Dances with Wolves on Arte: the story of Kevin Costner’s great success

This classic of American cinema has been crowned with seven Oscars.

“In the United States, Until the end of the dream is the film that people talk to me about the mostactor and director Kevin Costner revealed to us in 2016. The lines from the film are part of everyday language: ‘If you build it, it will come. But in the rest of the world, it’s as if he doesn’t exist. I get quoted more Bodyguard Or Dances with Wolves.”

That’s good, his feature film released in 1991 in France is rebroadcast this Sunday evening on Arte (and already available for streaming on Arte.TV). From its complicated creation to its success in theaters (more than $400 million in revenue worldwide), then on television, and its 7 Oscars (best film, director, music, editing etc.), a look back at the history of this film which left its mark.

Kevin Costner was 35 when he embarked on the challenge of his life: producing, directing and starring in the adaptation of “Dances with Wolves”the great novel by his friend Michael Blake. A wonderful story where the young American cavalry lieutenant John Dunbar, hero of the Civil War, discovers an isolated post on the border of Indian territory, gains their trust, learns their language and becomes more Sioux than the Sioux… They will nickname him Dances with Wolves.

Disdainful responses
When Costner asks them for his project, the big majors respond to the absent subscribers: “The western is dead, it’s no longer worth a penny“. The proof? The resounding flop of Gates of paradise, by Michael Cimino, which stuck in their throats. And then what fly has stung the star actor of the moment to remind America of its Civil War and the Indian genocide? The hero of Incorruptiblesby Brian de Palma, then experiences a great moment of solitude, but does not give up. Worse, he persists. Finally, Orion, a modest production company, extends the missing dollars to the equity funds committed by the American actor. He will be able to film one hundred and eight days on the Dakota Indian reservations.

Real Indians, or nothing!
Costner has a fixed idea: the film must be authentic. No cheap Indians played by white people! Dialogues in Sioux language, Lakota, with subtitles. The director places an ad in the English-language daily newspaper read by North American Indians. He chooses 400 people (150 actors and 250 extras) from different tribes. Some will have to (re)learn to ride a horse bareback, shoot an archery… For three weeks, everyone takes intensive Lakota lessons with Doris Leader Charge (Pretty Shield in the film), originally from the Rosebird reserve. She knows this dialect, which her grandmother spoke to her in secret. As for Rodney Grant – aka Windward Hair, the other hero of the film – he is from Omaha who grew up on the Nebraska reservation. The casting director, Ka-Mook Nichols, of Sioux origin, fell in love with her. And not to hide anything from you, they got married and had many children!

Down to the smallest detail
Every gesture, makeup, clothing, weaving, jewelry, utensil and weapon is created according to centuries-old customs and traditions. Suits and moccasins are made from real bison or deerskin skins. The wolf, the dogs, the bison, all are real. For music, the composer John Barry, Jane Birkin’s first husband, listened to Sioux recordings for a long time before writing his first notes.

The tribute of the Sioux
“This film is my love letter to Indianssays Kevin Costner. We exterminated them, we destroyed their culture to possess their land. I also wanted to show that they have always known how to live in harmony with nature“. The actor-director is an honorary citizen of the Sioux nation. A fair return of things, especially since his grandfather was half-Cherokee.

The trailer for Dances with Wolves :