Let's be clear, if you have an issue with "painted face(s)", you will have issues with the movie. While it's not exactIy black, the fact that the face is painted is quite obvious nonetheless (if that in and of itself is also offending to you), the main actress here (Donna Reed) is being made to look like a native American.
Another thing that I had more issues with, is how native Americans in general are being portrayed ... especially in conjunction with how the "good white folk" are being shown ... a shame, but something that maybe you can put behind and enjoy the adventure ahead. I do believe that one can watch a movie and be entertained without being too judgemental ... you can feel the right way about history and know way more than the movie reveals ... and just see this as a fairy tale ... it does try to end on a better note than what it preaches before ... so there is that.
It seems not to be as easy to write about these things, because nowadays it is a sensitive matter. I have to adress the issues at hand though so any new viewer is aware of what he or she can expect from this. I personally am more into portraying native Americans (or anyone else for that matter) in more nuanced fashion. That doesn't mean you can't enjoy a movie like this - some just take a movie like this with a grain of salt. And the performances are really good, even if the depictions (especially of the native Americans) is very narrow minded.
Movies from that time are being looked at with different eyes nowadays ... and rightfully so. There are other movies that have stereotypes in them and it is good to have some knowledge of the time or at least be aware that many things can trigger someone today - and again not trying to tell you how to feel - neither about the movie itself if you are able to make certain distinctions or not - that will be up to you - nor about what the filmmakers were thinking.
Another thing that I had more issues with, is how native Americans in general are being portrayed ... especially in conjunction with how the "good white folk" are being shown ... a shame, but something that maybe you can put behind and enjoy the adventure ahead. I do believe that one can watch a movie and be entertained without being too judgemental ... you can feel the right way about history and know way more than the movie reveals ... and just see this as a fairy tale ... it does try to end on a better note than what it preaches before ... so there is that.
It seems not to be as easy to write about these things, because nowadays it is a sensitive matter. I have to adress the issues at hand though so any new viewer is aware of what he or she can expect from this. I personally am more into portraying native Americans (or anyone else for that matter) in more nuanced fashion. That doesn't mean you can't enjoy a movie like this - some just take a movie like this with a grain of salt. And the performances are really good, even if the depictions (especially of the native Americans) is very narrow minded.
Movies from that time are being looked at with different eyes nowadays ... and rightfully so. There are other movies that have stereotypes in them and it is good to have some knowledge of the time or at least be aware that many things can trigger someone today - and again not trying to tell you how to feel - neither about the movie itself if you are able to make certain distinctions or not - that will be up to you - nor about what the filmmakers were thinking.