Buffalo Soldiers (1997)

Danny Glover is 1st Sgt. Washington Wyatt of H Troop, 10th Cavalry, an all-black unit serving in New Mexico Territory.

That’s where the Apaches are on the warpath under Chief Victorio, killing and mutilating every settler they come across, sometimes in the opposite order.

The 10th’s job is to bring Victorio to justice, but white commanders have little faith in an all-black unit’s ability to get the job done.

That perception hardly improves after Wyatt and his men return to their post, having arrested a band of Texas Rangers for hanging young Apaches in an effort to learn Victorio’s whereabouts.

New post commander Gen. Pike and Maj. Robert Carr are especially dismissive, the latter reluctant to command the 10th for fear it will ruin his military career.

Col. Grierson (Bob Gunton) is different. In his mind, Sgt. Wyatt is the best soldier he’s ever served with.

In fact, wounded on a final mission to hunt down Victorio, Grierson doesn’t hesitate to turn command over to the sergeant, who has plenty to prove as he sets out after the blood-thirsty savages.

Danny Glover as Washington Wyatt, a sergeant who’s learned how to survive in a white man’s army in Buffalo Soldiers (1997)

Carl Lumbly as John Horse, the half-Indian, half-black scout for the 10th Cavalry in Buffalo Soldiers (1997)

Review:

Danny Glover turns in a sterling performance as a black sergeant who has learned “his place.” Or, in other words, what’s necessary to survive in a military where command positions are all held by whites.

If that means keeping his troop several yards behind the white troops as they ride off on a detail, so be it. If that means dismounting as the troop travels through a town occupied by white settlers, so be it.

He still manages to be a proud soldier who takes pride in the job he does. And to keep his men in line.

Mix in some gritty, well-done cavalry vs. Apache action scenes, and you have the makings for a fine Western. In one, hand-to-hand skirmish, young Apache boys grab rocks, run out from hiding and smash them into the backs of wounded members of the 10th Cavalry.

Unfortunately, a completely implausible ending — especially given the savagery of the fighting and the losses suffered by the 10th — comes as close as possible to ruining the entire outing.

A few more shades of gray in the characters — especially the white commanders — would have been welcome too.

Mykelti Williamson as Clp. William Christy, a member of H Troop, 10th Cavalry in Buffalo Soldiers (1997)

Michael Warren as Eddie Tockes, a member of H Troop, 10th Cavalry in Buffalo Soldiers (1997)

Directed by:
Charles Haid

Cast:
Lamont Bentley … Corporal Sea
Tom Bower … General Pike
Timothy Busfield … Maj. Robert Carr
Gabriel Casseaus
Danny Glover … Sgt. Washington Wyatt
Bob Gunton … Col. Grierson
Keith Jefferson … Andrew Boyer
Robert Knott … Capt. Draper
Carl Lumbly … John Horse
Clifton Powell …
Matt Ross … Capt. Calhoun
David Jean Thomas … Cpl. Lloyd
Glynn Turman … Sgt. Joyu Ruth
Michael Warren … Cpl. Eddie Tockes
Mykelti Williamson .. Cpl. William Christy

Runtime: 95 min.

Glynn Turman as Sgt. Joyu Ruth, a member of H Troop, 10th Cavalry in Buffalo Soldiers (1997)

Harrison Lowe as Victorio, the elusive Apache chief in Buffalo Soldiers (1997)

Memorable lines:

Capt. Draper of the Texas Rangers, searching for Victorio: “You ain’t gonna take that Injun brat’s word are you? Even a n—-r can’t be that stupid.”

Gen Pike: “This experiment with the coloreds is doomed to failure.”
Col. Grierson: “It’s been 17 years, sir.”
Gen. Pike: “Waste of time.”

Gen. Pike to Sgt. Wyatt: “Sergeant, besides rescuing Apaches from the Texas Rangers, I assume you had some other reason for being on the Mescalaro reservation.”
Sgt. Wyatt: “Yes, sir, on routine patrol, H Troop cut trail heading up from the southeast onto reservation land. Victorio has kin on the reservation.”
Gen. Pike: “Now isn’t that exactly what the Texas Rangers did, sergeant?”
Sgt. Wyatt: “No sir. H Troop committed no murders.”

Col. Grierson: “Bringing Nana and his children along? I don’t know. Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
Sgt. Wyatt: “Best protection we got, colonel. Most Apache will think twice before takin’ a chance of hitting the old man. I’d carry him in my pocket if I could.”

Victorio to Wyatt: “Why do you murder my people for those who made you less than cattle?”

Bob Gunton as Colonel Grierson, the commander who respects Wyatt’s fighting abilities in Buffalo Soldiers (1997)

Tom Bower as Gen. Pike, the racist commander of the cavalry post in Buffalo Soldiers (1997)

Timothy Busfield as Maj. Robert Carr, the officer who thinks leading black troopers will ruin his career in Buffalo Soldiers (1997)

Matt Ross as Capt. Calhoun, providing a family history lesson to a fellow officer in Buffalo Soldiers (1997)

Robert Knott as Texas Ranger Capt. Draper, hanging young boys to find out where Victorio is hiding in Buffalo Soldiers (1997)

Danny Glover as 1st Sgt. Washington Wyatt, with an enemy under his gunsight in Buffalo Soldiers (1997)