Grauadler

I'm going to make a suggestion here. When you watch this movie for the second time, turn down the volume completely. Make up your own wonderful scripting and music. Somehow, the scenes, acting, and storyline make complete sense and the movie becomes a wonderful exploration of images from a first rate motion picture that might have been. There are moments of incredible color and western imagery that are delightful to see, even if they fall far short of being the reality of the era depicted. Sorta reminded me of a nice western novel you picked up in a shop while in the airport. There's Alex Cord and Lana Wood in a classic lover's pose on the front cover with Iron Eyes Cody looking on in the background. Perfect Native Americans, who of course, are not native at all. This motion picture had everything it needed to be a wonderfully engaging drama with spectacular filming and broad scope. Yet, somehow during its production, it simply became a good children's tale. So, the question here is; how do you manage to get the money and all these industry tools, Ben Johnson, Jack Elam, and all those great actors, and turn a wonderful movie into this? I don't know. But, it saddens me.

When a homesteader (Ben Johnson)'s daughter (a gorgeous Lana Wood, Natalie Wood's sister) is abducted by a Cheyenne Indian (Alex Cord), one of the greatest Cheyenne warriors who ever lived , the father launches a search for her recovery . He's is accompanied by an Indian friend (Iron Eyes Cody) and a frontiersman (Jack Elam). They spend time doggedly pursuing his kidnapped daughter when are attacked by a bunch of nasty Indians and then the hard-hearted trapper takes revenge .

This nice and well-paced Western contains adventure , interesting characters , romance , shootouts and spectacular fights . Action Western is pretty good , stylishly developed , a first-rate story and powerful told too . A great featured-role acting by veteran Jack Elam leads some eye-catching supporting performance along with Ben Johnson and Paul Fix . Appears relevant secondary actor named Iron Eyes Cody , usual player Indian roles (¨Great Sioux Massacre¨, ¨Sitting Bull¨, ¨A man called Horse¨) , though actually of Sicilian origin . Full of wide open spaces with breathtaking landscapes exceptionally filmed ; however it is necessary an urgent remastering because of the film copy is worn-out . The flick was well directed by Charles B Pierce who even appears credited in a brief role . He's an expert on terror genre (¨The Evictors¨ , ¨Boggy Crek¨ I, and II , ¨The town that dreaded sundown¨) and Western (¨Hawken's breed¨, ¨The winds of autumn¨, and ¨Winterhawk¨ realized in similar style to ¨Grayeagle¨). This big-scale adventure will appeal to Indian Western fans because you will find impressive battles and an ending haunting or over-melodramatic according your tastes . Rating : Good , worth a look for fans of Western.

This film started off well enough (apart from the curious scene with the mysterious rider silhouetted in the setting sun on the horizon contrasting with the cabin in full sunlight) but its last 30 minutes or so dragged along when they should have been more exciting. Very few of the Native Americans looked realistic, one exception being Standing Bear, ironically played by Iron Eyes Cody, whose heritage has been queried in other reviews.

Talking of whom, I couldn't work out the significance of his flashback halfway through the film, when a young Running Wolf visits Standing Bear's cabin and ominously eyes his young daughter (or wife?) who looks nothing like a Native American. Was she to become the mother of Beth, who was later adopted by the Colters? Enigmatic scenes like this make me wish for the IMDB Message boards (discussion forum) of a decade ago where I might have been enlightened.

The version I saw was the full 104-minute version. Perhaps the 60-minute UK cut was less puzzling.

Great cinematography, and it's always good to see Ben Johnson and Jack Elam.

This poorly-made movie has a surrealistic tone to it that numbs the mind. Details of why crucial events are unfolding seem sketchy and unfinished. Perhaps that was the director's intent, except for the fact that the whole film lacks any semblance of direction. Nor is there much in the way of acting, dialogue, plot or cinematography. The resolution is out of focus and painfully obvious political correctness abounds, typical for its time frame. In fact, Grayeagle seems like a lousy hallucinogenic drug trip, especially when viewed at three AM. One of Alex Cord and Ben Johnson's worst efforts, and I'm a fan of both actors---a real waste of their talents and of the viewer's time.

This tale features the corny professionalism that makes American International Pictures so fun to watch. Although politically incorrect and revisionist, it touches the heart. The viewer sees the late Natalie Wood's sister giving it her all. Alex Cord goes against type to be genuine in his depiction. Western fixtures Ben Johnson, Jack Elam, Paul Fix, Charles Pierce, etc., enhance any horse opera. Critics, use your free rental coupon to watch 'Dances with Wolves'. Fans of Samuel Z. Arkoff, get the popcorn ready. You'll also need a handkerchief and a strong stomach for the implied violence. Just sit back and enjoy the show.