Dances with Wolves

In 1990, a Kevin Costner released a film that has received numerous excellent reviews and is by some considered a landmark film because of its treatment of American Indians. Kevin Costner produced, directed and starred in Dances with Wolves, which is based off of the novel and screenplay with the same title. Dances with Wolves is one of the most highly decorated films in history, receiving numerous awards including the Academy Award for Best Picture, and the Golden Glove Award for Best Motion Picture-Drama as well as receiving numerous other nominations and awards. Because of its success in the box office and its genuine quality, uncountable scholars and critics have analyzed Dances with Wolves. Some of the qualities of the film that can be easily discussed and reviewed are the similarities between the novel and the film, the hidden motives of the filmmakers and the stereotypes of American Indians that are expressed in the film.

When compared to other films, Dances with Wolves follows the storyline and moral of the novel, fairly closely to the book. This is most likely due to the fact that the author of the novel wrote the screenplay. The main difference is that the Indian tribe featured in the book is the Comanche. The result of this great change from the book to the movie has caused some areas of the film not to be realistic. This is a large change between the film and the book because these groups had different territories and traditions. Another difference is the ending of the novel compared to the ending of the film. At the end of the film Dances with Wolves and Stands with Fist, leave the Lakota to pursue speaking to the people that are in positions of power and try to help and maintain the life of the Lakota, where as in the novel Dances with Wolves remains with band of Comanche of which he has became a part. Other than these two main differences, the book and the movie are almost exactly the same storyline and focuses.

While, there seems to not be any particular hidden agendas related to wars, major political issues, or social issues expressed in this film. The main issue that can be considered is that how this movie has been perceived by the people without regard of the motives of Kevin Costner. This can be seen by the places to he chose to film this film including building sets outside of Rapid City and Huron, South Dakota so that they could be converted into tourist traps following filming, also the recent opening of Tatanka outside Deadwood, South Dakota. It is clear that he knew when filming this film that he could benefit financially from this film in ways other than at the box office, additionally he has continued to profit off of the belief that he is an advocate for the Lakota. These also add to the questionable background motive and how well it represents the truth about American Indians.

The stereotypes in this film are very limited. It shows a very modern expression of American Indians. Shown as real people and not savages, the Lakota Sioux are shown a very humanized and favorable light. Their actions are not shown as brute, aggressive or savage. Yet, the Pawnee are shown in a typical stereotypical light; they are shown as aggressive, murderers of women and children, and who are complete savages. They are shown scalping the man who gave Lt. John Dunbar to the outpost, where he was stationed. So, the lessening of stereotypes and the reaffirming of those stereotypes within this film are equal. Another, less obvious stereotype presented in the film is that races are attracted to each other. This is shown when Little Big Man marries Stands with Fist. They are the only two white people in the group and they are the only two to get married. This film also has many themes of that are stereotypical of western films, including insanity related to the wilderness. While stereotypes are not as much of an issue in this film as in others, their presence cannot be denied.

The differences between the book and novel are simple but of great difference but have not altered the storyline or changed the aim of the story. Since, there are no clear underlying motives of the filmmakers that are used to speak to the public about the peoples who created political views. Finally, while the stereotypes related to main group of Indians in the film are limited, but many typical stereotypes are exhibited towards the less important group. All in all this is a great film, that helps to eliminate the some stereotypes and promote as less stereotypical approach to a western film.