Main Cast: Trevor Howard, Nick Ramus, James Remar, Serene Hedin, Dusty Iron Wing McCrea
Release Year: 1981
Country: US
Run Time: 108 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
Trevor Howard, of all people, stars as the titular Native American chief in Windwalker. Told in flashback, the film relates the early life of the Cheyenne chief, with particular emphasis on the deaths of his wife and son at the hands of the Crow tribe. In the interests of authenticity, the actors converse in the Crow and Cheyenne languages, compelling the producers to fit the film out with English-language subtitles. James Remar plays the young Windwalker, while James Remus dubs in Trevor Howard's voice as narrator. Windwalker was based on the novel by Blaine M. Yorgason. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Silvania Gallardo - Little Feather; Billy Drago - Crow Scout; Rudy Diaz - Crow Eyes; Harold Goss-Coyote - Crow Hair; Roy J. Cohoe - Wounded Crow; Jason Stevens - Horse that Follows; Roberta Deherrera - Happy Wind; Bart the Bear - the bear; Ivan Naranjo - Crooked Leg
Credit
Kieth Merrill - Director, Janice Hampton - Editor, Steve Johnson - Editor, Peter L. McCrea - Editor, Merrill B. Jenson - Composer (Music Score), Thomas Pratt - Production Designer, Reed Smoot - Cinematographer, Arthur R. Dubs - Producer, Blaine M. Yorgason - Book Author
Windwalker is a 1980westernadventurefilm, based on a novel by Blaine M. Yorgason, starring Trevor Howard and Nick Ramus. It was shot in various outdoor locations in Utah. To maintain authenticity to the story, the film's dialogue is subtitled in English with Cheyenne and Crow languages spoken. The film was directed by Academy Award-winning director Kieth Merrill and is rated PG in the USA. The music was composed by Merrill Jenson.
Trevor Howard plays Windwalker, an aged and dying Cheyenne warrior. As a husband and father, he helplessly watched the killing of his wife and the kidnapping of one of his sons by the Crow tribe. As he lies on his deathbed, he is spiritually brought back to answer the mystery about his missing son, in order for him to have a peaceful afterlife. The ending, curiously, is nearly identical to that of Somewhere in Time in which the protagonist dies and is reunited with the love of his life on the other side. Both movies were released in 1980. In this one the aged warrior finds himself restored to his youthful prime whereas in Somewhere in Time it is the protagonist's beloved who dies at an advanced age but who is then encountered after death in the full bloom of her youth and beauty.
