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'{{For|the song by Mount Eerie|Mount Eerie Dances with Wolves}} {{Refimprove|date=March 2008}} {{Infobox film |name=Dances with Wolves |image=Dances with Wolves poster.jpg |director=[[Kevin Costner]] |writer=[[Michael Blake (author)|Michael Blake]] |starring={{ubl|Kevin Costner|[[Mary McDonnell]]|[[Graham Greene (actor)|Graham Greene]]|[[Rodney A. Grant]]}} |cinematography=[[Dean Semler]] |editing=[[Neil Travis]] |producer={{ubl|[[Jim Wilson (producer)|Jim Wilson]]|Kevin Costner}} |narrator=Kevin Costner |distributor=[[Orion Pictures]] |released={{Film date|1990|11|21}} |runtime=175 minutes<br />''Director's Cut'' 236 minutes |country={{ubl|{{FilmUS}}|{{FilmUK}}}} |language={{ubl|English|[[Lakota language|Lakota]]|[[Pawnee language|Pawnee]]}} |budget=$22 million |gross=$424,208,848 |music=[[John Barry (composer)|John Barry]] }} '''''Dances with Wolves''''' is a 1990 epic [[western (genre)|western]] film based on the book of the same name which tells the story of a Civil War-era United States Army lieutenant who travels to the American frontier to find a military post, and his dealings with a group of Sioux Indians.<!--<ref name="allmov">"Dances with Wolves: Overview" (plot/stars/gross, related films), allmovie, 2007, webpage: [http://allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=1:12092 amovie12092].</ref>{{dead link}}--> Developed by director/star [[Kevin Costner]] over five years, with a budget of only $22 million, the film had high production values<ref name="allmov"> "Dances with Wolves: Overview" (plot/stars/gross, related films), allmovie, 2007, webpage: [http://allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=1:12092 amovie12092]</ref> and won 7 [[Academy Award]]s including [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]] and the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama]].<ref name="imdb">"[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099348 Dances with Wolves]", [[IMDb]], 2007.</ref> Much of the dialogue is in the [[Lakota language]] with English subtitles. It was shot in [[South Dakota]] and [[Wyoming]]. It is credited as a leading influence for the revitalization of the [[Western (genre)|Western genre]] of filmmaking in Hollywood. In 2007, ''Dances with Wolves'' was selected for preservation in the United States [[National Film Registry]] by the [[Library of Congress]] as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."<ref name="registry">[http://www.loc.gov/film/nfr2007.html 2007 list] of films inducted into the National Film Registry</ref> ==Plot== In 1863, [[United States Army officer rank insignia|First Lieutenant]] John J. Dunbar ([[Kevin Costner]]) is injured in the [[American Civil War]]. He receives a citation for bravery and is awarded the horse who carried him in battle, as well his choice of [[Military base|posting]]. Dunbar requests a transfer to the [[American Old West|western frontier]] so he can see it before it's gone. Dunbar arrives at his new post, Fort Sedgwick, Colorado, but finds it abandoned and in disrepair. Despite being alone and the threat of nearby Indian tribes, he elects to stay and man the post himself. He soon begins the task of rebuilding and restocking the fort and seems to prefer the solitude afforded him. He records many of his observations in his diary. Dunbar initially encounters his [[Sioux]] Indian neighbors when several attempts are made to steal his horse and intimidate him. In response to these interactions, Dunbar decides to seek out the Sioux camp in an attempt to establish a dialogue. On his way, he comes across an injured white woman dressed as an Indian. She is Stands with a Fist ([[Mary McDonnell]]), the white, adopted daughter of Kicking Bird, the tribe's medicine man. Dunbar returns her to the Indian camp to be treated, which dramatically changes the Sioux's attitude toward him. Eventually, Dunbar establishes a rapport with Kicking Bird, though the [[language barrier]] frustrates them; Stands with a Fist reluctantly acts as a