Custer's Last Fight (1912)

Very Cool!!!

Very best movie i ever watch

Excellent but underrated film

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

The 1925 re-edited version (with new scenes, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Little Big Horn) of Custer's Last Fight, the 1912 Thomas Ince cowboy western. It was described on handbills as, "The Big, New, and Only Original Frontier Spectacle of the Celebrated Battle of Little Big Horn"; "The Battle of No Survivors"; "Educational - Every School Boy and Girl Should See It"; "A Picture All Should See - Man, Woman, and Child"; "On The Screen In Its Full Glory!"; "Supendous Colossal Gigantic"; "A picture that 'hews to the line,' letting the chips fall where they may"; "The Greatest Wild West Feature Ever Filmed"; "COMING!! The Mighty Epic Spectacle of the Old-Time West"; "Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Battle at Little Big Horn"; "The greatest Indian frontier spectacle ever shown"; "Dedicated to the Spirit of the American Pioneer"; "Famous Indian Uprising in 1876 Under the Bloodthirsty SITTING BULL"; "Taken in the Black Hills. Over a Year in the Making" starring Francis Ford, Grace Cunard and Charles K. French. In 1926 (the 50th Anniversary of the Massacre at the Little Big Horn, known as "Custer's Last Stand") , the original movie was re-cut and some new footage was shot and the movie was re-presented with new posters and lobby cards printed. The ones you see sold as art for your walls are reproductions of the 1925 re-release. There are no 1912 posters or advertising known to exist.

I enjoyed this film when I recently viewed it on DVD. Good production values and an easy to follow narrative make this a satisfying way to spend your time. The views re Indians/settlers may be a trifle simplistic but at least Custer is not portrayed as a murdering bastard. Most films about Custer make this error. It is fascinating to see these famous events portrayed a mere 36yrs after they actually happened. The myths of The West are already in place and are still being rolled out even today ... 95 yrs later. Let's hope it is not another 95yrs before someone has the guts to make a 'real' film about Custer, one that portrays the Civil War hero and not just the defeated soldier of Little Big Horn.

My copy of this film (a Grapevine VCD) runs for 54 minutes. I agree with the previous reviewer's comments - this is a surprisingly vigorous western, very easy to watch, except for Custer being portrayed as a saintly hero.

This is directed by the brother of John Ford, who was also making films by 1917. The last stand is the centerpiece of the film, but the events on each side are fascinating. The first part shows the slow but steady movement of settlers into Indian territory. At first there is peace, but soon blood is shed. Things come to a head when gold is discovered in the Black Hills, leading to bloody confrontations spreading westward. Custer is caught up in this and winds up killed. After his death, scenes are shown of the fate of the Sioux and Sitting Bull in particular. Overall, a very satisfying early film. Rating: 5 out of 10.