Film about General Custer and the Last Stand.

[Gavalaar1980]

Good afternoon,


I have been trying to ascertain the name of a film about the battle of the Little Bighorn that I recall from childhood but can't pinpoint, despite extensive internet search!

The details I remember about the film are vague but as follows:-

In the film General Custer refuses the offer of an advanced weapon what I could best describe as a gatling gun enclosed in a kind of armoured frame.

During the last stand battle the cavalry troopers are encircled by mounted Indian warriors and gradually overwhelmed (which is what actually happened) and winnowed down to just Custer himself and one other trooper. The Indians then kill the trooper with an arrow (definitely remember this), offer Custer the chance to leave alive (by saying 'go'). He then shouts 'Charge!' to what he perceives are other soldiers in the distance, of which there are none. He is then killed by the warriors.

That's all I can remember. Can't recall who the actor's where or anything like that because I was too young at the time.

Can anyone name this film/deduce what I'm describing? A result here would be most appreciated!

Regards,

Gavin.

[scottie3158]

Gavin,
Sorry mate I can't help you, but I'm sure someone on here will be able to.

[Tim Marlow]

I recall it as well Gavin. I think it may be the Errol Flynn version “They died with their boots on”, but there are quite a few others. It might just be a matter of working through them until you find it.
Custer did actually turn down Gatling guns before the battle, correctly thinking they would slow him down. Terry’s supporting command had them. At the time they were thought of as a defensive weapon, and classed as light artillery. It’s probably the only accurate bit in the film though
A good, to my mind accurate, representation of Custer is found in the excellent film ”Little Big Man”, by the way.

[Airborne01]

Don't know the film I'm afraid - however, it is taking liberties with facts I think; if I recall the information at the battlefield tour correctly Custer went down earlier (no heroic last stand as per the famous painting!) and the survivors were mostly hunted down as they fled and killed piecemeal (at the river crossing for example). I have a vague memory the gun may have been a Nordenfelt
Steve

[Tim Marlow]

Hollywood taking liberties with history…..whodathunkit :tongue-out3:
The greasy grass fight is probably the third most written about battle in history, behind Gettysburg and Waterloo, so it wouldn’t have been hard to get it right.

[Gavalaar1980]

I recall it as well Gavin. I think it may be the Errol Flynn version “They died with their boots on”, but there are quite a few others. It might just be a matter of working through them until you find it.
Custer did actually turn down Gatling guns before the battle, correctly thinking they would slow him down. Terry’s supporting command had them. At the time they were thought of as a defensive weapon, and classed as light artillery. It’s probably the only accurate bit in the film though
A good, to my mind accurate, representation of Custer is found in the excellent film ”Little Big Man”, by the way.

Don't know the film I'm afraid - however, it is taking liberties with facts I think; if I recall the information at the battlefield tour correctly Custer went down earlier (no heroic last stand as per the famous painting!) and the survivors were mostly hunted down as they fled and killed piecemeal (at the river crossing for example). I have a vague memory the gun may have been a Nordenfelt
Steve

Hollywood taking liberties with history…..whodathunkit :tongue-out3:
The greasy grass fight is probably the third most written about battle in history, behind Gettysburg and Waterloo, so it wouldn’t have been hard to get it right.

Thanks for the feedback folks. One other detail I forgot mention, it was filmed in colour! I agree that it the film was probably embellished and not entirely accurate. Custer wasn't the last to die in all probability, although it's impossible to establish who died last etc. What we do know is his battalion was routed/completely defeated. G

[Tim Marlow]

The Flynn one was in colour Gavin.
Did you know there were three Custer brothers killed at greasy grass? George, Thomas, and their younger brother Boston. The exact order in which they were killed obviously isn’t known, but because the Native Americans left the cavalry bodies where they fell the movement of Custer’s command before it was eliminated is well documented.

[Si Benson]

Tony Robinson hosted a great series of documentary shows about the ‘wild west’. Not my cup of tea generally but I ended up watching the lot :nerd:

Link

[Tim Marlow]

Tony Robinson hosted a great series of documentary shows about the ‘wild west’. Not my cup of tea generally but I ended up watching the lot :nerd:

Link

If you liked that you may like the Ken Burns documentary series “The West” Si. It’s almost as good as his seminal series “The Civil War”. Dee Brown’s book “Bury my heart at wounded knee” is well worth a read as well.

[Gavalaar1980]

The Flynn one was in colour Gavin.
Did you know there were three Custer brothers killed at greasy grass? George, Thomas, and their younger brother Boston. The exact order in which they were killed obviously isn’t known, but because the Native Americans left the cavalry bodies where they fell the movement of Custer’s command before it was eliminated is well documented.

Yeah, I've just read a book all about the Last Stand. Very interesting. Lots of details I didn't know about the battle etc. One can only imagine the hardship involved for all....

[Si Benson]

If you liked that you may like the Ken Burns documentary series “The West” Si. It’s almost as good as his seminal series “The Civil War”. Dee Brown’s book “Bury my heart at wounded knee” is well worth a read as well.

I’ll have to check it out :thumb2:

[Gary MacKenzie]

https://www.google.com/search?q=film+%3A+General+Custer+refuses+the+offer+of+an+advanced+weapon&client=opera-gx&hs=oN&sca_esv=564199467&sxsrf=AB5stBgXGSNQXXmpRvoTDrOD4DZSyj_5FA%3A1694376605196&ei=nSL-ZJPNC5uuhbIPqJeLsAM&ved=0ahUKEwjTj6zd7KCBAxUbV0EAHajLAjYQ4dUDCA8&uact=5&oq=film+%3A+General+Custer+refuses+the+offer+of+an+advanced+weapon&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiPWZpbG0gOiBHZW5lcmFsIEN1c3RlciByZWZ1c2VzIHRoZSBvZmZlciBvZiBhbiBhZHZhbmNlZCB3ZWFwb24yBRAAGKIEMgUQABiiBEiSF1AAWKYUcAB4AZABAJgBpgWgAYESqgELMC4xLjEuMi4wLjK4AQPIAQD4AQHCAgcQIxiwAhgn4gMEGAAgQYgGAQ&sclient=gws-wiz-serp

A few films listed there , and the info about him being offerred gatling guns

[rtfoe]

Hi Gavin, I think the one you are looking for is the one played by Robert Shaw. I remember the ending scene with the Indian trooper scout killed by an arrow through the neck. Custer of the West.

Cheers,
Wabble

[Gavalaar1980]

Hi Gavin, I think the one you are looking for is the one played by Robert Shaw. I remember the ending scene with the Indian trooper scout killed by an arrow through the neck. Custer of the West.

Cheers,
Wabble

Yep! Just searched for it on YouTube and found the ending clip. Many thanks!!!! Custer of the West it is.

Regards,

Gavin.