Set in 1860, Joseph mentions the planet Pluto, discovered in 1930.
All of the weapons shown came into use after the Civil War.
During the fight scene between Joe and Joseph, the white wire used to pull Joe out of the ditch is clearly visible.
When Joe starts the avalanche, the first large boulder is rolling alone.
It takes a bounce on a ledge, and rocks 20 feet on each side begin to roll, indicating they were all pushed by the crew.
During the fight in the water, Joseph hits Joe on the head with the big rock.
Joseph's hands come apart without the rock and then the rock reappears in his hands.
Golden Laurel |
| Action Performance |
| Male Supporting Performance |
Burt Lancaster offers a robust, fun performance as trapper Joe Bass. One day he's accosted by Indians including the character Two Crows (Armando Silvestre), who force him to turn over his prized furs in exchange for a slave named Joseph (Ossie Davis).
"Joe Bass" (Burt Lancaster) is a trapper who has just finished his winter occupation and is heading back east to trade in his furs. Unfortunately, he encounters some semi-friendly Kiowa and they demand his furs in exchange for a black slave named "Joseph Lee" (Ossie Davis).
Trapper Joe Bass (Burt Lancaster) is intercepted by Two Crows and his braves. He is forced to trade all of his furs for an educated slave named Joseph Lee (Ossie Davis).
I really like Burt Lancaster, but not in this role. Shelley WInters, however, is perfectly cast as a very fat, over the hill $2 hooker.
Light Western comedy about the particular relationship between a fur trapper and a highly polish slave , including a colour-coded cultural confrontation . It's an entertaining story with a touch of peculiarity , some great characters , a colorful cinematography , an amazing music and is funny enough .
I really like Burt Lancaster, but not in this role. Shelley WInters, however, is perfectly cast as a very fat, over the hill $2 hooker.
Thoroughly enjoyable western with sharp writing and a great cast. Watching 52 years later, it certainly seems to have held up well over time.
Sydney Pollack's "The Scalphunters" is a briskly-paced, revisionist Western with an entertaining script and equally entertaining performances by a strong cast. Given the title, some viewers may expect a serious and gritty drama about the depraved scalp hunters who plagued the American West.
This unique very entertaining film is, in part, a traditional Western, with several skirmishes involving "Indians", a gang of outlaws, and a lone trapper, who comes to grief from both. In part, it is a slapstickish reluctant buddy comedy involving Burt Lancaster, as trapper Joe Bass, and escaped slave Joseph Lee(Ossie Davis), as well as the often caustic patter between complaining floozy Kate(Shelly Winters) and Jim Howie(Telly Savalas), boss of the fleeing outlaw gang.