translator. Dunbar finds himself drawn to the lifestyle and customs of the tribe and begins spending most of his time with them. He becomes a hero among the Sioux and is accepted as an honored guest after he locates a migrating herd of [[American Bison|buffalo]] and participates in the hunt. When at Fort Sedgwick, Dunbar also befriends a wolf he dubs "Two Socks" due to the white hair on its front feet. One day, the Sioux observe Dunbar and Two Socks chasing each other in play and promptly give him his Sioux name "Dances with Wolves." During this time, Dunbar also forges a romantic relationship with Stands with a Fist and helps defend the village from an attack by rival Pawnee Indians. Dunbar eventually wins Kicking Bird's approval to marry Stands with a Fist, and he abandons Fort Sedgwick forever. Due to the growing Pawnee and white threat, Chief Ten Bears ([[Floyd Red Crow Westerman]]) decides it is time to move the village to its winter camp. Dunbar decides to accompany them and returns to Fort Sedgwick to retrieve his journal. However, when he arrives he finds it re-occupied by the U.S. Army. Because Dunbar is dressed in Sioux clothing, the soldiers mistake him for a hostile warrior and open fire, killing his horse and capturing him. When Dunbar refuses to assist them in serving as an interpreter to the local tribes, the Army decides to put him on trial for treason and transport him back east as a prisoner. While traveling in an armed caravan the soldiers of the escort shoot Two Socks when the wolf attempts to follow Dunbar. The Sioux subsequently attack the convoy, killing all the soldiers and freeing Dunbar. Dunbar decides to leave the Sioux with Stands with a Fist since his status as a perceived traitor puts the tribe in danger. After they leave, U.S. troops are seen searching the mountains but are unable to locate them. An epilogue text states that thirteen years aftewards, the last remnants of free Sioux were subjugated to the American government, ending the conquest of the Western frontier states. ==Cast== *[[Kevin Costner]] as Lt. John J. Dunbar / Dances with Wolves *[[Mary McDonnell]] as Stands with a Fist *[[Graham Greene (actor)|Graham Greene]] as Kicking Bird *[[Rodney A. Grant]] as Wind in His Hair *[[Floyd Red Crow Westerman]] as Chief Ten Bears *[[Tantoo Cardinal]] as Black Shawl *[[Jimmy Herman]] as Stone Calf *[[Nathan Lee Chasing His Horse]] as Smiles a Lot *[[Michael Spears]] as Otter *Jason R. Lone Hill as Worm *[[Charles Rocket]] as Lt. Elgin *[[Robert Pastorelli]] as Timmons *[[Larry Joshua]] as Sgt. Bauer *Tony Pierce as Spivey *[[Kirk Baltz]] as Edwards *[[Tom Everett]] as Sgt. Pepper *[[Maury Chaykin]] as Maj. Fambrough *[[Wes Studi]] as the fiercest Pawnee *Wayne Grace as The Major ==Production== Originally written as a [[spec script]] by [[Michael Blake (author)|Michael Blake]], it went unsold in the mid-1980s. It was Kevin Costner who, in early 1986 (when he was relatively unknown), encouraged Blake to turn the screenplay into a novel, to improve its chances of being adapted into a film. The novel manuscript of ''Dances with Wolves'' was rejected by numerous publishers but finally published in paperback in 1988. As a novel, the rights were purchased by Costner, with an eye to his directing it.<ref name="Dances with Wolves">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Dances with Wolves | work = | publisher = ''[[IMDB]]'' | date = | url = http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099348/ | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2008-03-13 }}</ref> Actual production lasted for four months, from July 18 to November 23, 1989. Most of the movie was filmed on location in South Dakota, mainly near [[Pierre, South Dakota|Pierre]] and [[Rapid City, South Dakota|Rapid City]], with a few scenes filmed in [[Wyoming]]. Specific locations included the [[Badlands National Park]], the [[Black Hills]], the Sage Creek Wilderness Area, and the [[Belle Fourche River]] area. The buffalo hunt scenes were filmed at the [[Triple U Buffalo Ranch]] outside [[Fort Pierre, South Dakota]], as were the Fort Sedgwick scenes, the set being constructed on the property.