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Redskin (film)
Encyclopedia
Redskin is a feature film with a synchronized score and sound effects, filmed partially in Technicolor
. Color film was used for the scenes taking place on the Indians' land, while black and white was used only in the scenes set in the white man's world. Roughly two-thirds of the film is in color.
The title of the film is not meant to be degrading to Native Americans. It refers to the film's hero, Wing Foot (Richard Dix
), who is a Navaho
educated in an otherwise all-white school. In the course of the story he experiences prejudice from both the whites (because of his race) and the Navahos (who disown him because of his upbringing). Thus, Wing Foot is looked upon as neither Indian nor white, but simply a "redskin."
Made in the first liberal
decade of the twentieth century, the film deals sympathetically with the American Indians in an era of filmmaking that far too many people think was one where Indians were shown as murderous savages. The conservatism of the 1940s and 1950s relegated the image of the American Indian as a murderous savage once again. It wouldn't be until the late 1960s and 1970s (when liberalism returned to the forefront) that films as sympathetic as Redskin would be made once again.
Not only does Redskin avoid this stereotype, but it also sidesteps the more contemporary, "politically correct" stereotype. In those films the Indians are generally depicted as being mainly peaceful and morally right, while the whites (save the main protagonist) are seen as the bloodthirsty savages - greedy bigots with little or no redeeming values. Instead of showing the red man as evil and the white man good - or vice versa - Redskin presents good and bad in both. The government agent who beats Wing Foot in the beginning of the picture eventually emerges as a decent man - some one who made a mistake and later regretted it. At the end he redeems himself by aiding Wing Foot in his attempt to register his oil claim. Redskin presents not only the conflict between whites and Indians, but also between the Indian races (Navajos and Pueblos are shown to dislike each other).
Redskin is currently available in the United States on disc 4 of the DVD collection Treasures III: Social Issues in American Film, 1900-1934.
Technicolor
Technicolor is a color motion picture process invented in 1916 and improved over several decades.It was the second major process, after Britain's Kinemacolor, and the most widely used color process in Hollywood from 1922 to 1952...
. Color film was used for the scenes taking place on the Indians' land, while black and white was used only in the scenes set in the white man's world. Roughly two-thirds of the film is in color.
The title of the film is not meant to be degrading to Native Americans. It refers to the film's hero, Wing Foot (Richard Dix
Richard Dix
Richard Dix was an American motion picture actor who achieved popularity in both silent and sound film. His standard on-screen image was that of the rugged and stalwart hero.-Early life:...
), who is a Navaho
Navajo people
The Navajo of the Southwestern United States are the largest single federally recognized tribe of the United States of America. The Navajo Nation has 300,048 enrolled tribal members. The Navajo Nation constitutes an independent governmental body which manages the Navajo Indian reservation in the...
educated in an otherwise all-white school. In the course of the story he experiences prejudice from both the whites (because of his race) and the Navahos (who disown him because of his upbringing). Thus, Wing Foot is looked upon as neither Indian nor white, but simply a "redskin."
Made in the first liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
decade of the twentieth century, the film deals sympathetically with the American Indians in an era of filmmaking that far too many people think was one where Indians were shown as murderous savages. The conservatism of the 1940s and 1950s relegated the image of the American Indian as a murderous savage once again. It wouldn't be until the late 1960s and 1970s (when liberalism returned to the forefront) that films as sympathetic as Redskin would be made once again.
Not only does Redskin avoid this stereotype, but it also sidesteps the more contemporary, "politically correct" stereotype. In those films the Indians are generally depicted as being mainly peaceful and morally right, while the whites (save the main protagonist) are seen as the bloodthirsty savages - greedy bigots with little or no redeeming values. Instead of showing the red man as evil and the white man good - or vice versa - Redskin presents good and bad in both. The government agent who beats Wing Foot in the beginning of the picture eventually emerges as a decent man - some one who made a mistake and later regretted it. At the end he redeems himself by aiding Wing Foot in his attempt to register his oil claim. Redskin presents not only the conflict between whites and Indians, but also between the Indian races (Navajos and Pueblos are shown to dislike each other).
Redskin is currently available in the United States on disc 4 of the DVD collection Treasures III: Social Issues in American Film, 1900-1934.
Cast
- Richard DixRichard DixRichard Dix was an American motion picture actor who achieved popularity in both silent and sound film. His standard on-screen image was that of the rugged and stalwart hero.-Early life:...
- Wing Foot - Julie Carter - Corn Blossom
- Tully MarshallTully MarshallWilliam Phillips was an American character actor known as Tully Marshall, with nearly a quarter century of theatrical experience behind before he made his first film appearance in 1914.-Career:...
- Navajo Jim - George RegasGeorge RegasGeorge Regas was a Greek actor.Born in Sparta, Greece, he was the brother of actor Pedro Regas. He was a stage actor in Athens before coming to the U.S. In New York he played Romeo in a Grecian version of Romeo and Juliet.In 1921 Regas acted in his first motion picture: The Love Light with Mary...
- Notani - Noble JohnsonNoble JohnsonNoble Johnson was an African American actor and film producer.-Biography:Standing 6'2" at 215 pounds, his impressive physique and handsome features made him in demand as a character actor and bit player...
- Pueblo Jim - Jane NovakJane Novak-Background:Jane Novak was born in St. Louis, Missouri was born Johana B. Novak, daughter of Joseph, an immigrant from Bohemia, and Barbara Novak. Her father died when she was a child and her mother was left to raise 5 children. Novak attended convent school but ran away with a friend with whom...
- Judith Stearns - Larry SteersLarry SteersLarry Steers was an American film actor. He appeared in 426 films between 1917 and 1951.He was born in Indiana, and died in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles.-Selected filmography:* Old Wives for New...
- John Walton - Augustina Lopez - Grandmother Yina
- Bernard Siegel - Chahi
- Jack Padjan - Barrett (uncredited)