Customer Reviews

Soldier Blue

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

NOTE: This review of SOLDIER BLUE applies to the uncut version released by Lionsgate in 2006 and not the 'PG' version that had been on video for years.

Released in the late summer of 1970, SOLDIER BLUE concerns itself with a disenfranchised U.S. cavalry officer (Peter Strauss), one of only two survivors of a savage attack on an Army payroll train by Cheyenne Indians in Colorado, who falls in love with the other survivor, a white woman (Candace Bergen) who had been raised by the Cheyenne. Although cut off from his unit, Strauss refuses to believe that the U.S. Army is acting with undue harshness towards the Indians, until his experiences with Bergen show him otherwise. Making their way across hostile territory, and for a moment in the clutches of a deranged gun runner (Donald Pleasance), they reach an Army fort where they learn of a plan by a vengeance-minded general (John Anderson) to destroy the Cheyenne.

Bergen and Strauss warn the Cheyenne villagers of this possibility. When Anderson's troop appears on the outskirts of the village, the Indians raise an American flag as if in supplication. Anderson, however, is unmoved; and all Bergen and Strauss can do is watch as the Cheyenne and their village are totally annihilated.

SOLDIER BLUE, directed by Ralph Nelson (CHARLY, LILIES OF THE FIELD), is unique because it was the first western of its kind to really paint the Army as inherently evil. Given that it was based on the infamous 1864 Sand Creek massacre and that it equated mistreatment of the Cheyenne with the revelations of the My Lai massacre in Vietnam at the time of its release, this is not surprising--though contrary to what some might say, it is also not politically (let alone realistically) correct.

Until Lionsgate, the studio responsible for FAHRENHEIT 9/11, restored the and re-released the film on DVD last year, however SOLDIER BLUE could only be seen in a severely cut form, allowing for the 'PG' rating it had for so long. In reality, in its original form here, it was considerably notorious because of its extreme violence, particularly the horrific final massacre. As such, it exceeded even the levels of violence in THE WILD BUNCH and would almost certainly challenge the opening of SAVING PRIVATE RYAN for sheer war-related carnage. It nearly got an 'X' rating, but came away with an 'R'. It was then edited for re-release down to a 'PG', with much of the violence cut.

That said, however, Bergen and Strauss, who were practically unknown at the time, deliver fairly good performances; and the on-location shooting in central Mexico is breathtakingly panoramic when it's not focusing in on the violence angle. Roy Budd's score is also appropriate, with noted folk singer Buffy Sainte-Marie (a Cree Indian) contributing songs to the soundtrack.

Now that it is in its uncut form, it is up for the viewer to judge the merits of this, the FAHRENHEIT 9/11 of the Western genre. It still isn't an easy film to like, and almost certainly there will be those that loathe it not only for its violence but also its admittedly hyperbolic view of the Army. Nevertheless, it can and should be seen now in its original form so that people can come to terms with its painful message about our genocidal mistreatment of the Native American.

I first saw this film while I was a college freshman, and at the time volunteering to tutor Indian kids in central Wisconsin. Another reviewer referred to it as an "anti-Vietnam War" film. It was that only in that it was timely, i.e., while we heard that the great US forces were freeing the Vietnamese peasants from commie tyranny, we were actually slaughtering them.

The story is based on a novel. That, in fact, is why I can only give it four stars. It's about the Sand Creek massacre, one of many slaughters of the red man, that occured in the 1860s. Many have challenged the historical accuracy of the story. I reiterate, it's based on a novel. But novels can be based predominantly on fact.

"Conventional wisdom," a leading myth of the American mind, has been that everything we do is benevolent. We were making the lives better for the Indians when we took over their land, we did the same in Vietnan--that mythology extends to what we're doing in the Middle East today! But the reality is very different.

Sure there are weaknesses of the story. If you're looking for historical accuracy, you'll find more in this than you will with most "war movies." Yet all leave something to be desired.

At the risk of being labeled and "American hater," I'll point out that this film's story needed/needs to be told. That's why I recommend it so strongly. In short, we're not as benevolent as we'd like to think.

The acting was great, the story not for the weak of stomach. But see it if you want the less conventional view of how we really "moved West," and why the US is challenged as a purveyor of "democracy."

