Son of The Morning Star

Custer is a fascinating historical figure because of his symbolism. So many people have such strong feelings about him for what he represents, but so few people really know anything about him. Born the son of blacksmith in a rinky-dink Ohio farm community, Custer was no son of privilege. Yet he was a brigadier general at age 23, a major general at age 25, and fought with great courage and skill in America's most horrific war. It never ceases to amaze me how people throw slurs at the officers and men of the Indian fighting army, but ignore that a large percentage of those men fought with undeniable heroism to re-unite this country and free the slaves. Custer, Reno, Benteen, Cooke, Yates, Keogh, Tom Custer, Smith, and a number of other officers of the 7th Cavalry were all Civil War vets.

Attacks on Custer's courage for "fighting women and children" just demonstrates an ignorance of his Civil War combat record and the realities of Plains Indian warfare. Custer graduated college in June 1861 and a month later he saw action at Bull Run. In April 1865, he would receive General Lee's flag of truce near Appomattox. In between, he saw action in almost every campaign in the Eastern theatre of operations. Even after he became a general, he still exposed himself to danger and was often seen fighting in hand to hand combat. At Appomattox, his superior, General Sheridan awarded him the wooden table, upon which General Grant signed the papers of General Lee's surrender, as a gift of appreciation for his magnificent courage and leadership.

Yet people believe that such a ferocious combat commander reveled in fighting women and children! Plains Indians didn't fight like Rebels. They had a different concept of warfare from the U.S. Army- guerrilla tactics, hit and run. To the Army, the biggest difficulty of Plains Indian warfare wasn't fighting the Indians, it was finding them! In 1876, the biggest fear the U.S Army had was that the Lakota and Cheyennes would scatter before the Army could attack them and this mentality was the reason for Custer's decision processes on June 25. The Army had been forced to attack villages because this was the only effective method it had of forcing the Indians to stand and fight. Yes, women and children would die as a result and this was regrettable, but so were civilian casualties at Vicksburg and Atlanta. However, on June 25, 1876, the Army completely underestimated the Lakotas' and Cheyennes' willingness to stand and fight. Custer thought he would be pressing the issue, but instead had the battle dictated to him with catastrophic results for himself and his men. This "arrogance" was a mindset held not only by Custer, but the entire U.S. Army and they paid for it on June 25.

"Son of the Morning Star" was an attempt to present Custer and the Little Big Horn not just as symbols. Another reviewer mentioned "Little Bigman" as being a more historically accurate potrayal. That is absurd. While "Little Bigman" is a very entertaining film, it's as unrealistic as the 1941 movie "They Died with Their Boots On" which starred Errol Flynn. Flynn's Custer was portrayed as the ideal American military hero for a country that was preparing for World War II. In 1970's "Little Bigman," Custer is shown as a symbol of lunatic American imperialism as the country clashed over the Vietnam War. "Son of the Morning Star" was an attempt to show Custer as a human being without World War II or Vietnam era propaganda. This miniseries does take a lot of dramatic license with its subject, but in comparison to previous efforts on the Custer/Little Big Horn story it's refreshing in its candor.


Release this to DVD now!!!!,   April 24, 2005
Gerhard Lack (Munich, Germany)
18 out of 19 found this review helpful

I have been waiting now for years to see it uncut on DVD. Maybe not the absolut historically correct Custer, but one of the best Custer films ever made.


The best film on Custer and the Little Bighorn!   January 29, 2000
17 out of 18 found this review helpful

Without a doubt, "Son of the Morning Star" is the best film on the subject of Custer and the Battle of the Little Bighorn. It also does a good job being fairly even handed with this still controversial subject. Custer is not shown as an insane Indian hater or as a self-sacrificing hero. Gary Cole does an excellent job of showing the vibrancy and arrogance of Custer which demonstrates why people either loved or hated him.

The first part of this film is fairly uneven. The producers decided to add on the parallel story of Crazy Horse, which is too thinly developed. The jewel of the film, though, is the retelling of the Little Bighorn campaign and battle. Really magnificent work. As close to the historical record as any film has ever come. (Although, that really is not saying much considering the other Little Bighorn movie recreations.)

The Last Stand parts, though, are pure romance. General Custer, already mortally wounded, stands up and blazes away with his pistol in slow motion as the Lakotas and Cheyennes overrun his position. Beside him is his brother, Captain Tom Custer, behind him is Sergeant Major William Sharrow, Chief Trumpeter Henry Voss, and Sergeant Robert Hughes with Custer's personal guidon. Custer probably did not die like that; but he should have.

This movie does contain a historical inaccuracy which no film has ever had the guts to correct which is Custer's long hair. All historical accounts record that Custer cut his hair extremely short for the campaign. Combine that with the fact that all photos of Custer in his mid-30's point to a man who was going bald and you get a very different picture from all the actors who have played him with long, blond manes.


Gary Cole in a Bravura Performance   April 30, 2000
Reginald D. Garrard (Camilla, GA USA)
13 out of 14 found this review helpful

If memory serves me correctly, "Son of the Morning Star" was broadcast the same year as the theatrical release of Kevin Costner's "Dances with Wolves." Inasmuch as both dealt with the same historical period of our nation, obvious comparisons would arise. Wherein "Dances" told a fictional story, "Son" is the tale of General George Armstrong Custer, a figure both revered and vilified simultaneously. And it pulls it off wonderfully with passion and political correctness.

Gary Cole IS Custer. He brings to life the conceit and arrogance of a man who felt that his way was the only way. Cole's unique facial expressions are perfect in every scene, even those wherein he is completely silent.

The television mini-series has the production quality of a bigger budget theatrical film. The location filming enhances the story and the use of Native American actors is a further plus.

"Son of the Morning Star" rises high! I give this film a strong recommendation.


Why is this geat historical movie not on DVD yet?   November 6, 2004
ankenytom (Salem, Oregon USA)
13 out of 14 found this review helpful

One of the best Custer and Little Big Horn films ever made! Release this film onto DVD uncut and with the making of A.S.A.P., and make a lot of poeple happy. The soundtrack alone will sell many copies, let alone the historical value of this well made production of the 1870's Indian wars.