<ref>[http://southdakota.midwestmovies.com/DancesWithWolves "Dances with Wolves"] - ''Southdakota.midwestmovies.com''</ref> Production delays were numerous, because of South Dakota's unpredictable weather, the difficulty of "directing" barely trainable wolves, and the complexity of the Indian battle scenes. Particularly arduous was the film's centerpiece buffalo hunt sequence: this elaborate chase was filmed over three weeks using 100 Indian stunt riders and an actual stampeding herd of several thousand buffalo. During one shot, Costner (who did almost all of his own horseback riding) was "T-boned" by another rider and knocked off his horse, nearly breaking his back. The accident is captured in ''The Creation of an Epic'', the behind-the-scenes documentary on the ''Dances With Wolves'' Special Edition DVD. According to the [[Documentary film|documentary]], none of the buffalo were computer animated ([[Computer-generated imagery|CGI]] was then in its infancy) and only a few were [[animatronic]] or otherwise fabricated. In fact, Costner and crew employed the largest domestically owned buffalo ranch, with two of the domesticated buffalo being borrowed from [[Neil Young]]; this was the herd used for the buffalo hunt sequence. Budget overruns were inevitable, owing to Costner's breaking several unspoken Hollywood "rules" for first-time directors: traditionally, they avoid both shooting outside and working with children and animals as much as possible. As a result, late in the production Costner was forced to add $3 million personally in out-of-pocket money to the film's original $15-million budget. Referring to the infamous fiasco of [[Michael Cimino|Michael Cimino's]] 1980 ''[[Heaven's Gate (film)|Heaven's Gate]]'', considered the most mismanaged [[Western (genre)|Western]] in [[History of film|film history]], Costner's project was [[satire|satirically]] dubbed "Kevin's Gate" by Hollywood critics and pundits skeptical of a three-hour, partially subtitled Western by a novice filmmaker.<ref name="Dances with Wolves" /> The film changed the novel's Comanche Indians to Sioux, because of the larger number of Sioux speakers. The language spoken is a fairly accurate, although simplified {{Citation needed|date=June 2008}}, version of the actual [[Lakota language]]. Lakota Sioux language instructor Doris Leader Charge (1931–2001) was the on-set Lakota dialogue coach and also portrayed Pretty Shield, wife of Chief Ten Bears, portrayed by [[Floyd Red Crow Westerman]].<ref name="Dances with Wolves" /> Despite portraying the adopted daughter of [[Graham Greene (actor)|Graham Greene]]'s character Kicking Bird, Mary McDonnell, then 37, was actually two months older than Greene, and less than two years younger than [[Tantoo Cardinal]], the actress playing her adoptive mother. In addition, McDonnell was extremely nervous about shooting her sex scene with Kevin Costner, requesting it be toned down to a more modest version than what was scripted.<ref name="Dances with Wolves" /> ==Reception== Defying expectation, ''Dances with Wolves'' proved instantly popular at the box office, eventually garnering $184 million in U.S. box office sales, and $424 million in total sales worldwide.<ref>http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099348/business</ref> The film is often cited as a strong example of the [[Revisionist Western]], given its sympathetic portrayal of [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indians]] and its sometimes villainous United States soldier characters. The movie won the Best Picture Academy Award against strong competition, notably including [[Martin Scorsese]]'s ''[[GoodFellas]]'' and [[Francis Ford Coppola]]'s ''[[The Godfather Part III]]''. Currently on [[Rotten Tomatoes]] the film holds a positive review score of 76%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dances_with_wolves/ |title=Dances with Wolves |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes |accessdate=2010-07-19}}</ref> Because of the film's popular and lasting impact, the [[Great Sioux Nation|Sioux Nation]] adopted Costner as an honorary member.