Little Big Horn (1951)

Charlie.... I am a devotee of the film "Little Bighorn". I must have seen it 20 times in the 1950's when i was a kid! I am a "Custer buff", having read many of the books on the subject of Custer and the little big horn. I visited the battlefield in 1995...it gives off a strange vibe. The film is superb, as you know. I share your exact feeling on this film. Several years ago I was able to obtain a copy on VHS. I got it from some obscure video shop that specialized in old cowboy movies from the 40's and 50's. It is currently in storage, as i have recently moved. I found the store on the internet, so if you search around you might be able to locate it. It's the most authentic movie on the US Cav., right down to the mixed uniforms and hodge-podge of characters!

Regards, Paul

This film was released on VHS some years back.
Copies are out there if you look hard enough.
I have a copy myself.
Even though this film has no historical value, I love it as a western and as a cavalry movie.
I even visted the location where they filmed it a couple of times.
Sadly most of it is a residential area.
One of the Lippert movies was recently released onto DVD.
We can only hope that this movie will be released onto DVD soon too!
It is the best of the Lippert Films in my opinion.

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YOUR VIEW OF THIS MOVIE MADE ME REALIZE I HAD THE SAME REACTION. IT WAS A "MILLION DOLLAR MOVIE". ON TV FOR A WEEK AT A TIME THEN GONE, BUT SOMETHING ABOUT THIS MOVIE STAYS WITH YOU. I DON'T SEE THIS MOVIE HAVING ANY MASS APPEAL TODAY. I THINK YOU HAD TO GROW UP IN THE 50S.IF YOU DID GET A COPY PLEASE POST WHERE. THANKS--JOE

I used to drive my father crazy watching this movie countless times for years. I taped it once from a cable channel but lost the tape, later finding thru a dealer. Now it's on DVD as a western noir.

I once read an interview with Sheb Wooley in which he talked about his death scene with Wally Cassell and Rodd Redwing. I think he said the Indians had blinded him and the makeup department had covered his eyes to the point where he couldn't see. He had to be led down that hill. According to the ISLAND IN THE SKY Cassell is still alive in his 90's.

When I took a film class a few years ago I analyzed the film for an exam, citing Reed Hadley's performance and Wooley's death scene. "When Dave Sharpe and Dale van Sickel beat up Roy Rogers in BELLS OF SAN ANGELO, you know Roy will be back to sing another song. When the Indians torture Wooley, you know he won't be singing THE PURPLE PEOPLE EATER."

One question though: Who played the officer and his wife who meet Ireland and Windsor at the beginning as well as Corbo's fiance?

Trivia: Richard Emory and King Donovan appear in SINGIN' IN THE RAIN.

One question that occurred to me later: The theme song lists Stanly Adams as one of the songwriters. Is this character actor who appeared in Breakfast at Tiffany's among other films and tv shows?

Yes, I do remember with great fondness "Little Big Horn". Small picture, deftly done, Lloyd Bridges getting three arrows in the stomach...one after the other. I, too, was young and jumped out of my seat. Try Saturday Matinee Nostalgia Video on Vineland in North Hollywood. I'll bet you find a copy.

I just ordered the DVD of this movie from Amazon. It is a disc with "Rimfire." The cost was only $7.45 + $2.98 shipping which is very reasonable for a brand new factory sealed DVD.

I have never seen it but I ordered it after seeing all the positive posts about how good it is.

Anyone who is still trying to find it can easily get one from Amazon.

I saw this movie when I was a child and the impressions it left on me lasted my entire life. I do not know why. I vividly recall the trooper putting the ring on the finger of his dead bride-to-be, and the suicde charge at the end with the standard flying and then falling to the ground in battle.