The White Buffalo (1977) Review

I remember as a kid growing up in the late 80s and 1990s when TBS was the “Superstation,” special, and not just another channel, they used to air old films all the time. One of them being the subject for today’s review. I’d always stop and watch it, and I’ve watched the entire thing a time or two before. It wasn’t bad, but not the best. Now, after reading the novel, and re-watching with a reviewer’s eye, it really isn’t a good film. I wonder how they got Charles Bronson to agree to be in it? I’m referring to 1977’s The White Buffalo. The film comes across as a Western Jaws, maybe even more a Western Moby Dick. The “monster,” with the title name, is a cheesy piece of laughable cinema. Still, The White Buffalo is a weak third shelf selection.

The White Buffalo uses Richard Sale’s 1975 novel as its base. Sale also wrote the screenplay. J. Lee Thompson sat in the director’s chair. This one is a production from the legendary Dino De Laurentiis. Seems odd he’d offer such a film, but he bought the film rights, and brought Sale aboard to put his original creation from print to screen. United Artists distributed for MGM. The White Buffalo trampled into theaters on May 6, 1977. The legendary Charles Bronson stars. Who else is on hand? In the “other lead,” we have Will Sampson of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest fame. Jack Warden, with a slew of credits, including 12 Angry Men and All the President’s Men. While not a love story, Kim Novak is as close as we get to a “leading lady.” Slim Pickens appears early, as does, in a cameo, John Carradine.

The same man wrote both novel and film adaptation. They aren’t mirror images, but enough is there that they are close to each other. A few differences here and there, but nothing major. The main story and ending remain intact. At 97 minutes, The White Buffalo isn’t a long film. It doesn’t feel long, and a pretty easy watch. It just isn’t the best watch. The actual white buffalo isn’t even real, nor is there a real buffalo anywhere on screen. It’s just a cheap robotic creation, and it looks cheap and cheesy.