As I've read, Tom Horn was a scout under Al Sieber and later, Chief of Scouts -- and negotiated the 3'rd surrender of Geronimo. So why is his presence not portrayed in this film ? Given his later notoriety and the nature of his involvement, it would follow that Horn should have been portrayed during the last half hour or so of this story.
Anybody have any other information to add ?
I figure it would have been one more character to add when the Al Sieber character has already been introduced as the main scout. So if Tom Horn would have been introduced, it'd be like doubling things up. It would have been cool though if at some point, Horn was mentioned or pointed out, maybe in those scenes when Geronimo has been captured.
But I guess the big answer is it's a movie, and they can show it how they like.
"Congratulations, Major. It appears that at last you have found yourself a real war." Ben Tyreen
Yeah, Horn doesn't get even a mention...he was called "Talking-Boy" because he spoke Apache so well...also missing is Emmett Crawford, who was killed by Mexican troops in Mexico during the campaign, and MOST upsetting is this movie has al Seiber getting killed down in Mexico, when he actually lived well into the 20th Century, wrote letters to the court concerning Horn's Wyoming trial and was building a road with Apache labor when he died in an accident.
Frankly I thought the treatment of the Geronimo legend really sucked big time.
I just wanted to tell you that it's always a pleasure to see/find someone with such a knowledge of history, we are becoming a very rare breed...the knowledge of history is the greatest knowledge of them all...
shareWrong, Horn was called "talking boy" because he bragged too much, couldn't keep his mouth shut about his kills
shareThis movie was never intended to be truthful in fact. The real truth is Geronimo was not that great, just a woman and child killer who left the reservations all the time and hide out in the vast waste land. Back in those days it would have been hard for anyone to find a small group of Indians on the move. Just look at our soldiers now overseas now looking. And the white men were not star struck about Geronimo or the Indians like the soldiers in this movie. Look at how in aw Matt Damon is in this movie, lol makes me laugh.
shareI agree, knowing our history is important yet few people care to learn. As for why Horn wasn't mentioned, this is not a documentary. And besides, as a hired gun and assassin, he wasn't a very good person. But he was fascinating. The lawman Joe Lefors sure screwed him over. He was hanged for a crime he most likely did not commit, but he did deserve to die nonetheless.
"All I can do is speak my point of view, but it's not sane."
As for why Horn wasn't mentioned, this is not a documentary.
In Horn's autobiography- written while he was sitting in jail, awaiting the appeal of his death sentence- he significantly exaggerates his role as an Army scout. I'm sure he felt that overstating his service might incline the authorities toward leniency, but whatever his reason, he cast himself in a much bigger role that he merited. McQueen's film used Horn's autobiography as an important source, and repeated the exaggeration. No big, since it was also just a film.
"It ain't dying I'm talking about, it's LIVING!"
Captain Augustus McCrae
Very true Captain, good point. I see you on a lot of Western movie threads on here and your knowledge and appreciation of American history and Old West history in particular is admirable and refreshing. I'm glad I'm not the only one that appreciates history. Always happy to run into you on here, Captain.
shareThank you for the kind words.
"It ain't dying I'm talking about, it's LIVING!"
Captain Augustus McCrae