This is a remake

The novel, by Ruthanne Lum McCunn, was based on the life of Polly Bemis, born Lalu Nathoy, who died in Idaho in 1933. She was a rather obscure historical figure in 1979, when McCunn began her research,

To the best of my knowledge, no other film of her life has been made, but that doesn't rule out the possibility that some screenwriter may have borrowed the facts of her life for a fictional treatment.

Clearly, you are not acquainted with the facts in this matter, or even the details of your own memory.

I understand that you are only making a casual inquiry, but your post suggests that an act of plagiarism has been perpetrated. Such is obviously not the case, and you should exercise more caution when you accuse creators of basing their work on prior art.

I believe you are thinking about a movie called "Walk Like A Dragon." The plot is similar. It stars Jack Lord and I have always liked this film. It reminds me of "Thousand Pieces of Gold." So you were not wrong that another movie is similar (but not identical) to this one. Sometimes over the years memories of certain movies get a little hazy, but you are like me and remember films that have certain plots that are different and interesting.