Watch The Great Sioux Massacre

The Great Sioux Massacre is a Western movie released in 1965 and directed by Sidney Salkow. The film is a dramatization of the Battle of Little Bighorn, which occurred in 1876 between the United States Army and a coalition of Native American tribes led by Sitting Bull. The movie stars Joseph Cotten as General Alfred Terry, the commanding officer of the U.S. forces, Darren McGavin as Captain Frederick Benteen, and Philip Carey as General George Armstrong Custer, the head of the 7th Cavalry Regiment.

The story takes place shortly after the end of the American Civil War when tensions were running high between the U.S. government and Native American tribes in the West. Custer is portrayed as a reckless and ambitious officer who is eager to make a name for himself and win glory on the battlefield.

Despite warnings from other officers, including Benteen, Custer decides to lead a surprise attack on the Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne tribes, who are gathering together in the Little Bighorn Valley. Custer's plan is to divide his forces into three separate columns and attack the tribes from three sides at the same time.

However, the plan goes awry when Custer's column is outnumbered and overwhelmed by the Native Americans. The battle turns into a massacre as Custer and his men are trapped on a hill and slaughtered by the tribes. The movie ends with General Terry and his forces arriving at the scene and discovering the carnage.

The Great Sioux Massacre is a classic bit of Hollywood storytelling, with plenty of action and drama to keep audiences engaged. However, the movie is not without its flaws, particularly in its portrayal of Native Americans. The tribes are depicted as little more than savages, with no real depth or complexity to their characters. Additionally, the movie perpetuates the stereotype of the "noble savage" by idealizing Sitting Bull and other Native American leaders as heroic figures.

Despite these shortcomings, The Great Sioux Massacre remains a popular entry in the Western genre and a testament to Hollywood's fascination with the Old West. The film offers a glimpse into a pivotal moment in American history and offers a compelling portrait of one of the nation's most notorious military leaders.

The Great Sioux Massacre is a 1965 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 42 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.1.