<ref>{{cite web | last = Svetkey | first = Benjamin | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Little big movie | work = | publisher = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' | date = 1991-03-08 | url = http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,313535,00.html | doi = | accessdate = 2008-03-13 }}</ref> In 2007, the Library of Congress selected ''Dances with Wolves'' for preservation in the United States [[National Film Registry]].<ref name="registry" /> A special extended edition of the film containing 40 minutes of previously-deleted scenes was completed for ABC TV, airing as a two-night miniseries in the fall of 1993. This version was subsequently released to laserdisc, DVD, and Blu-Ray. This longer version is commonly and mistakenly confused as Costner's "director's cut" of the film, but he had little input on it, and stated in an interview with Entertainment Weekly in 2005 that he did not work on the extended version at all<ref>http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,578506,00.html</ref>. ===Criticism=== Native American activist and actor [[Russell Means]] commented on the movie as follows: "Remember ''[[Lawrence of Arabia (film)|Lawrence of Arabia]]''? That was Lawrence of the Plains. The odd thing about making that movie is that they had a woman teaching the actors the Lakota language, but Lakota has a male-gendered language and a female-gendered language. Some of the Indians and Kevin Costner were speaking in the feminine way. When I went to see it with a bunch of Lakota guys, we were laughing." ==Awards and honors== ;Won *[[Academy Award for Best Picture]] – [[Jim Wilson (producer)|Jim Wilson]] and Kevin Costner *[[Academy Award for Directing]] – Kevin Costner *[[Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay]] – Michael Blake *[[Academy Award for Best Cinematography]] – [[Dean Semler]] *[[Academy Award for Film Editing]] – Neil Travis *[[Academy Award for Sound Mixing]] – Russell Williams II, Jeffrey Perkins, Bill W. Benton, and Gregory H. Watkins *[[Academy Award for Original Music Score]] – [[John Barry (composer)|John Barry]] *[[Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama]] – [[Jim Wilson (producer)|Jim Wilson]] and [[Kevin Costner]] *[[Golden Globe Award for Best Director]] – Kevin Costner *[[Silver Bear]] for Kevin Costner at the [[Berlin International Film Festival]] 1991 ;Nominated *[[Academy Award for Best Actor]] – Kevin Costner *[[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor]] – [[Graham Greene (actor)|Graham Greene]] *[[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress]] – [[Mary McDonnell]] *[[Academy Award for Best Art Direction]] – Jeffrey Beecroft and Lisa Dean *[[Academy Award for Costume Design]] – Elsa Zamparelli ;[[American Film Institute]] recognition *1998 [[AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies]] #75 *2006 [[AFI's 100 Years... 100 Cheers]] #59 ==Sequel== '''''The Holy Road''''', a well-received [[sequel]] novel by [[Michael Blake (author)|Michael Blake]], the author of both the original ''Dances with Wolves'' novel and the movie screenplay, was published in 2001.<ref>[[Michael Blake (author)|Blake, Michael]] (2001). ''The Holy Road'', [[Random House]]. ISBN 0-375-76040-7</ref> It picks up eleven years after ''Dances with Wolves''. John Dunbar is still married to Stands with a Fist and they have three children. Stands with a Fist and one of the children are kidnapped by a party of white rangers and Dances with Wolves must mount a rescue mission. As of 2007, Blake was writing a film adaptation, although Kevin Costner was not yet attached to the project.<ref>{{cite web | last = Blake | first = Michael | title = The official website of Michael Blake | work = | publisher = ''Danceswithwolves.net'' | date = | url = http://danceswithwolves.net/bio.php | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2008-03-13 }}</ref> In the end, however, Costner stated he would not take part in this production. [[Viggo Mortensen]] has been rumored to be attached to the project, playing Dunbar.