The White Buffalo Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Wild Bill Hickok has a nightmare about a fluffy buffalo, so he and Crazy Horse team up to give it a really bad hair day.

🍿 The White Buffalo: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Nightmares and a Hunt

In 1874, Wild Bill Hickok, haunted by vivid nightmares of a monstrous white buffalo, returns to the West. Using the alias James Otis, he seeks to confront this mythical beast, believing it holds the key to his torment. His journey begins as a personal quest to quell his inner demons, symbolized by the terrifying creature.

Crazy Horse’s Vengeance

Meanwhile, Chief Crazy Horse, also known as Worm, is driven by a deep sorrow and a need for vengeance. The same white buffalo has ravaged his village, tragically killing his infant daughter. Exiled by his own tribe due to his perceived failure to protect them, Crazy Horse embarks on a solitary hunt, seeking to restore his honor and avenge his child’s death.

An Unlikely Alliance

Hickok, accompanied by his one-eyed friend Charlie Zane, crosses paths with Crazy Horse. Initially wary of each other due to racial prejudices and differing motivations, they gradually form an uneasy alliance. Their shared goal of hunting the white buffalo becomes a catalyst for understanding and mutual respect, transcending their cultural differences.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Wild Bill Hickok (Charles Bronson): A haunted and ailing gunfighter who seeks to confront his nightmares by hunting a legendary white buffalo.
• Crazy Horse (Will Sampson): A grieving Native American chief who seeks to avenge the death of his child by hunting the same white buffalo.
• Charlie Zane (Jack Warden): A one-eyed, racist frontiersman and friend of Hickok who accompanies him on the buffalo hunt.
• Poker Jenny Schermerhorn (Kim Novak): A former lover of Wild Bill Hickok who has left her past as a hooker behind to become respectable.
• Whistling Jack Kileen (Clint Walker): A murderous trapper who challenges Hickok on the mountain, leading to an encounter with Crazy Horse.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Wild Bill Hickok: “If I don’t kill this buffalo, the dream will kill me.” – Expresses his obsession and fear driving his hunt.
• Charlie Zane: “That red n****r take on.” – Reflects the racial tensions and prejudices of the time.
• Wild Bill Hickok: “I got penis rot, and I’m dyin’.” – Hickok matter-of-factly states his ailments during a card game, revealing his troubled state.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $4.6 million
• Domestic Gross: $1.9 million
• Worldwide Gross: $6.2 million

💥 The White Buffalo Reviews

Personal Review

I remember watching this as a kid and being both terrified and fascinated! The buffalo looked a bit goofy even then, but the atmosphere was incredible. The scene where Hickok first sees the mountain of buffalo bones still gives me chills. I loved the unlikely partnership between Hickok and Crazy Horse, and how both were battling their own demons. It’s not perfect, but it’s definitely a memorable and unique Western. Charles Bronson is so cool!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of Charles Bronson and Western films”
  • “Viewers interested in unique blends of Western, adventure, and monster movie genres”
  • “Those who enjoy films with allegorical themes and complex character relationships”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Violence and gunfights”
  • “Racial slurs and prejudice”
  • “Depiction of death and loss”

Professional Reviews

• Film Fanatic Weekly: “An odd blend of Western and monster movie, ‘The White Buffalo’ suffers from a truly unconvincing creature. Despite this, Bronson delivers a solid performance, and the film’s exploration of Hickok’s inner demons is surprisingly engaging. Warden and Sampson provide excellent support. Worth a watch for fans of unconventional Westerns.
• The Western Gazette: “While the concept is intriguing – Wild Bill Hickok battling a mythical beast – the execution falls flat. The buffalo looks like a rejected prop from a low-budget sci-fi flick. Bronson’s stoicism can’t save the film. Sampson’s Crazy Horse adds some depth. Skip this one, unless you’re a die-hard Bronson completist.

Audience Reactions

Viewers appreciated the unusual pairing of Wild Bill Hickok and Crazy Horse.: Most people found the film’s atmosphere and John Barry’s score haunting and effective.

The film offers great insights into the mythology of the West.: Appreciated as a movie beyond traditional genre conventions.

Overall Consensus: While hampered by its special effects, ‘The White Buffalo’ remains a cult favorite due to its unique premise, strong performances, and atmospheric storytelling.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film was conceived as a Western take on ‘Moby Dick’, with the white buffalo representing an obsession and a force of nature.”
• “Carlo Rambaldi, who later designed E.T. for ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’, created the animatronic white buffalo. Despite his later success, the buffalo’s appearance in the film was often criticized for looking unrealistic.”
• “The film’s tagline, ‘Two legendary enemies unite to fight the charging white beast!!’ highlights the unusual alliance between Wild Bill Hickok and Crazy Horse.”

🖥️ How to Watch The White Buffalo?

As of October 2024, ‘The White Buffalo’ can be found for purchase on platforms like Amazon. Check local listings for possible streaming availability. Availability may vary.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The White Buffalo, you might like these similar films:

• Moby Dick (1956): Both films feature a relentless pursuit of a mythical, symbolic beast that represents obsession and inner demons.
• The Searchers (1956): Shares the theme of a long, arduous, obsessive quest in the Western landscape, driven by personal demons.
• Orca (1977): Released around the same time and produced by Dino De Laurentiis, it features a similar ‘man vs. nature’ theme with a focus on a large, dangerous animal.
• Valhalla Rising (2009): Similar in its dreamlike, atmospheric quality and exploration of violence and fate within a historical setting, albeit a Viking one.

🛒 The White Buffalo Related Products

• The White Buffalo (Blu-ray): A limited-edition Blu-ray with restored visuals and bonus content, including behind-the-scenes features and interviews.
• Wild West Gunslingers Board Game: A strategy board game where players take on the roles of famous gunslingers, including Wild Bill Hickok, in a battle for control of the Wild West. Features iconic locations and characters from the era.
• Wild Bill Hickok: The Lawman: Explore Hickok’s career and life as a virtual, interactive graphic novel.
• Wild Bill Hickok Wanted Poster: A high-quality reproduction of a ‘Wanted’ poster featuring Wild Bill Hickok, capturing the essence of the Old West. Printed on aged parchment for an authentic look.

🎧 Soundtrack

The White Buffalo features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “The White Buffalo Theme” – performed by John Barry
• “Nightmare Visions” – performed by John Barry

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

The Homeless Woman | Sons of Anarchy Character Analysis (500+ Subscriber Special)

Ever wonder about the Homeless Woman in Sons of Anarchy and how she connects to the creator of The White Buffalo? This video dives deep into her mysterious role – it’s a fascinating look at hidden meanings and connections!

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