“It would seem that the respect for principle and the love of one’s neighbor have become dysfunctional in this country of ours…”
Marlon Brando’s unfinished Oscar Speech in 1973
You may have heard of the Bechdel Test or Rule where you judge a movie by three criteria:
1. It has to have at least two [named] women in it
2. Who talk to each other
3. About something besides a man
The test is to show how male-centric movies tend to be. I don’t know if there is an American Indian version of this, but forget about how they are represented—how many screenwriters or directors think in terms of writing for or casting American Indians? It was a convention in the old Hollywood westerns to cast white men in traditional Indian roles. (Not that most American Indians would have liked the roles they’d have to play any more than the black actors liked always playing the drug dealer.)
Sometime a name actor is cast in a role to help market the film and add clout to the role. Which is why the Italian Al Pacino plays a Cuban in Scarface. But in the case of John Ford’s The Searchers I not sure there was any reason German actor Henry Brandon was cast in the role of the Comanche Cheif Cicatriz/Scar—any reason beyond that’s how it was done back in the 50s. Much like the opening shot in The Seachers of Utah’s Monument Valley with the words “Texas” coming on the screen. Just an accepted convention of the times. (Like the mountains in another 50s film Some Like it Hot which is set in Florida. Just laughable to anyone who knows basic geography. )
Though to Ford’s credit he did hire many Navajo Indians in his films as extras and is said to have helped send them food and supplies in times of need.
I’m no expert in American Indian history, but I can’t imagine American Indians as a whole feeling like Hollywood movies in general fairly represent their culture. I do know that one of the most provocative moments in Academy Award history happened in 1973 when Marlon Brando refused to accept his Academy Award for his role in The Godfather and instead had Sacheen Littlefeather, an Apache, give a talk protesting the treatment of American Indians by the film industry. Her talk begins at the 55 second mark of the following video:
To read Brando’s full speech and to see his follow-up response on The Dick Cavett Show check out this link at DestinationHollywood.com.
I do know that today WGA does include American Indian Committee as part of in part of its Diversity department. So if you’re an American Indian writer check that out. And if you’re a non-American Indian watch the following video featuring American Indian actors and consider them in the stories you write. (Again keeping in mind that 60% of American Indians live off the reservation in urban areas.)
P.S. As an actress Sacheen Littlefeather had a role in Tom Laughlin’s The Trial Billy Jack (1974).
If you want to see realistic and complex American Indian roles played by American Indian actors, look no further than the 1990s television series “Northern Exposure”: an enduring lesson in inclusivity and just great storytelling.
Loved “Northern Exposure” from the beginning.