With its stark re-creation of the massacre of Native Americans at the hands of a volunteer U.S. Army during the American Civil War, it's no surprise that "Soldier Blue" has been largely buried by cable and broadcast TV. When a local station was brave enough to air it--uncensored, no less--years ago, I was stunned at the depiction not only of sadistic violence, but overt racism and genocide that most westerns have chosen to whitewash or ignore to avoid offending mainstream audiences. That said, it's not easy to watch "Soldier Blue" without recoiling at the visciousness of so-called civilized people who defended their actions by labelling everyone else "savages." Peter Strauss plays a wayward cavalry soldier who teams up with a frontier-savvy immigrant (Candice Bergen) on the eve of a brutal attack by the army (based loosely on Chivington's massacre of the Cheyenne at Sand Creek) He quickly comes to realize who the real savages are but is nonetheless powerless to prevent the gleeful slaughter that includes rape and dismemberment. "Soldier Blue" may remind viewers of "Little Big Man" and "Dances with Wolves"--and there are striking similarities--but despite their higher production values, neither film seems to capture the sheer venom of actions and attitudes against Native Americans. (The film itself stops short of depicting the full range of brutality.) Still, "Soldier Blue" is far from a perfect film--the acting at times is over-the-top and the parallels to the Viet Nam War (think: My Lai Massacre) detract from the film's focus. Watch it not as great cinema but as a glimpse of an American West we usually don't get to see.

To all reviewers of this film that have expressed frustration with it being released full-frame, Amazon, as of the date of this writing, has simply listed the wrong ratio. If you look at the top of the box cover, it leaves little doubt.

Soldier Blue was made as a biting allegory of the Vietnam war. It divided critics at the time of its release and indeed, continues to do so. It is extremely brutal but not gratuitously so. The appalling acts depicted are shown from the point of view that this actually happened, as opposed to well lets give the audience some gore. People seeing the film tend to be shocked from the former point of view as opposed to the latter.

The film opens deceptively with a Cheyenne massacre of a US Cavalry troop guarding a pay chest. The survivors of the massacre are one naive boy soldier and a savvy, young frontier woman, played superbly by Peter Strauss, and Candice Bergen respectively. Their adventures and subsequent romance are then chronicled. Along the way they encounter Donald Pleasance's superbly sinister arms smuggler. The film's climax is a savage massacre of a Cheyenne village by the US Army - based on the real life events at Sand Creek, Colorado. In an orgy of blood lust, women and children are slaughtered and body parts are taken as trophies. By this time the film has swung 180 degrees from its opening, and has established the root cause of the suffering which is the white man's treatment of the native american. During all this, Strauss' character has changed from naive volunteer soldier to conscientious objector while the character of Candice Bergen remains the hope of reconciliation and co-existence.

The film is brutally honest and makes its point more effectively than other bigger budget films of the same genre eg. Dances With Wolves. Sadly the film is not readily available in the USA. I would strongly urge MGM who now own the rights to re release the film on dvd, preferably in its completely uncut version (The film is available on both dvd and vhs here in the UK but it is the cut version). In the current climate where Fahrenheit 9/11 is generating massive interest in the US, the re release of a brutally honest recreation of a bloody piece of American history would be timely and well received. In the meantime, if you can get a copy, I strongly urge people to see this film and form their own conclusions.

As a footnote the film has been released on dvd in its completely uncut version in Germany, as of July 2004. The film looks absolutely fantastic on dvd, picture and sound quality are incredible for a film of this age. Having just seen this version, has made me realise that the 'uncut' version I saw in the UK years ago was in fact slightly cut. Therefore, be warned, this version is very strong viewing, indeed. Any previously 'uncut' version that you saw in the past probably was in fact censored to some degree. This version of the film is titled 'Das Wiegenlied Vom Totschlag' and is available from Amazon De, which is where I got my copy from. It is a Region 2/Pal dvd, so just be aware that your dvd player may not be able to play this format. Definitely a film worth upgrading to multi region play though.
Technical details as follows:
- Title is Das Wiegenlied Vom Totschlag
- Sound is Dolby Digital mono.
- Format is 16.9 anamorphic
- Area is Region 2/Pal
- Extras are a theatrical trailer
- Running time is 110 mins.
- Languages available are English, German, Italian, and Spanish

But why, oh WHY is Lion's Gate submitting to the full screen stupidity ?????

1970 Directed by Ralph Nelson and stars Candice Bergen, Peter Strauss and Donald Pleasence. The climatic slaughter at the end is pretty intense and the message not to be taken lightly.

I enjoyed the interplay between Bergen and Strauss and these conversations between the two made the circumstances more personal but to bring together the message with such a bloody jolt at the end was truely disturbing.

This movie was not well recieved in it's day but personally I've always liked it and am glad it has finally come to DVD but at a price--NOT in panavision as it was filmed.

