Burt is a great actor, but. . . . playing a fullblooded Indian with blue eyes?
"just panties, what else do I need?"
Poseidon Adventure
If you're producing the film, you can play pretty much anyone you want. I think Burt possibly thought people would be focusing on his acrobatic physique rather than his eyes.
shareThis was made just before the beginnings of the civil rights era, a time that was liberal enough to bring the noble redman back into fashion but not liberal enough to cast a genuine racial other in the role.
shareTo be honest, Hollywood's Eurocentrism hasn't really wavered that much in the past decades. While the film wouldn't cast a blue eyed actor in the lead role, Massai might still hypothetically be played by a Latino or a Caucasian actor with Native American ancestry and a passing physical resemblance.
And if Massai was played by a full blooded American Indian, the role of the US calvalry would be increased so as to allow white actors greater screen time. We might even see the villainous calvary leader receive top billing or a Massai sympathizer might be invented to provide narration throughout. And if Massai were to be played by a Hispanic actor, that'd still qualify as a non-white lead and so we'd still see an increase in calvary representation.
No matter what, white actors would still figure prominantly into the film even those it's supposed to be about an Apache warrior and his wife.
Even eye-color aside, there's the height, build, facial structure; he looks like no Apache I ever saw (I'm from southern Arizona). Charles Bronson could pull it off, but not Burt Lancaster. Still, if you suspend your disbelief, he does a good acting job.
shareCharles Bronson could pull it off, but not Burt Lancaster.You're right! Charlie did pull it off playing a similar role as a half breed in Chato's Land which IMO was a lot better than this.🐭 share