Custer

I remember being enthralled by this series as a kid and was disappointed when it ended. I endeavoured later to find out about the real Custer and am now enjoying the series again on DVD. Maunder plays Custer as an efficient and rather aloof officer which indeed he was. Custer was idolised during the Civil War but was reduced to fighting a tawdry war against the Indians during the 1870s. This series portrays that part of his life. It is highly fictionalised but elements of the truth keep bursting through from time to time...the relationship with Reno, the unlikely use of 'Gary Owen' as a marching tune, reluctance to follow orders and his love/hate banter between Terry and Custer. Production values are good and the guest stars excellent. Most episodes have a real air of excitement about them and the fact that Custer's sad fate is well known adds a poignancy to the proceedings. Wayne maunder's portrayal of Custer is excellent, far from being the glory seeking buffoon of many other 'epics', he plays Custer as he probably was,an efficient cavalry officer. Give this show a look, especially if you are a western fan, and you wont be disappointed. ps - The character of 'California Joe' was a real person.

I did not like this. I choked thru a few eps looking for Sawaya, Phil Carey, and William smith. I found them. I actually live about 40 minutes from Custer's birthplace. I don't think its something a town should brag about. He was arrogant and just really annoying among other things. I can honestly say in all due honesty he got just exactly what he deserved. This series kind of praised him and i don't think that's right. I understand some Indians were bad, but not all of them. We should be ashamed for what we did to them. But i choked thru a few eps, thank god it wasn't on very long. Course there are boo boos where they use 3 different horses for 1 scene. May never watch it again.

The Winchester rifle with the "half" magazine carried by the bad Indian agent in the premiere episode, "Sabers In The Sun," is the same one used by Paul Newman in HOMBRE.

Fully disagree with the bad reviews. This show was ahead of its time and was canceled (for the at the time) violence shown. The casting was good and with the great guest stars was not second rate. The show lacked historical accuracy (but not authenticity). The show was canceled not because of ratings but the studio concerns over the so called violent combat shown. I have all 16 episodes and the pilot and this show was underrated as was the other "Monroes" western at the time. Highly recommend for Western fans and for those who can appreciate the production values of the time (60's). Check out the episode featuring "Kirby" from Combat. Intense acting and well scripted drama. Maunder actually plays a smart and responsible Custer and not the foolhardy Custer of real life.

This review is based on the "theatrical" version of the series pilot.

"Awful" is about the kindest thing I can say. "Custer" shows the general disrespect (I'll avoid the obvious pun) of the TV networks for their audience. The idea that a TV drama aimed at a mass audience //might// be historically accurate and subtle was beyond their conception. The truth of Custer's life is a far-more interesting story than the fictions concocted here for the purpose of simple-minded story telling and the need to strip episodes in syndication.

In terms of historical accuracy, even if the viewers didn't know that Custer and Crazy Horse didn't have the convenient meeting portrayed here, they should be able to figure out that it's all too glib to be believable. Of course, Custer is portrayed as rash and self-centered, under constant criticism -- though one has to believe there must have been some palpable arrogance we don't see here.

Myles Keogh was an Irish soldier greatly respected during his life, and is still well-remembered in his homeland. He had the good sense to buy a $10,000 insurance policy not long before he was killed at the Little Big Horn. Other than Major Terry, everyone else is likely fictional.

Wayne Maunder is wiry and well-built, and his snug trousers show off his body to good effect (especially in fight scenes). But his looks are more "Hollywood handsome" than the rough manliness of the historic Custer.

The acting and directing are loud 'n noisy, as befits a cheaply made * TV series that would be viewed on small-screen TVs. The music is equally bad, a compilation of mindless action-movie clichés.

It's unfortunate Republic hasn't transferred "Son of the Morning Star" to DVD. (There are at least two pirated versions, one of them copied from the LaserDisc set.)

* I mean cheap in the sense of "turning out a product", rather than trying to create something of lasting value.