The Most Savage Film: "Soldier Blue", Cinematic Violence, and the Horrors of War Book

Described by the BBC as "one of the most significant American films ever made" and by the Los Angeles Times as "appallingly and unforgivably vile," Soldier Blue became explosively linked to real events of the Vietnam War as a result of the uncanny similarities between the U.S. Cavalry's extermination of Native Americans depicted at the film's finale and the American massacre of Vietnamese civilians at My Lai, revealed to the public in November 1969--nine months before the film was released. Drawing on primary sources and interviews with individuals associated with the production, this work solves the longstanding mystery of whether Soldier Blue, a picture that set a new mark in cinematic violence in 1970, deliberately echoed events in the Vietnam War. In addition, the author details the bizarre location shoot in Mexico, describes the various post-production and censorship problems encountered by the film's director and producers, and examines the circumstances in and beyond the American film industry in the late 1960s that led to the creation of such a radical and bitter film. Richly illustrated with many previously unpublished photographs, the book includes a complete list of cast/crew credits and a revised final budget for the film.Read More