Dances With Wolves - Definition

Dances with Wolves is a 1990 film which tells the story of a cavalry officer who befriends a band of Dakota Indians, sacrificing his career and ties to his own people. It stars Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell, Graham Greene, Rodney A. Grant, Floyd Red Crow Westerman, Tantoo Cardinal, Robert Pastorelli and Charles Rocket. It has been released in both a 181-minute theatrical version and a 236-minute Special Edition version for television and video.

The movie was adapted by Michael Blake from his novel of the same title. It was Costner who in early 1986 when he was himself relatively unknown, encouraged Blake to turn an idea for a story into a novel. Dances With Wolves was rejected by numerous publishers but finally published in paperback in 1988. The film was directed by Costner. Often the film is criticized for having overly graphic violence and sexual content, even though the film only recieved a very strong PG-13 rating.

John Barry composed the Award-winning score, which became one of the most popular film scores of all time. Pope John Paul II once referred to it as among his favorite pieces of music.

It won Academy Awards for

Best Cinematography

Best Director (Kevin Costner)

Best Film Editing

Best Music, Original Score (John Barry)

Best Picture

Best Sound

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium. (Michael Blake)

It was nominated for

Best Actor in a Leading Role (Kevin Costner)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Graham Greene)

Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Mary McDonnell)

Best Art Direction-Set Decoration and Best Costume Design

References

• Michael Blake, Dances with Wolves, Ballantine Books, ISBN 0449000753

External links

• Michael Blake's official web site. (http://www.danceswithwolves.net/bio.php)