Geronimo: An American Legend ****½ (1993, Jason Patric, Gene Hackman, Robert Duvall, Wes Studi, Matt Damon) – Classic Movie Review 5581

In the mid-1880s, the US Army tries for a final push to quash the Native Americans in this wonderfully made, shamefully forgotten Western, earnestly written by John Milius and Larry Gross, from a story by Milius.

Jason Patric impresses as Charles Gatewood, the gloomy lieutenant who takes Apache chief Geronimo (Wes Studi) into custody and conducts him to the US brigadier-general, George A Crook (Gene Hackman). Robert Duvall steals the movie as Al Sieber, the old Indian scout the army employs to help them capture the escaped Geronimo.

Director Walter Hill manages a brilliant sense of history, landscape and the dignity of good humankind in an inexplicably neglected, serious-minded film touched with greatness.

The Ry Cooder score is a major asset and so is Lloyd Ahern’s cinematography.

Also in the good old cast are Matt Damon as Lieutenant Britton Davis, Rodney A Grant as Mangas, Kevin Tighe as Brigadier General Nelson Miles, Stephen McHattie as Schoonover, John Finn as Captain Hentig, Lee de Broux as Marshal Joe Hawkins and Steve Reevis as Chato.

The story was previously told in Geronimo (1962) with Chuck Connors.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5581

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