Absolutely Fantastic

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

If you grew up wanting to become a cowboy, following the legendary adventures of Buffalo Bill Cody, you'll definitely want to check out one of the several biopics made in Hollywood and on television. I've only seen the 1944 version and his fictional portrayal in the musical Annie Get Your Gun. Buffalo Bill follows his friendship with Native Americans and shows his courtship and marriage to Louisa, played by Maureen O'Hara.Since this movie was made during the good ol' Hollywood era of racism, the Native American characters who were prominent enough to have dialogues with the leads were played by "ethnics" Anthony Quinn and Linda Darnell, who were subjugated to these types of roles throughout their careers. Maureen O'Hara's character is given a healthy dose of racism, but it's never really addressed, just accepted. As usual, she overacts every line, and contrasted with Joel McCrea's wooden, monotone delivery, both actors come across as incredibly mismatched. He's so incredibly boring, and the rest of the production values are pretty cheap. Unless you absolutely love Joel McCrea, check out another version.

Biopic of legendary frontiersman Buffalo Bill Cody, ably played by Joel McCrea. He fights with and for Native Americans. The two women in his life are senator's daughter Maureen O'Hara and Cheyenne schoolteacher Linda Darnell. O'Hara gets the guy but Darnell is radiant in Technicolor. Her character's name is Dawn Starlight, which is possibly my favorite name ever. The rest of the cast is solid, with Thomas Mitchell, Edgar Buchanan, and Anthony Quinn offering fine support. There's more fiction than fact here, as is usually the case with Hollywood biopics. It's pleasant, straightforward storytelling. Good but never quite as good as you hoped it would be.

The story of Buffalo Bill (Joel McCrea) is showed basically in two parts, beginning in 1877: in the West, when he meets his future wife Louisa Frederici Cody (Maureen O'Hara), his friendship with the Indians, specially with Yellow Hand (Anthony Quinn), and his work, as an explorer of the wild West, ending when his wife returns to the East with his baby son and with a battle against the Cheyenne. The second part begins when he moves to the East, loses his son, separates from his wife, defends the Indians in the civilized society until his retirement. I liked this movie a lot: the battle scenes are fantastic, the story has action, romance, drama and is not corny. I do not know whether the facts are correctly presented or not, but as a movie, it is a great entertainment, recommended for all audiences. Maureen O'Hara's beauty is stunning. My vote is nine.Title (Brazil): `Buffalo Bill'

I first saw this film in 1944 in Denver, CO., and the last time just recently. It is truly an excellent film. Having lived mostly in Arizona I can certainly understand the plight of the Native American Indian throughout the history of our country.There is a scene in the movie where Buffalo Bill is being honored at a dinner given by a Mr. Vandervere(George Lessey). During the introduction of Buffalo Bill, Mr. Vandervere attributes the quote, "The only good indian is a dead indian" to General William T. Sherman. Sherman may have uttered the quote but it is attributed to General Philip H. Sheridan.Actually, the quote,"The only good indian is a dead indian" is a historical proverb of unknown origin. Edward Ellis in his book, THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY: FROM THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA TO THE PRESENT TIME(1895) titles a short paragraph, "Sheridan's Bon Mot". Ellis relates an event from an eyewitness account of Captain Charles Nordstrom. It was the writer's good fortune to be present when General Sheridan uttered the Bon Mot in January of 1869 at old Fort Cobb in Indian Territory, now Oklahona, shortly after Custer's fight with Black-Kettle's Band of Cheyennes. Old Toch-a-way(turtle dove), a chief of the Commanches, on being presented to General Sheridan, desired to impress the General in his favor. Striking himself a resounding blow on the breast, he managed to say, "Me, Toch-a-way, me good injun." A quizzical smile lit up the General's face as he set those standing by in a roar by saying, "The only good indians I ever saw were dead." In later years,General Sheridan denied he ever made the comment.