Johnny Tiger

My sister and I saw this movie when we were in our teens. We were simply in awe of Chad Everett and watched it over and over. We have looked high and low trying to find a copy of it on tape or dvd and it is simply not for sale any more. We found it to be funny, serious and thought provoking all at the same time. We would love to find a copy for our home viewing.

I was barely out of my teens when I visited the set to see my father, Glenn Kirkpatrick, who was camera assistant, and his friend, Charlie O'Rork (camera operator). They had shot one of producer John Hugh's earlier films, "Yellowneck".

I was looking for the working title, "The Cry of the Laughing Owls", then remembered it was released as "Johnny Tiger".

I remember being impressed with the power of the very presence of Robert Taylor. I saw a scene where Gereldine Brooks finished a scene with Taylor in bed (both were fully clothed) and was struck by the intimacy of that simple scene.

I though that Tay Garnet started directing the film and was replaced by Paul Wendkos, but that was a long time ago. I distinctly remember Wendkos getting very upset by the frequent clouds that passed in front of the sun, which would change the lighting in the midst of filming. He began exclaiming "FLORIDA!" as if it were spelled with four letters.

I remember the director ordered the set crew to "age" the beautiful little schoolhouse exterior to look broken down. He wanted the actors to develop and internalize the changes that take place in Johnny Tiger and the community.

Probably the most memorable moments off screen were those created by Chad Everett, who, in full Indian make up and attire ate his lunch off a buck knife. Little boys, who were dressed as little Seminole Indians, sat awe-struck at his feet.

Unfortunately I've never seen the final film.

They filmed Johnny Tiger in Longwood Florida when I was about 13, or 14. They shot some scenes in the Longwood Hotel, that was behind my house, and also DownTown and behind the Railroad tracks at the Train Depot.. My family became friends with some of the actors, and they asked if I would consider playing a young Indian Girl who was suppose to be drowning and Robert Taylor was going to rescue me! Was I ever excited. They dug a trench behind the Depot and filled it with water. Anyway, it was fun! I don't know if they cut the scene or not, as I never saw the movie, but that was the thrill of my young life!Plus, we got to meet all the actors!

Johnny Tiger was a film that Robert Taylor hoped would help him transition to older more mature roles. He's a man of academia who's taken a position on a Seminole Indian reservation in Florida. While there, he encounters the charming and reckless title character played by Chad Everett.

Everett is the grandson of the old chief Sam Tiger played by Ford Rainey. The grandson and grandfather are estranged as Everett has been too long living in the white man's world and won't assume his rightful place in the tribal councils.

In a plot gambit obviously taken from The Corn Is Green, Taylor recognizes Everett as a most intelligent young man. Not quite Will Hunting type smart, nevertheless Everett has the potential for bigger and better things.

Taylor feels it's those backward Indian ways holding him back. Education and literacy are the answer and he develops a messianic fervor on the subject. Taylor would be described today as a secular humanist, but he does learn the wisdom of Hamlet's words to Horatio about there being more things on heaven and earth than are dreamed of in your philosophy.

If Johnny Tiger was made today, it would be a natural project for Lou Diamond Phillips with his partially Cherokee heritage no one would object to the casting. You could never get away with casting Ford Rainey and Marc Lawrence who plays the Seminole medicine man in Indian roles today. Still they are not bad in them and those players, Everett included, do not insult or demean the people they portray.

Probably this film should have made its debut on television. I remember it being released back in the day as the second half of a double bill with a Munster film. Not exactly an opportunity to showcase the players, including most importantly Robert Taylor.

Geraldine Brooks plays the government doctor on the reservation and she's a most fetching female who tries very hard to humanize Taylor and derail him from his mission which is essentially to destroy what little is left of the Seminole culture. Brenda Scott is Taylor's daughter who gets involved with Everett, further complicating things.

Johnny Tiger is not a bad film, it was never really given a chance to find its audience back in the day.

Though I do wonder about where Seminole Indians would have heard of tigers from the real India.

"Johnny Tiger" is a film you could never make today without major revisions to the script and the casting. While it was likely seen as a rather progressive film in its day, today it is a bit tough to watch.

Robert Taylor plays George Dean, a man who just got a job teaching children on the Seminole reservation in Southern Florida. The sort of person he is becomes obvious early in the film...he has come to 'civilize' all the 'savage children' and show them the value of education. In other words, he's trying to impose his values and education on these people...and the Seminole are naturally suspicous of the man.

Oddly, within seconds of meeting the perennially bare-chested Johnny Tiger, Dean is determined to get the young man educated and sent to college. He NEVER asks Johnny what he wants nor his values...he just KNOWS what's good for Johnny. To make things more difficult, Johnny and Dean's oldest daughter start to fall in love.

The notion of having all the major Seminole roles played by white actors in body paint was acceptable in 1966...and certainly not today. Likewise, Johnny is supposed to be half white and half Seminole...and they cast pretty Chad Everett in the role instead of someone who looks like they could be a 'half-breed' (what he's called throughout the film) and without painting him with dark body paint. But remember...this is the same time period where movies like "White Comanche" was made...with William Shatner playing a Comanche! Yes, THAT Shatner!

I think the film is very earnest but it makes Taylor too bigoted and narrow-minded for today's audiences. Now, he is written this way deliberately AND there's the white lady doctor who does NOT share his paternalistic views...so to be fair, Dean is NOT supposed to be the model of decency and respect. But he mostly comes off as oblivious and mean. The idea of the white teacher learning and growing out of his outmoded preconceptions is sound...just making his that awful is a mistake.

So despite the film's many problems, is it worth seeing? Well, it depends. I've seen nearly every Robert Taylor film...so me watching it makes sense. It also might make sense to see how times have changed for the better. But there must be better stories than this one...though, now that I think about it, very few Hollywood films ever address modern native America and its culture.