When The Legends Dieis a 1963 American novel written byHal Borlandand a 1972 AmericanWesternfilm released inDeLuxe ColorbyTwentieth Century-Fox.
 Cover of the 1963 Lippincott first edition ofWhen the Legends Dieby Hal Borland | |
| Author | Hal Borland |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Paul Laune |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Young adult novel |
| Publisher | Lippincott |
Publication date | 1963 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) |
| Pages | 288 |
| When the Legends Die | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Stuart Millar |
| Screenplay by | Robert Dozier |
| Based on | When the Legends Die 1963 novel byHal Borland |
| Produced by | Stuart Millar Gene Lasko |
| Starring | Richard Widmark Frederic Forrest Luana Anders |
| Cinematography | Richard H. Kline |
| Edited by | Louis San Andres |
| Music by | Glenn Paxton |
Production company | Sagaponack Films |
| Distributed by | Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation |
Release date |
|
Running time | 107 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Novel
editThe novel, about the life of aUte Indianyoung man, was written in 1963 byHal Borland.While it was written as a mainstream novel, it became a young adult classic. The novel is roughly divided into four parts: Tom Black Bull's youth with his parents who lived "off the reservation" in the wilderness of southern Colorado; Tom's experience as an orphan sent to the reservation school against his will; Tom's "abandonment" of the Indian lifestyle and his success on the rodeo circuit in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma; and finally Tom's return to his roots — reconciling himself with his heritage and his solitary relationship with the land and the wilderness.
Film
editThe film was made in 1972, starringRichard WidmarkandFrederic Forrest.It was directed by Stuart Millar from a screenplay written by Robert Dozier. It was freely adapted from the novel, updating the action from the start of the 20th century to the present, and cutting out the majority of the original plot, effectively based on only one middle section of the novel.
The title is taken from the saying "When the legends die the dreams end, when the dreams end there is no more greatness."
The film had a budget of $1,520,000.[1]
Plot
editAUteIndian youth, Tom Black Bull (Frederic Forrest), leaves the reservation to enter the rodeo life. He is under the tutelage of Red Dillon (Richard Widmark), a talented man with a drinking problem. The youth deals with the struggle between two worlds and deciding what life has to offer.
Cast
edit- Richard Widmarkas Red Dillon
- Frederic Forrestas Tom Black Bull
- Luana Andersas Mary
- Vito Scottias Meo (Dillon's caretaker)
- Herbert Nelsonas Dr. Wilson
- John War Eagleas Blue Elk
- John Gruber as Clyde 'Tex' Walker
- Garry Walbergas School Superintendent
- Jack Mullaneyas Gas Station Attendant
- Malcolm Curleyas Benny Grayback (school principal)
- Roy Engelas Sam Turner
- Rex Holmanas Neil Swenson
- Mel Gallagheras Cowboy
- Tillman Boxas Young Tom Black Bull
- Sondra Prattas Angie (girl who picks up Tom)
References
edit- ^Solomon, Aubrey.Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History (The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series).Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1989.ISBN978-0-8108-4244-1.p257