cody (Paul Newman) has hired a publicist and producer to help shape and promote his traveling Wild West show, which presents historically inaccurate reenactments of conflicts between U.S. troops and Native Americans. Cody hires Chief Sitting Bull (Frank Kaquitts) to play himself, as a villain, in stagings of the Battle of the Little Bighorn. But, to Cody's dismay, star performer Annie Oakley (Geraldine Chaplin) and spectators both take to Sitting Bull.
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Buffalo Bill and the Indians

Critics Reviews

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Vincent Canby New York Times 05/09/2005
3.5/5
It's a sometimes self-indulgent, confused, ambitious movie that is often very funny and always fascinating. Go to Full Review Dave Kehr Chicago Reader 07/24/2001
Aspires to a cynical Brechtian snappiness, but the drama is too thinly imagined, the meanings too familiar and heavily stated, for this 1976 film to gather any real interest. Go to Full Review Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) 08/03/2023
It's not that the film loses itself in digressions: it's that the film digresses from start to finish. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Steve Warren The Barb (Atlanta) 05/09/2023
A good percentage of the funny stuff in this Robert Altman film works; even more of the serious stuff doesn't, and they don't blend well. Go to Full Review Judith Crist Saturday Review 08/09/2022
It is fitting also that Altman... should cast his creative eye on history with the clarity, humor, and affectionate cynicism that have been the hallmarks of his work. Go to Full Review Armond White Ann Arbor Sun 06/30/2021
The movie is a feat: a combination of great talent and genius insight into the American psyche as expressed through its popular culture, myths and legends. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Alec B 01/10/2024 The problem here is that Altman is just totally wrong for this material as it requires more narrative clarity to sell this particular kind of showy satire. Also the commentary is mostly obvious which is a real shame because there's a lot of potential here See more erroll f 08/24/2023 I tried to like this farce, with Newman, Harvey Keitel, Burt Lancaster you expect some great entertainment. It just doesn't happen here ,not for the long term at any rate, only flashes of interest.This movie is totally a snoozer. See more Shioka O 12/14/2022 It's not the best of Altman's nor Newman's. Another satiric tale by the director, not about Hollywood this time but early phase of American showbiz. The concept is interesting but this film doesn't support the narrative and actually confusing. There are thoughtful lines towards the end. I like that Newman took this role willingly. See more 09/29/2021 The problem here is that Altman is just totally wrong for this material as it requires more narrative clarity to sell this particular kind of showy satire. Also the commentary is mostly obvious which is a real shame because there's a lot of potential here See more steve d 07/16/2020 Strong biopic with Newman doing a great job. See more 04/24/2020 Just kind of bleh. Great actors on a journey to nowhere. Altman wants to make a point, but gets lost and bored along the way. I know how he feels. Money for nothing. See more Read all reviews
Buffalo Bill and the Indians

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Cast & Crew

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Robert Altman

Director

Paul Newman

William F. 'Buffalo Bill' Cody

Burt Lancaster

The Legend Maker

Joel Grey

Nate Salisbury (Cody's partner)

Harvey Keitel

Ed Goodman

Kevin McCarthy

Maj. John M. Burke (general press agent)

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Buffalo Bill and the Indians

Buffalo Bill and the Indians (1976) Buffalo Bill and the Indians (1976) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis By 1885, beloved cavalryman Buffalo Bill Cody (Paul Newman) has hired a publicist and producer to help shape and promote his traveling Wild West show, which presents historically inaccurate reenactments of conflicts between U.S. troops and Native Americans. Cody hires Chief Sitting Bull (Frank Kaquitts) to play himself, as a villain, in stagings of the Battle of the Little Bighorn. But, to Cody's dismay, star performer Annie Oakley (Geraldine Chaplin) and spectators both take to Sitting Bull.
Director
Robert Altman
Producer
Robert Altman
Screenwriter
Robert Altman, Arthur Kopit, Alan Rudolph
Distributor
MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., Video Classics, United Artists
Production Co
De Laurentiis, Lion's Gate Films, Talent Associates Ltd.
Rating
PG
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Western
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 24, 1976, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 30, 2016
Runtime
2h 3m
Sound Mix
Stereo
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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