Ralph Nelson’s incendiary 1970 Western ‘Soldier Blue’ is not for the faint of heart. This is not the romantic myth-making of Ford and Wayne, with their sweeping, picturesque vistas. Nope, this a visceral gut-punch of a film that strips away the veneer of heroism and dives headlong into the dark, brutal reality of American expansionism. Exquisitely restored in 4K UHD, scanned from the original 35mm, this is likely to be the most complete cut of the film we will ever see in the UK.
It’s a film that comes with a notorious reputation, and as such has never been available in the UK in its fully uncut form for legal reasons. This new release from StudioCanal clocks in at 115 minutes, with just a few compulsory cuts made due to depictions of horses falling, and a potentially indecent image of a child. These fleeting frames—excised by the BBFC to ensure no one is breaking the law—are no great loss. If you are here for the savage depictions of extraordinary violence, I can assure you it’s all still here, and now in crystal clear 4K. If for whatever reason you feel you must own a fully uncut version, the German edition of this release will see you right. But you should perhaps also seek help.
The story centres on two unlikely companions, Cresta Lee (Candice Bergen) and Honus Gant (Peter Strauss) who are the only two survivors of a Cheyenne war party massacre. Thrust together in a desperate struggle for survival, they must travel across the unforgiving terrain in an attempt to find safety. Gant is a young soldier, devoted to his duty. Lee is a woman ahead of her time—fiery, fiercely independent, and deeply sympathetic to the plight of the Native Americans she once lived with.
Bergen is excellent in a very demanding role. She is the heart of the film, portraying a woman who has seen the best and worst of humanity but refuses to lose her compassion. Strauss however is the wounded soul. His transformation from a naive, idealistic soldier to a horrified witness of atrocity is deeply affecting, and brilliantly captures the turmoil of a man whose worldview is utterly shattered.
For the majority of the running time though you’d be forgiven for thinking you were watching a sweet, odd-couple romance. He’s the prim and proper soldier, she’s the rough and ready gal, and together they’ll bring out the best in each other and discover something new about themselves along the way. Well, that’s not quite how it plays out, but watching these two together is a surprisingly charming distraction from what you know this is all heading towards.
Which is of course the graphic depiction of the Sand Creek Massacre. A sequence that stirred considerable controversy upon its original release, and continues to provoke strong reactions today. The scenes of carnage are shocking, and intentionally so, tipping the film into almost gonzo exploitation territory. When you hear people ranting about Cormac McCarthy’s ‘Blood Meridian’ being un-filmable because of how sickeningly violent it portrays the old west, just point them in direction of the final 20-minutes of ‘Soldier Blue’.
It’s a film not without its flaws however. It’s heart is in the right place, but this isn’t the most culturally sensitive film, and there’s an oversimplification to much of it in order to hammer home the anti-war theme. It’s also quite an odd film in terms of pacing and has some whiplash inducing tonal shifts. In between all the blood-letting and amputations, Nelson stages some of it like a playful, romantic romp. The sight of Candice Bergen’s arse-cheeks jiggling in Peter Strauss’s face when they are hogtied in the back of a wagon, could have been lifted straight from a ‘Carry On’ film.
Overall, ‘Soldier Blue’ is a film you really have to see. It’s a daring, provocative piece of work that refuses to shy away from the realities of its subject matter. While its unflinching approach may not be to everyone’s taste, the impact of ‘Soldier Blue’ along with its significance in the context of revisionist Westerns cannot be denied. An essential, if uncomfortable watch for fans of the genre.
The disc comes with an audio commentary featuring critics Steve Mitchell and Howard S Berger. There’s also a brand new interview with Candice Bergen, exclusive to this release.
Cast: Candice Bergen, Peter Strauss Director: Ralph Nelson Writer: John Gay Released By: StudioCanal Certificate: 18 Duration: 115 mins Release Date: 15th July 2024
