L'indien

Typical of the early seventies, after - or during - the success of SOLDIER BLUE and othe LITTLE BIG MAN, I mean the Natives Americans living conditions...I did not expect such a film from director Carold Reed, though he gave us, seven years earlier, THE RUNNING MAN, starring Larry Harvey, also surprising from him. However THE RUNNING MAN was closer to THE THIRD MAN, in terms of plot, than this FLAP - THE LAST WARRIOR, scheme. Martin Ritt, and his social involvement (HOMBRE) would have been more "predictable" in the choice of the director than Carol Reed. But it remains a good film. But I persist and sign: Martin Ritt, or Sid Pollack would have been more "concerned" in such a plot. Or John Frankenheimer.

This movie shows somewhat of an Indian resistance movement before the American Indian Movement of 1973. I never read the book "Nobody Loves a Drunken Indian", but it sounds like a good book. It was probably better than this movie. This movie might have been better with more Indian actors in it, but, then, would it have had enough star power to attract viewers? Now for the movie: I remember a 1940s Chevrolet truck in it. There was a horse that was hard to ride with a saddle on it. An Indian destroys a white man's bulldozer, but later some Indians get together with the owner for a bender. It seems the Indians had an old deed or treaty that gave them title to the land under a city. Seems like maybe the city was Phoenix. Some Indians go to the city to serve notice. Will they get very far?

The sentiment is appreciated but not the execution. The ongoing plight of the Native American is the worthy subject but having the key roles played by whites was the usual Hollywood BS and comes across as exploitative and stereotyped. Quinn was a great actor but his drunken bear of a man routine wears out fast, as it did in A Dream of Kings.

Tears and laughs, this is what I remember about seeing this

movie in the late 70's. The Last Warrior was the title I knew it under, turns out, this was

the title they used in Europe for it, and it's a much better title than

Flap. I read the book, in it's German translation. I still like it. Wish I could see it again, my memory is a little fuzzy on it, but in my

mind, it was a great movie, tearing at my emotional strings. At that time, I would have considered it racially progressive, as it

employed Native American actors and spotlighted the plight of life

on reservations. I don't know how I would judge it today, but 20+ years ago, I gave it an A++ rating.

Flapping Eagle (Anthony Quinn) is an Indian living on a poor reservation. He and his friends struggle to make a living while dealing with racist cops like Sgt. Rafferty whenever they leave their reservation. They get drunk and grow apathetic. His buddy Eleven Snowflake actually publishes an obituary in the newspaper. Flap has an idea to lead a revolt with Eleven writing the story.

There is one moment when the movie surprised me with an opportunity for a great turn. When the construction supervisor takes the turn, this could become something. There is an over-arching issue with this story. These guys are drunks and they're not funny drunks. It's pathetic and rather annoying. He needs to get clean as the inciting incidence for his activism. Once he's clean, he gets a new vision of his purpose in life. That's a better character progression. As it stands, he's all over the place. The movie wants to be a comedy but frustration with him also frustrates the humor. It's a bumpy road but it does eventually get to the right place.