Did anyone see this film in the theater when it was released, and do you have any recollections about your reaction and the audience's appreciation of it?
It seems like this is the type of film that would polarize audiences and critics, and I suspect there were more than a few walkouts because of its meandering quality. But for those who remained, it was probably worthwhile for the excellent performances and curious touches.
I saw it in a theatre in 1976 - most people seemed to hate it. I enjoyed it and thought Newman was great.
shareThanks for the response. You were lucky to see this on the big screen when it was released. I could see the audience being unkind, especially if they didn't know what to expect from an Altman film, but I liked it also.
Oddly enough, this seems like it would also be a good drive-in film because it's a piece of Americana -- just like Westerns work well at the drive-in (or at least they did when you could still find an outdoor theater).
I saw this on Sunday 4th December 1977 at a small parish hall in Malta. This was the kind of Sunday cinema who showed films for a family audience, children and their parents and other parishioners who hadn't anything else to do. Films I watched in the weeks preceding and suceeding this show were Rooster Cogburn, White Fang and Won Ton Ton. This was completely different and the audience was imply startled and basically unable and uninterested in making heads or tales of what were they seeing.i watched the evening show and I am sure that at the 2 pm show which was mostly dedicated to children I would have not understood a word with all the noise they must made whilst getting bored to death. This is probably not the answer you were interested in but I thought it was an interesting anecdote.
shareThanks very much for the reply. I suspect a lot of theaters, like the one where you saw it, booked it without much knowledge of the film or its intended audience. They probably suspected a traditional Western, or maybe a family comedy. It is neither.
I'm quite glad I didn't see it where you saw it in Malta because I would find the audience's reaction a big distraction. Of course, I suspect there were a lot of walkouts, which would be OK with me. Thanks again for the amusing anecdotes!
In the mid seventies few films were rated U, meaning Universal so parish halls would have to take any U rated film that was available. Moreover if they had any objection it would be to U films with an element of sex. So for example The Spy who loved me and The Deep both U rated films were not shown there. To fill the 34 or 35 week schedule from early October to end of May they would usually end up showing some reissues which were the films I enjoyed most , like The Fast Lady, A Night to Remember, Babes in Toyland, Carve her name with Pride and The Best of Laurel and Hardy.
I don't remeber whether there were any walkouts just grumbling. Years later when I saw this I found it quite interesting although as with most Altman films one has to be in the mood for something serious and not just looking for 2 hours of simple entertainment
Thanks for the details. It sounds like a fairly limited amount of films were available in Malta, and I'm surprised a film like this was screened. Maybe it was part of a package deal or something.
I would expect there to be some walkouts because what you see in the first five minutes is what you get for the next two hours. To me that's a good thing, but Altman is not for everyone's taste and this film tries their patience more than others.
I rarely see a film in theaters anymore because I'm tired of people chattering on their cell phones, texting, hissing and yelling. Of course, the first two weren't problems in 1976. I usually find it a relief when dissatisfied viewers walk out. I remember seeing the very dark "The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover" in the theater, and there were a few walkouts five minutes before the credits, when it got extremely intense. It seems odd to invest two hours in a film only to miss the last five minutes, but that was their choice (and, of course, they probably didn't realize how little was left).
Actually the available films in this country was roughly similar to that of other European countries with roughly 5 or 6 new releases taking place at the time. These were available for the 40 normal cinemas operating at the time. Parish halls were intended to provide wholesame family entertainment, films and occasionaly plays. There were around 20 in addition to the 40 normal cinema and operated only on Sunday or in the weekend for 8 months a year. It is in one of these special cinemas where I saw this film and my comment on the limited choice of available films for this type of cinema concerns the fact that the seventies was the decade of sex comedies and violent action films with very little in terms of family entertainment. This was the reason why they ended showing a film like this.All these one screen cinemas are now gone reeplaced by a few ugly multiplexes.
I also rarely go the cinema anymore and frankly there is little of interest anyway.
I saw it three times in a theatre when it was released. I had been a big Altman fan since the release of M*A*S*H, and this one definitely lived up to my expectations. Since it is very typically Altman, it is far from commercial. There wasn't much of an audience for a reaction, so probably not too many people were aware of the film debunking Buffalo Bill and America in the bicentennial year.
shareThanks for your recollections. What a great year 1976 was for films — and for theaters.
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We saw it when it was released. I remember the audience being somewhat lukewarm, thinking it was not great but not a total flop. My opinion is that audiences were tired if this genre,tired of Woody Allen, tired of satires, etc. remember, the country was past Watergate, Viet Nam, and the baby boomers were no longer teenagers. What was ready to explode on the scene was disco, clubs, and a lighter view of the world.
Personally, I enjoyed the silliness if the movie, appreciated the satire, but didn't feel it was on par with Altman"abetted movies.
I a thallus came to this board to find the quote that we t something like "Neveret the sun set that it doesn't rise again in the morning." That quote triggered many comparable quotes from my husband for many years, lol. I would love to have the exact quote from the movie.
Tired of Woody Allen? In 1976? Before he`d even moved on from his initial wacky comedy phase?
"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan
As a history buff, this movie was mental anguish to watch. I was used to old poverty row westerns from the 30s and 40s taking liberties and doing stories about Jesse James or Wild Bill Hickok that don't reflect their actual history, and can roll with that; but this one and Doc had me constantly saying "that didn't happen" to myself. I don't expect everything to be historically accurate (have to allow for dramatic license), but I hate when someone rewrites history to fit their views.
shareI saw it in Calgary, Alberta when it first came out. It is what it is; a satire on the way the Indians were treated by whites. We didn't care if it was historically accurate because it was a movie. You know, like not real life. It still conveys the same message. Sitting Bull said it all by saying nothing.
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