Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson (1976)

73% of critics liked it
(11 reviews)
52% of users liked it
(1,888 ratings)

"Truth is whatever gets the loudest applause." Debunking western myths even more than he did in McCabe and Mrs. Miller (1971), Robert Altman's Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson (1976) sardonically explores the gap between western history and legend in show biz-obsessed… More "Truth is whatever gets the loudest applause." Debunking western myths even more than he did in McCabe and Mrs. Miller (1971), Robert Altman's Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson (1976) sardonically explores the gap between western history and legend in show biz-obsessed America. Megalomaniac "Buffalo Bill" Cody (Paul Newman) assumes the legend created for him by writer Ned Buntline (Burt Lancaster), aided and abetted by his producer (Joel Grey) and his publicist (Kevin McCarthy), perpetuating myths of white triumph over savage "Injuns" in his Wild West show, as audiences cheer him on and buy his merchandise. But when Sitting Bull (Frank Kaquitts) joins the troupe with his interpreter (Will Sampson), his request for authenticity threatens to throw a wrench into the proceedings. Regardless of how Bill may feel about the facts, he must bow to the preferences of the paying public. ~ Lucia Bozzola, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr. 3 min.
Directed By: Robert Altman
Written By: Robert Altman & Alan Rudolph
Genres: Western, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Jun 24, 1976 Wide
On DVD: May 8, 2001
Studio: United Artists

Critic Reviews

Vincent Canby, New York Times
It's a sometimes self-indulgent, confused, ambitious movie that is often very funny and always fascinating.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
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.
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
Scabrous revues of myopic mythology
Tony Macklin, tonymacklin.net
Altman and crew have done the necessary reorganizing and reediting on Buffalo Bill and have created a terrific movie out of the troubled dust of what was. The first time I saw the movie in New York, it was explicit, contrived, and needed a lot of help.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Newman's inspired performance is top-notch.
Lori Hoffman, Atlantic City Weekly
Minor Robert Altman
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Altman at his perverse best.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Explores the interface between heroes, hypocrisy, and illusion....What kind of America has been passed on to us by historians?

Read all 8 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Lucas M

A simple, minor, funny and entretaining piece of art.
Graham J

Though a minor work, Newman is hilarious in the role and Altman paints another vivid picture.
Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]"Buffalo Bill and the Indians" is about the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show in 1885. Buffalo Bill Cody(Paul Newman) has just signed the legendary Indian Chief Sitting Bull to appear in his show. Buffalo BIll, here, is pictured as being a buffoon, a… More
[font=Century Gothic]"Buffalo Bill and the Indians" is about the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show in 1885. Buffalo Bill Cody(Paul Newman) has just signed the legendary Indian Chief Sitting Bull to appear in his show. Buffalo BIll, here, is pictured as being a buffoon, a drunkard and having a fetish for opera singers. Since this movie is directed by Robert Altman, it contains some of his normal flourishes - Shelly Duvall, socio-politcal statement, overlapping dialogue, and a large capable cast including Newman, Harvey Keitel, Joel Grey, Kevin McCarthy, Geraldine Chaplin and Burt Lancaster who in a small role nearly steals the movie.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"Buffalo Bill and the Indians" is a disappointing movie. It is certainly well-staged but none of the characters truly come to life, despite the cast. I get the feeling that Altman was trying to make a statement about the nature of entertainment vs. reality but it backfires especially because this movie is not as good as "Annie Get Your Gun"(1950) which was immensely entertaining despite its antideluvian gender politics. [/font]
Burger S

In the same off-beat comedy style as Robert Altman's M*A*S*H*.
Ashton R

I'm starting to really like Robert Altman films. He has a certain way of making usually boring characters and/or topics really interesting. This flick was particularly charming, and was actually quite hilarious too. Paul Newman played a very believable past-his-prime Buffalo… More
I'm starting to really like Robert Altman films. He has a certain way of making usually boring characters and/or topics really interesting. This flick was particularly charming, and was actually quite hilarious too. Paul Newman played a very believable past-his-prime Buffalo Bill with a kind of cynical, bitter intensity that was perfect for the character. It was also fun to see a very dorky Harvey Keitel who played the nephew of Bill; he's just so naive and gung-ho I found myself squeeing whenever he came on screen. It was slow at times, but the humour and just overall strangeness more than made up for it. Not for everyone, but still an interesting movie if nothing else.