The Return of a Man Called Horse (1976)

just watch it!

It's a mild crowd pleaser for people who are exhausted by blockbusters.

One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

It's a minor point, but the Indian tribe John Morgan was associated with in "A Man Called Horse" was the Lakota Sioux, with the warrior Yellow Hand (Manu Topou) becoming it's chief during the course of the story. If this branch of the tribe broke off from the main one, it probably should have been explained because in the latter part of the story, there's a scene in which Red Cloud of the Lakota refuses to help the Yellow Hands, as he's allied with the 'white man of river'. If one follows these things with some sense of continuity, the error seemed to be an unforced one.With the 'vow of the sun' ceremony so prominent in the original picture, I didn't think there would be call to revisit the ceremonial rite here, but that's what happened as a prelude to Morgan purifying himself and seeking his vision. More surprising was seeing how younger males of the tribe willingly submitted to the ordeal as well. There's some historical fact to back that up, for young warriors it was a physical and spiritual test that was offered in sacrifice for their people. As I watched the scene, it occurred to me that Morgan showed no scarring from his sun ceremony of five years earlier, another unforced error if I had to guess.Reading previous posters for this film it appears that it's not nearly as well regarded as it's prequel. Personally, I thought it was a decent story, but would have to concur that the original was better since it was exploring the Lakota Indian rituals for the first time. Oddly, I've never run across the sun ceremony referenced in any other movies other than these 'Horse' films, a bit surprising since the Western is my favorite genre and I've seen hundreds spanning the decades.

This is a weak sequel: it lacks the interest and light touch of the magnificent "Man Called Horse" in nearly every aspect and when compared to each other they hardly seem to be the same genre.The Return is almost a parody of the first and tries to evoke different Indian ceremonies but comes across as trying way too hard to bottle the magic of the first. In this film the tribe is lost and abandoned, having lost their homelands, modern life has encroached on paradise and they are living in abject misery and poverty. Perhaps this is the point: the first film took us to a place where we would want to be, a simpler time. This takes us to broken Indians in a miserable world and the White Man is the hero and savior which rather negates the whole idea of the film.The beauty of the first lay in the fact that the white man learnt and discovered that real civilization lies in values rather than western materialism. In the second film this is all but lacking and so we end up with a weak film.A huge disappointment.

I loved the movie,because it showed the beautiful people,that the American Indians are. They are really, very spiritual people. I lived with a family (who did the dance),for about 4 months and it was by far the most interesting period of my life,so far. I learned a lot from this Wonderful family,I could go on. But my point that I want to make,is I understand why the Richard Harris character returned to help his old family. I have experienced many of the ways of the Indians in modern society. Seeing an Eagle fly,now makes me touch my heart with the knowledge of what it signifies.Their spirituality will touch your heart,IF you let it in.

Harris reprises his weak and tepid role of an 1800's gentleman who can't stomach modern life in England so he goes back to the Plains to find his adopted tribe of Sioux Indians. He finds them on the verge of extinction, starvation and he is there to lead them to new hope, which means bowing to his leadership. Why the Sioux didn't kill him in the first film goes beyond reason. More silly stuff from hippies in the 1970's in this second installment of the wildly popular but empty "A Man Called Horse" saga. Look for a psychedelic scene where Harris is butt naked while emerged in color shots of eagles flying in the sky.