What the heck is going on with this industry ?? I used to respect Lion's Gate and it's ability to release such wonders of the past but with this in full screen ? C'mon....WAKE UP TO WHAT .....we...we...WE...WE...WE WANT !!!!!!!! Stop with this full screen crap, All of You STOP WITH THIS FULL SCREEN CRAP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If a movie was released in full screen, then don't dupe the public and 'pretend' your releasing a widescreen version for the idiots out here and by the same token if a movie was released in widescreen why do you insult us by offering less than the artistic intention ??? I am so pissed off right now I can't say any more. OK, I'll say one more thing. What about ICEMAN in full screen too.???? Will some of you please join me in this protest of the wholesale RAPE of the ART OF MOVIEMAKING and what the DVD industry is attempting to pawn off on us ?????

I agree that the uncut version should be released in this country. I saw the original in England many years ago and have NEVER forgotten it. Most people in this Country have not seen this Movie as I believe it was banned for many years. A History lesson for one and all. Five stars to the uncut version.

Three stars was from an earlier review before I'd seen the product (and was unsure whether it was widescreen and uncut). If I could change it, I'd give it five.

I agree with those who share their frustration over improper use of aspect ratios. Luckily, the Amazon information is incorrect, and this version is in fact the full 115-minute running time and it is widescreen. The senseless destruction of the film's climactic scene has allegory of its time with My Lai, and of today with Iraq. A must-see film. Unfortunately, the promotion of this reissue seems very lackluster, thus all but ensuring its continued marginalization into the 21st century. But kudos for making the film available properly here in the States, where it most needs to be seen.

Ralph Nelson, the director, began in television and much of "Soldier Blue" has a tv quality, e. g., the tight focus on the two leads, the adequate but relatively modest production values, even the annoying musical score that seeks to lead the viewer into a "certified" emotional response.

That said, the film is quite striking nevertheless: the performances by Candice Bergen and Peter Strauss are probably the most memorable of their careers, with Bergen a delight as the profane, independent young woman. The characterizations actually reverse the expectations of the helpless lady from the East (Bergen's "Chresta Marybelle Lee" is from New York City but she is no "lady") and the trail-wise cavalryman (Strauss, also in a very fine performance, is naive, rather prissy and only accidentally adequate as a frontiersman) in that it is Bergen who understands the environment, evinces the most courage and Western savvy, and who is the most powerful voice of sanity and humane conscience -- despite her seeming "utilitarian" philosophy.

The final section of the film is of course the most controversial but it is really (especially in the edited version) only a truncated look at the historical atrocity of the Sand Creek Massacre (only one among many by the way, and unfortunately not unusual), upon which it is based. With its contemporary, Arthur Penn's more artistically accomplished "Little Big Man," "Soldier Blue" has attempted to show what the conventional celebrations of American military conquest rarely reveal, namely its base in racism, crude jingoism and gross brutality. The final scene of the braver-and-wiser (now "radicalized") "Honus Gant" (Strauss), chained behind a cargo wagon as a "traitor" (a charge with which he had formerly accused "Chresta"), while a deerskin-clothed Bergen, now moving off with the remnant of Cheyenne survivors, beams at him through tear-streaming eyes is reminiscent of the moving last meeting between Kirk Douglas as "Spartacus," crucified at a Roman gate, and Jean Simmons as his wife "Varinia," defiantly revealing to him their baby son who will now live in freedom in that 1960 epic.

This movie, most will say I think, could have been better; yet it is, despite so many flaws, a true "minor masterpiece": it has something worthwhile to say and says it so that you will always remember. The lead actors (Donald Pleasence is also -- as always -- remarkable as a "prairie scum" worthy of the legendary Strother Martin and L. Q. Jones) create characters with strong human qualities, good and bad; you will like the two leads, identify with them, and I hope, become "better" as they become better in their understanding and their courage to dissent against unjust war.

After attempting to physically hold a copy of "Soldier Blue" in my hand to see what picture format it's in, I gave up trying to find a copy in three "box stores" local to my area. I was told by one store (after waiting three weeks for it to show up) that their distributor had run out of copies and it would be another 3 to 5 weeks before they could order anymore copies. So, I took a chance and ordered this DVD from Amazon. I ordered it Thursday and it came today. Here is what I found listed on the back of the DVD under "Special Features".
. English and Spanish Subtitles
. Closed Captioned
. Scene Selection
. Digitally Mastered
. Dolby Monaural Audio
and the final word on picture format: . 16 X 9 Widescreen!
"Widescreen" is also shown on the front of the DVD at the very top.

Thank you Lion's Gate and thank you Amazon!

Oh, yeah. Did I mention this DVD is shown in the Widescreen format rather than the Full Screen format? Well, it is!

HJJ