Geronimo - An American Legend (1993)

53% of critics liked it
(17 reviews)
53% of users liked it
(7,684 ratings)

Walter Hill directs John Milius's script (co-written by Larry Gross) depicting a revisionist perspective on the "Geronimo Campaign" and how Geronimo, with 34 men, managed to elude 5000 U.S. cavalry men between 1885 and 1886 before his surrender at the Canyon of the Skeletons in September 1886. The… More Walter Hill directs John Milius's script (co-written by Larry Gross) depicting a revisionist perspective on the "Geronimo Campaign" and how Geronimo, with 34 men, managed to elude 5000 U.S. cavalry men between 1885 and 1886 before his surrender at the Canyon of the Skeletons in September 1886. The film centers upon Charles Gatewood (Jason Patric), the U.S. Cavalry lieutenant who is charged with capturing the elusive Apache leader. Gatewood is torn by a grudging respect for Geronimo and his people and his duty to his country. But then all the white men in the film have a respect for Geronimo, even as they are trying to hunt him down and kill him. General Charles Crook (Gene Hackman), charged with overseeing the forced settlement of the Apaches on reservations, has nothing but admiration for Geronimo. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 55 min.
Directed By: Walter Hill
Written By: John Milius, Larry Gross
Genres: Western, Drama, Action & Adventure

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1993 Wide
On DVD: Nov 17, 1998
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
A film of great beauty and considerable intelligence.
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Superior western, mostly historically accurate. Directed by Walter Hill with strong cast.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Visually, action director Hill may be paying tribute to Ford's Westerns in the way he positions the chase and fight scenes against the panormaic vistas, but this Geronimo is curiously bland, neither absorbing nor stirring.
Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily
A gorgeously shot, fair-minded Western that honors Geronimo and the Apaches, but doesn't demonize the U.S. Cavalry. Vastly underrated and far superior to Dances With Wolves.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
A sober-minded film directed by Walter Hill
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Not-half-bad historical biopic. A strong cast helps out a whole lot.

Read all 6 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Steven V

Geronimo was historically accurate and that they used Apache historians to assist. Geronimo shows alot of war and apaches killing white and mexican.
Moe E

I can't quite put my finger on what it was about Walter Hill's, Geronimo: An American Legend, that kept this from being an exceptional film. With a cast made up of Wes Studi, Gene Hackman, Robert Duvall, Jason Patric and Matt Damon, beautiful shots of the American Southwest… More
I can't quite put my finger on what it was about Walter Hill's, Geronimo: An American Legend, that kept this from being an exceptional film. With a cast made up of Wes Studi, Gene Hackman, Robert Duvall, Jason Patric and Matt Damon, beautiful shots of the American Southwest and a fairly accurate interpretation of historical events, it came across as being just an okay flick. Maybe I was a bit disconcerted by some of the utterly horrible headgear...LOL

Cast

            Jason Patric as Lt. Charles Gatewood

            Gene Hackman as Brigadier General George Crook

            Robert Duvall as Al Sieber

            Wes Studi as Geronimo

            Matt Damon as Lieutenant Britton Davis

            Rodney A. Grant as Mangas

            Kevin Tighe as Brigadier General Nelson Miles

            Steve Reevis as Chato

            Carlos Palomino (II) as Sgt. Turkey

            Victor Aaron as Ulzana

            Stuart Proud Eagle Grant as Sergeant Dutchy

            Stephen McHattie as Schoonover

            Jim Beaver as Proclamation Officer

            Mark Boone Jr. as Afraid Miner

            Roger Callard as Sgt. Mulrey

            Luis Contreras as Rurale Officer

            Lee de Broux as City Marshall Hawkins

            John Finn as Capt. Hentig

            M.C. Gainey as Unafraid Miner

            Greg Goossen as Schoonover Gang

            David Barry Gray
            
            George Lee as Native American

            Walter Robles as Schoonover Gang

            Michael Ruud as Chaplain

            Anthony Schmidt as Schoonover Gang

            Sonny Skyhawk as Schoonover Gang

            Rino Thunder as Old Nana

            Jonathan Ward as C.S. Fly

            Scott Wilson as Redondo

            Michael Adams as Schoonover Gang

            Robert Erickson as Cavalryman

            Hoke Howell as Billy Pickett

            Reuben Cannon
            
            Pato Hoffmann as The Dreamer

            Jesus Franco as Native American

            Richard Martin
            
            Michael Stein as Cavalryman

            August Schellenberg
            
            Joseph Running Fox
            
See full cast