Little Big Man Review

Little Big Man
An aged veteran of the old west recounts his life story with amusing elaborations.

by Kim Newman |
Published on
Release Date:

14 Dec 1970

Running Time:

147 minutes

Certificate:

15

Original Title:

Little Big Man

Arthur Penn's take on Thomas Berger's novel is an epic Western with a demythologising streak. Dustin Hoffman is the last survivor of Little Big Horn and narrates his experiences in the Wild West, bouncing between rotten whites and dignified Indians as General Custer (Richard Mulligan) causes troubles that lead to massacre.

Theres an amusing turn from Chief Dan George as the mystic who explains things to the dumb hero, Faye Dunaway as a preachers-wife-turned-prostitute, and an impressive recreation of Custer's Last Stand.

It's just as caricatured and exaggerated as earlier Westerns, but does make legendary figures like Wild Bill Hickok look foolish.

Episodic western with a great performance from Hoffman.
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