<ref>{{cite web | title = Hollywood.com | publisher = ''Hollywood.com'' | date = ''2008'' | url = http://www.hollywood.com/news/Viggo_Mortensen_Leading_the_Charge_for_Dances_with_Wolves_Sequel/5232851 | accessdate = 2008-05-11}}</ref> ==Historical references== St. David's Field, [[Tennessee]] does not exist nor did it in 1863. As the opening battle is a minor portion of the film, it was considered undesirable to name an actual historical battle, which might result in knowledgeable viewers taking exception to fictional events. [[Sedgwick County, Colorado|Fort Sedgwick]], [[Colorado]] was erected as Camp Rankin and renamed for General [[John Sedgwick]] (1813–1864). General Sedgwick was killed May 9, 1864 at the [[Battle of Spotsylvania]] Court House, [[Virginia]]. Fort Sedgwick served as an army post from July 1864 to May 1871. John Sedgwick did erect a fort in Kansas in 1860. [[Fort Hays]], Kansas was named for General [[Alexander Hays]] (1819–1864). General Hays was killed May 5, 1864 in the [[Battle of the Wilderness]], Virginia. Fort Hays served as an army post from October 11, 1865 to November 8, 1889. There was a real John Dunbar who worked as a missionary for the Pawnee in the 1830s–40s, and he even sided with the Indians in a dispute between them and the government farmers and local Indian agent.<ref>Waldo R. Wedel, ''The Dunbar Allis Letters on the Pawnee'' (New York: Garland Press, 1985).</ref> That said, it is unclear if the name "John Dunbar" was chosen as a corollary to the real historical figure. The fictional Lieutenant John Dunbar of 1863 is correctly shown in the film wearing a gold bar on his officer shoulder straps, indicating his rank as a First Lieutenant. From 1836 to 1872, the rank of First Lieutenant was indicated by a gold bar; after 1872, the rank was indicated by a silver bar. Similarly, Captain Cargill is correctly depicted wearing a pair of gold bars, indicating the rank of Captain at that time.<ref>[http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/ROTCMiscNGB/Silver%20and%20Gold%20Insignia.htm US Army Institute of Heraldry - History of Officer Rank Insignia]</ref> The description at the finale is quite correct; 13 years after the film is set, the last band of free Sioux were forced into a humiliating surrender at Fort Robinson, Nebraska, and the dominance and prevalence of the Plains Indians, which had lasted several thousand years, was over. ==Home video editions== ===Laserdisc=== The first [[Laserdisc]] release of ''Dances with Wolves'' was on 15 November 1991 by Orion Home Video on a 2 disc extended play laserdisc set. The second release was in 1992. The third release was in 1993. The fourth release was in 1994. The fifth and final release was in 1996. ===VHS=== The first ''Dances with Wolves'' VHS version was released in 1991. ''Dances with Wolves'' has been released to several VHS versions. The limited collector's edition set comes with two VHS tapes, six high gloss 14" x 11" Lobby Photos, ''Dances With Wolves The Illustrated Story Of The Epic Film'' book, and an organized collector's edition storage case. ===DVD=== ''Dances with Wolves'' has been released to DVD on four occasions. The first on November 17, 1998 on a single disc. The second on February 16, 1999 as a two disc set with a [[DTS Coherent Acoustics|DTS]] Soundtrack. The third was released on May 20, 2003 as a two disc set (Special Extended Edition). The fourth was released on May 25, 2004 as a single disc in [[full frame]]. ===Blu-ray=== ''Dances with Wolves'' has been released on [[Blu-ray]] in [[Germany]] on the 5th of December 2008, in [[France]] on the 15th of April 2009 and in the [[United Kingdom]] on the 26th of October 2009. Although not advertised as such, the German release is the [[Director's Cut]] version of the movie with a run time of 236 minutes. The French Blu-ray release is the [[Director's_cut#Extended_cuts_and_special_editions|Extended Cut]] of the movie with a run time of 224 minutes, while the British release features the theatrical cut with a run time of 181 minutes. The 236 minute director's cut was released in North America by MGM/Fox on January 11, 2011 featuring most of the extras from the Special Edition DVD as well as newly produced material. The movie had a 7.1 [[DTS-HD Master Audio|dts-HD Master Audio]] track.