High production values do not come without a price. Hundreds of extras on horseback, is a rather pricey undertaking. Exotic western (it would appear) locales, represents another large expenditure. So my first question is did any of this film's producers bother to read the script before shelling out big bucks to get this turkey made?
Early on, Custer, having apparently just won a Civil War battle, casually rides over and grabs a Confederate battle flag while numerous defeated Rebs just lull about. Had this happened, Custer would have probably been awarded the Medal of Honor (he never received one). This is the beginning of a serious of historical inaccuracies.
Rather than go into each, I'll jump cut to the conclusion. If you do not know how the final battle turns out, or what happens to Custer, please stop reading.
I've been to the battlefield. I have walked among the markers on Last Stand Hill. And yes, it is a hill, not the flat ground surrounded by hills as depicted in the film. During the "last stand" atop the hill, Custer's men killed their mounts to provide them some shelter against the warrior onslaught. Here we see numerous horses just standing around. In the heat of battle, if not killed, they would have high-tailed it out of there. Crazy Horse, or Sitting Bull, or whoever that guy is at the end, would not have offered Custer a chance to walk away. Custer's men had just attacked their village (women and children), a popular tactic in such raids. His battalion's job was to ensure they and their warrior husbands/fathers did not escape. Yet during the fight, we never see a woman or a child, or even the village.
Finally, the warriors simply ride away at the end. In reality, they scalped and mutilated the bodies of the dead soldiers, the women possibly joining in. My hope is that someone, someday, will do the Battle of the Little Big Horn justice with a factual, cinematic depiction of one of the most famous military engagements in American history. R.I.P. General Custer.
Early on, Custer, having apparently just won a Civil War battle, casually rides over and grabs a Confederate battle flag while numerous defeated Rebs just lull about. Had this happened, Custer would have probably been awarded the Medal of Honor (he never received one). This is the beginning of a serious of historical inaccuracies.
Rather than go into each, I'll jump cut to the conclusion. If you do not know how the final battle turns out, or what happens to Custer, please stop reading.
I've been to the battlefield. I have walked among the markers on Last Stand Hill. And yes, it is a hill, not the flat ground surrounded by hills as depicted in the film. During the "last stand" atop the hill, Custer's men killed their mounts to provide them some shelter against the warrior onslaught. Here we see numerous horses just standing around. In the heat of battle, if not killed, they would have high-tailed it out of there. Crazy Horse, or Sitting Bull, or whoever that guy is at the end, would not have offered Custer a chance to walk away. Custer's men had just attacked their village (women and children), a popular tactic in such raids. His battalion's job was to ensure they and their warrior husbands/fathers did not escape. Yet during the fight, we never see a woman or a child, or even the village.
Finally, the warriors simply ride away at the end. In reality, they scalped and mutilated the bodies of the dead soldiers, the women possibly joining in. My hope is that someone, someday, will do the Battle of the Little Big Horn justice with a factual, cinematic depiction of one of the most famous military engagements in American history. R.I.P. General Custer.