Buffalo Bill cover art

Buffalo Bill Details

1944 Certificate U
  • Rated:
  • 50
  • from 88 members

William Wellman skilfully directs the life story of William F. Cody, who's better known as Buffalo Bill. Based on a story by Frank Winch, there is plenty of action as the stages of his life unfold. The journey begins with his early years as an Indian fighter, jumps to his days as a scout and campaigner for Indian rights, and .. Read more

Starring Joel McCrea, Maureen O'Hara, Linda Darnell
Director William A. Wellman
Genres Action/Adventure

Sign up Buffalo Bill DVD

Buy From: £4.93

loading loading...

Buffalo Bill cover art

Buffalo Bill

William Wellman skilfully directs the life story of William F. Cody, who's better known as Buffalo Bill. Based on a story by Frank Winch, there is plenty of action as the stages of his life unfold. The journey begins with his early years as an Indian fighter, jumps to his days as a scout and campaigner for Indian rights, and culminates in a display of his later years of Wild West showmanship. The full-on conflict between the U.S. Cavalry and the Cheyenne tribe at War Bonnet Gorge, in which Cody finds himself going head to head with his former Indian friend, is one of the most riveting sequences in the film. Joel McCrea is completely convincing in the title role, and Maureen O' Hara is both earnest and sensual as the senator's daughter who becomes his wife. The film is escapist in the best sense, revealing a number of colourful exterior panoramas. The rest of the solid cast, which includes Linda Darnell as a schoolteacher who loves Cody, keeps this light fare worthwhile.

Starring Joel McCrea, Maureen O'Hara, Linda Darnell
Director William A. Wellman
Studio 20TH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time DVD: 1 hr 27 mins
Certificate Certificate U
Genres Action/Adventure
Language DVD: English
Released DVD: 09 May 2005
Production year: 1944
Format DVD

  • Critics' reviews (2) of Buffalo Bill

    View all
  • 3 stars out of 5

    You won't learn much about the real William Frederick Cody from this conventional and sentimental 20th Century-Fox western, with a stalwart, though rather dull, Joel McCrea in the lead. Still, redhead Maureen O'Hara and the striking locations were made for Fox Technicolor (courtesy of the great cameraman Leon Shamroy), though these days you have to take Anthony Quinn and Linda Darnell made-up as Cheyenne Indians with a pinch of salt. Director William A Wellman knows how to keep this film moving, but spends too much time on the romance in Buffalo Bill's life rather than on the building of his Wild West image abroad.

    • Radio Times
    • Posted 29 Jan 2006
  • 1 stars out of 4

    Easygoing entertainment which turns from Western excitements to domestic drama. Generally watchable.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
    • Posted 02 Mar 2006

  • Most helpful member's review of Buffalo Bill

    View all
  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    Wild West Show

    I recall seeing this as a boy and was thrilled by the wonderful colour of the film. As it turned out, one of the early technicolour prints. McCrea is always good to watch though Maureen O'Hara is too good to be true for someone out west. Even after giving birth to a child in a cave in the wilderness, her hair and lipstick still remained perfect. Ah! Old Hollywood. An early effort to tell the world just what the whites did to the native American. Strictly Saturday afternoon stuff but enjoyable.

      • Ivor Browne from Derry City,Northern Ireland
      • Posted 23 May 2006 09:04

  • More like this

    View all
    Showing 1 to 4 of 20

    loading

Find cinemas


Rating breakdown

88 Member ratings
  • 100
2
  • 90
3
  • 80
9
  • 70
11
  • 60
19
  • 50
17
  • 40
9
  • 30
8
  • 20
6
  • 10
4

Related user collection

Buy from the LOVEFiLM shop

    • Buffalo Bill

    • Buffalo Bill
    • DVD: £4.93
      Free Delivery
    • RRP £12.79 (you save: 61%)
      • William Wellman skilfully directs the life story of William F. Cody, who's better known as Buffalo Bill. Based on a story by Frank Winch, there is plenty of action as the stages of his life unfold. ...