The White Buffalo

• Directed by J. Lee Thompson
• May 6, 1977
• Based on the 1975 novel The White Buffalo by Richard Sale

Wild Bill Hickok is haunted by dreams of a white buffalo, so he travels to the Old West to hunt the creature.

Westerns once ruled the movies. Some were adventure stories while others were character driven stories that tried to take a look at more human things. The White Buffalo, though not perfect, is more of the latter than the former and stars the great Charles Bronson as the legendary Wild Bill Hickok.

When you think about it this is a bit of a Moby Dick plot with a buffalo replacing the whale. Bronson’s Hickok is haunted by dreams of a large white buffalo to the point he must seek it out in the real world. He cannot quite believe his dreams have a connection to reality but is driven to solve his issues by seeking the solution in the waking world. He’s driven largely because he’s afraid. It’s a feeling Hickok is not used to or comfortable with and he wants to conquer that fear. This thing that is in his head needs to be crushed and the only way he can crush it is by finding it in the real world. Bronson has a haunted look in his eyes. He’s uneasy and nervous throughout the whole film but proceeds regardless. You see what his character is feeling.

Joined in his quest (though by fate and not choice) is Crazy Horse (Will Sampson) who is going by Worm as he seeks to slay his own demons and get justice for his child. He seeks The White Buffalo because it killed his child and the only way for his child to rest easy is to be wrapped in the hide of the dead buffalo. Both by killing this buffalo are seeking to reclaim something about themselves as well as just generally deal with personal issues.

There’s some great dialogue here that hints at things without smacking you in the face. For example an attraction between Hickok and Poker Jenny Schermerhorn (Kim Novak)-a woman from his past. She’s apparently a prostitute and quite possibly gave him an STD but they don’t quite come out and say that. Rather they creatively dance around it. One thing that really stood out to me in the dialogue was when Hickok was confronted by some Native scouts who are upset he is on their land. He then runs through a list of all the tribes that controlled it before. It was a great way to say “F**k off” and just a genuine bit of history not touched upon often in film.

We see a bond formed between Hickok and Crazy Horse through shared struggle. It’s a bonding that is not easy to describe, but one that can only be understood when you share their difficult experience as is always the case. By the end both view the other as a friend even if they would otherwise be enemies.

J. Lee Thompson does a very good job of building up this white buffalo as a supernatural force yet also being a very real thing. It symbolizes so much to these men, but when it gets on screen it is photographed in such a way that it’s more monster than real world beast. It comes barreling through and killing and destroying everything in its path. It is a creature of death and great power.

I found the buffalo effects convincing enough. I know at least part of it is the head on a stick. But for being made before CGI it gets the point across in a much more effective fashion than you could with computer fakery. This is a finely directed and well-acted piece of drama that is supernaturally tinged. Not heavy but just enough. And it’s more than hunting a buffalo.

The main cast is relatively small. We have Will Sampson as Crazy Horse, Charles Bronson as Wild Bill Hickok, and Jack Warden as Hickok’s sidekick Charlie Zane. Those are the significant characters with everybody else being minor. There are a few difficulties thrown in along the way, but the story focuses on three individuals and not much else.

After watching The White Buffalo, I have come to realize this is a movie that would not have worked or even been memorable with anyone other than Charles Bronson. He was an actor with a unique screen presence that also had some talent under it all. He usually played hardened and stoic men who were never hindered by doubt. They MIGHT have doubts, but it did not stop them from taking action. Hickok is in that mold. He doubts the reality of his dreams or of partnering with Crazy Horse but proceeds anyway.

The White Buffalo is a great bit of old school Western with the great Charles Bronson. It’s exciting and intense and just a great watch. Well worth your time if you’re a Western or Charles Bronson fan!