<ref>http://www.thedigitalbits.com/mytwocentsa186.html#110310</ref> ==Soundtrack== {{Main|Dances with Wolves (soundtrack)}} *[[John Barry (composer)|John Barry]] composed the Award-winning score, which became a very popular film score. It was issued in 1990 initially and again in 1995 with bonus tracks and in 2004 with the score "in its entirety." *[[Peter Buffett]] scored and choreographed the "fire dance" scene. *[[Pope John Paul II]] once referred to it as among his favorite pieces of music. ==Bibliography== *{{cite book|last=Blake|first=Michael|title=Dances with Wolves|publisher=[[Ballantine Books]]|ISBN=0-449-00075-3}} *{{cite book|last=Blake|first=Michael|title=The Holy Road|publisher=[[Random House]]|ISBN=0-375-76040-7}} *{{cite book|last=Desobrie|first=Jean|title=Rencontre avec des films remarquables|ISBN=2-903880-03-4}} {{fr icon}} ==References== {{Reflist|2}} ==External links== {{Wikiquote}} *{{Official website|http://www.danceswithwolves.net/}}{{Dead link|date=July 2010}} *Archived website http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.danceswithwolves.net/ *{{IMDb title|id=0099348|title=Dances with Wolves}} *{{rotten-tomatoes|id=dances_with_wolves|title=Dances with Wolves}} *{{Amg movie|12092|Dances with Wolves}} *{{tcmdb title|id=72152}} {{Kevin Costner}} {{AcademyAwardBestPicture 1981-2000}} {{GoldenGlobeBestMotionPictureDrama 1981-2000}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Dances With Wolves}} [[Category:1990 films]] [[Category:American films]] [[Category:English-language films]] [[Category:1990s drama films]] [[Category:1990s Western films]] [[Category:American Civil War films]] [[Category:American drama films]] [[Category:American epic films]] [[Category:Best Drama Picture Golden Globe winners]] [[Category:Best Picture Academy Award winners]] [[Category:Directorial debut films]] [[Category:Epic films]] [[Category:Films based on Western novels]] [[Category:Films directed by Kevin Costner]] [[Category:Films set in South Dakota]] [[Category:Films set in the 1840s]] [[Category:Films set in the 1860s]] [[Category:Films shot anamorphically]] [[Category:Films shot in Kansas]] [[Category:Films shot in South Dakota]] [[Category:Films shot in Wyoming]] [[Category:Films that won the Best Sound Mixing Academy Award]] [[Category:Films whose cinematographer won the Best Cinematography Academy Award]] [[Category:Films whose director won the Best Director Academy Award]] [[Category:Films whose director won the Best Director Golden Globe]] [[Category:Films whose editor won the Best Film Editing Academy Award]] [[Category:Films whose writer won the Best Adapted Screenplay Academy Award]] [[Category:Lakota]] [[Category:Lakota-language films]] [[Category:Native American film]] [[Category:Orion Pictures films]] [[Category:United States National Film Registry films]] [[ar:الرقص مع الذئاب (فيلم)]] [[bs:Ples s vukovima]] [[ca:Ballant amb llops]] [[cs:Tanec s vlky]] [[da:Danser med ulve]] [[de:Der mit dem Wolf tanzt (Film)]] [[es:Dances with Wolves]] [[eo:Dances with Wolves]] [[eu:Dances with Wolves]] [[fa:با گرگ‌ها می‌رقصد (فیلم)]] [[fr:Danse avec les loups]] [[ko:늑대와 춤을]] [[hr:Ples s vukovima]] [[id:Dances with Wolves]] [[it:Balla coi lupi]] [[he:רוקד עם זאבים]] [[lt:Šokis su vilkais]] [[hu:Farkasokkal táncoló]] [[nl:Dances with Wolves]] [[ja:ダンス・ウィズ・ウルブズ]] [[no:Danser med ulver]] [[pl:Tańczący z wilkami]] [[pt:Dances with Wolves]] [[ro:Dansând cu lupii]] [[ru:Танцы с волками]] [[sk:Tanec s vlkmi]] [[sr:Плес са вуковима]] [[fi:Tanssii susien kanssa]] [[sv:Dansar med vargar]] [[tl:Dances with Wolves]] [[tr:Kurtlarla Dans]] [[vi:Khiêu vũ với bầy sói]] [[zh:與狼共舞]]'