“Why Kevin Costner’s 1990 Oscar-Winning Western Epic is Praised by Historians as One of the Best-Crafted Films”
An Old West historian recently assessed Kevin Costner’s film Dances with Wolves, a 1990 Western in which Costner both directed and starred. The film, which tells the story of Civil War Lieutenant Dunbar who is assigned to a remote Sioux outpost and learns about Sioux culture, won several Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director.
The historian, Grauer, examined two key scenes from the film: the dramatic buffalo chase and a moment where Dunbar is offered a piece of liver. Grauer had a “minor quibble” with the ease with which characters were able to kill bison using less advanced tools but found the weapons depicted to be generally accurate. He also noted that the offering of liver was likely a gesture of gratitude.
It is noteworthy that Grauer’s praise for Dances with Wolves comes from a 1990 perspective, a time when discussions on accurate representation were less prevalent compared to today. In contrast, Grauer was critical of the more recent Western film The Harder They Fall (2021), giving it a 3 out of 10 for historical accuracy.
Following Dances with Wolves, Costner continued to build on his Western credentials. His later works include starring in the TV series Yellowstone, which chronicles the Dutton family’s struggle to maintain their Montana ranch. Costner’s other Western roles include Wyatt Earp, Open Range, and The Highwaymen.
Costner has recently attempted to revive his Western roots with the Horizon film series. Initially planned for release in June and August, the first two installments, Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 and Chapter 2, were to be part of a multi-part series. However, after the first chapter did not perform as expected in theaters, the release of Chapter 2 was postponed and will now premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September. Despite Costner’s continued dedication to the Western genre, his recent work has yet to reach the acclaim of Dances with Wolves.
