From Savage to Nobleman: Images of Native Americans in Film

Description

The focus on Native American characters in this book gives a perspective for understanding stereotypes and the interplay of racism, sympathy and empathy in the historial periods of narrative film. Hilger traces the portrayal of Native Americans from the silents and early sound films through films of each decade, covering over 8oo films. An introduction discusses the traditional images of the Noble Red Man and Savage. The final chapter discusses new images based on tribal identities in recent films such as Powwow Highway. Each of the historical chapters begins with interpretations of representative films such as The Vanishing American, They died With Their Boots On, Cheyenne Autumn and Dances With Wolves.