Eric Schweig is Theyendangea, who takes the American name Joseph Brandt in this movie about the Iroquois confederation.
Six tribes vowed to live together peacefully, giving that federation considerable power as the French and British fought over control of North America in the 1700s.
At the urging of Sir William Johnson (Pierce Brosnan), the Iroquois align themselves with the British during the French and Indian War.
But though the British are successful, the Iroquois discover more and more whites encroaching on their land. And, with the French gone, the British no longer need their help in war.
At least not until the colonies rise up in revolution. Again, the Iroquois fight on the British side … at least most of them.
Some Seneca and Oneida warriors fight with the Americans, and the ensuing war breaks the chain of peace between the nations.
Schweig becomes a great Iroquois warrior, despite getting a white education courtesy of Johnson. His best friend Loheheo (J.C. White Shirt) holds peace more sacred.
Elaine Bilstad plays Catherine, the young woman both men love.
Eric Schweig as Joseph Brandt, a young man who’s faith in the whites leads to trouble for his tribe in The Broken Chain (1993)
Pierce Brosnan as William Johnson, self-anointed protector of the Iroquis in The Broken Chain (1993)
Review:
A film that tries to cover too much historical ground — at least 40 years — in too little screen time and winds up becoming a bore because of it.
Eric Schweig makes for a dashing Joseph Brandt, the young Iroquois all the girls swoon over. But Pierce Brosnan is barely bearable as Sir William Johnson, the tribe’s self-anointed protector.
And two particular scenes come off as laughably ridiculous. In one, Joseph captures a Delaware woman (Peggy) and immediately vows his love for her.
In the second, Johnson is accused to betraying the Iroquois and suddenly dies of a heart attack in the middle of negotiations with the Iroquois.
Worthy only because of a couple of French and Indian War battle scenes, and even those aren’t very well done.
J.C. White Shirt as Lohaheo, Joseph Brandt’s Iroquis ‘brother’ in The Broken Chain (1993)
Elaine Bilstad as Catherine, wondering which young Iroquis man she should marry in The Broken Chain (1993)
Directed by:
Lamont Johnson
Cast:
Pierce Brosnan … William Johnson
Eric Schweig … Joseph Brandt / Theyendangea
Wes Studi … Seth
Elaine Bilstad … Catherine
Buffy Sainte-Marie … Gesina
J.C. White Shirt … Lohaheo
Floyd Westerman … Tribe Elder
Kim Snyder … Molly, Johnson’s Indian wife
Graham Greene … The Peacemaker
Grace Del Rey … Peggy
John Hagadorn … Ben Franklin
Mark Joy … Guy Johnson
Michael Spears … Young Lohaheo
Nathan Lee Chasing His Horse … Young Joseph
Runtime: 93 min.
Wes Studi as Seth, chief of the Iroquis in The Broken Chain (1993)
Buffy Sainte-Marie as Gesina, a chief’s wife and leader among the Iroquis woman in The Broken Chain (1993)
Memorable lines:
William Johnson: “Mother Gesina, I am here trying to keep two worlds from colliding, but they will collide. I can assure you. And what can your people do? Nothing.”
Gesina, dying worlds: “The Six Nations must stand together. They must not be divided. I wish I did not live during these times.”
Joseph Brandt: “Just because I take some things from the white man’s world, it doesn’t change my heart.”
Joseph Brandt, on hearing prophesy of a war between the British and the white colonialists: “If there is a war, the British will win.”
Lohaheo: “And what difference will that make to us? The white man, any white man, is like a serpent with a big belly that eats everything in his path. He will destroy us, if we do not force him from the land.”
Kim Snyder as Molly, Joseph Brandt’s sister and William Johnson’s Indian wife in The Broken Chain (1993)
Grace Del Rey as Peggy, a captive girl, and Eric Schweig as Joseph Brandt in The Broken Chain (1993)
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