An offbeat Western dealing with a cynical and extremely famous character Buffalo Bill (Paul Newman) , alongside his troupe : the producer (Kevin McCarthy) , the Publicist (Joel Grey) , the show shooter Annie Oakley (Geraldine Chaplin) , the wrangler (Robert DoQui) , the Bartender (Bert Remsen) , among others . Along the way , Buffalo hires Sitting Bull to exploit him and adding his credibility , introducing him in his personal Wild West Show . As Buffalo Bill schemes to put on his own Wild West sideshow , and while Chief Sitting Bull (Frank Kaquitts) has agreed to appear in it . Nevertheless , the rebel Indian Chief Sitting Bull has really his own hidden agenda by involving other known people as the USA President (Pat McCormick) , his wife the Firt Lady (Shelley Duvall) and General Custer. The wildest Wild West show of them all !
This is Robert Altman's peculiar and offbeat exposure of the great western hero . In his particular way , Altman considers Buffalo Bill as a fraud and a charlatan , giving a demythification of this popular figure , delivering a distorted view of history ; being made with the filmmaker's customary dark humour , overtalking and flourish . That's why it was panned by many critics , deeeming it as a rough ride , tiring and overlong . An interesting film , though tedious at times ; dealing with the theme of distorted history and the delusion of celebrity , including appearance of some historical characters as Annie Oakley , Sitting Bull , President Cleveland and Buffalo Bill himself who's competently played by Paul Newman , portraying as a shameless exemplar of encroaching imperialism . And a great support cast , such as : Geraldine Chaplin as the Sure Shot , Burt Lancaster , Joel Grey , Kevin McCarthy , Harvey Keitel , Will Sampson , Robert DoQui , Mike Kaplan, Denver Pyle , Bert Remsen , all of them are fun to watch as they interact like jazz musicians performing adequately their respective roles.
This historical pastiche was realized by Robert Altman his special style , providing ordinary signature mise-in-scene . Being a perennially underrated flick that is whether praised or lousily criticised .This is one of the most uncharacteristic of this filmmaker and being lightly heavy in parts, along with the ethereal qualities of his later works . This one was made after the hit MASH and subsequently Altman to develop a prolific and successful career . After his television works , first film's Altman was in 1957 The James Dean Story , following Countdown 1967 , the big hit MASH and a series of successes and some flops , such as : That Cold Day in the Park, McCabe and Mrs Miller , Images , The Long Goodbye , Thieves like us , California Split , Nashville , Buffalo Bill and the Indians , 3 Women , A Wedding , A perfect Couple , Health , Quintet, Popeye , Secret Honor , Streamers , Fool for Love , Beyond Therapy , Aria , Short Cuts , Kansas City, The Gingerbread Man , Dr T and the women , Gosford Park, The Company , and several others . Rating : 6/10 . Passable and acceptable .
