Customer Reviews

When the Legends Die [VHS]

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Since I already am a Richard Widmark and Frederick Forrest fan AND familar with alcoholic behavior it was easy to appreciate this film. I have not read the book but I have read about the book so I understand that this movie did not accurately represent the entire book, but I felt it was still a very thoughtful film. Especially where the exploitation, bigotry and insensitivity were depicted. The cinematography, direction and performances all worked well together to make this, what I call, a legitimate endeavor.

I picked up this movie because we were reading this novel in my freshman class that I teach. I was pretty disappointed overall. The condition of this video was awful. Although it is a video made in 1986, it seems quite older. The acting was hokey and low-budget and the film quality is lousy, being grainy and amateurish.

As far as the movie portraying Borland's novel, it does a marginal job. Tom Black Bull, the story's protagonist, must learn to live in two different worlds-- the Ute Indian's and the white man's. Although he is adept at learning the "new ways", Tom seems to find a longing to return to his roots. He meet a man named Red, a shady character who helps Tom to become a bull rider and make his way into the rodeo circuit. While the basic plot of the movie is there, the feel of the novel is lacking. There doesn't seem to be an effort to make the story feel important.

Although a rare video that is hard to find, I suggest you pass on this one unless you absolutely need it. I would give this a 1 1/2 stars.

This movie has going for the great scenery of the southwest. It is one of the best real life rodeo movies of the seveties. The conflect between the charactors is full of the stuggles we all find when we choose to find our way in a world we sometimes do not understand. It is also a coming home of sorts.

An aging ex rodeo star takes in a young soft spoken native kid who wants to be in the world of professinal bullriding. As the two men win contests all over they end up fighting because Red, (WIDMARK) Wants to win at any cost. A great coming of age story and yet it shows that bullriding isn't glamours it is really a way of life for some people. Another excellent performance from Richard Widmark. The film is certainly an unsung classic dealing with the strain of the ordinary life between a man and a boy.