Gary Cole IS Custer. He brings to life the conceit and arrogance of a man who felt that his way was the only way. Cole's unique facial expressions are perfect in every scene, even those wherein he is completely silent.
The television mini-series has the production quality of a bigger budget theatrical film. The location filming enhances the story and the use of Native American actors is a further plus.
"Son of the Morning Star" rises high! I give this film a strong recommendation.
The first part of this film is fairly uneven. The producers decided to add on the parallel story of Crazy Horse, which is too thinly developed. The jewel of the film, though, is the retelling of the Little Bighorn campaign and battle. Really magnificent work. As close to the historical record as any film has ever come. (Although, that really is not saying much considering the other Little Bighorn movie recreations.)
The Last Stand parts, though, are pure romance. General Custer, already mortally wounded, stands up and blazes away with his pistol in slow motion as the Lakotas and Cheyennes overrun his position. Beside him is his brother, Captain Tom Custer, behind him is Sergeant Major William Sharrow, Chief Trumpeter Henry Voss, and Sergeant Robert Hughes with Custer's personal guidon. Custer probably did not die like that; but he should have.
This movie does contain a historical inaccuracy which no film has ever had the guts to correct which is Custer's long hair. All historical accounts record that Custer cut his hair extremely short for the campaign. Combine that with the fact that all photos of Custer in his mid-30's point to a man who was going bald and you get a very different picture from all the actors who have played him with long, blond manes.
