Common Sense Media Review
By Kat Halstead
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Epic adventure has violence, drinking, mature themes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Little Big Man
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In LITTLE BIG MAN, Jack Crabb (Dustin Hoffman) recounts from old age his experience of growing up living among both White men and Native Americans. His epic story takes him from Cheyenne villages to saloons with Wild Bill Hickok (Jeff Corey) and the battlefield alongside General Custer (Richard Mulligan).
Is It Any Good?
Adapted from an epic novel into an equally epic film, this is a Hoffman vehicle that sees the actor gallop through endless guises like an extended audition tape. Narrated by an older (apparently 121-year-old) version of himself, Little Big Man feels like a whistle-stop tour of the American West, full of the tall tales and tongue-in-cheek humor Hoffman's Crabb brings in spades. One minute an honorary "Human Being" among the Cheyenne tribe, next a gunslinger alongside Wild Bill, Crabb even takes a turn as a hopeless hermit, shaggy beard intact. Recognized at the time for a fairer representation of Native Americans than most Westerns that had gone before it, Little Big Man went a way toward challenging some of the stereotypes and White-washed versions of history Hollywood had been throwing at the big screen for decades. However, it still has dated language and moments of misguided humor. The 139-minutes runtime feels somewhat unruly at times, but as the spoken memoirs of "the oldest man in the world," it keeps the narrative moving, albeit at a slightly erratic pace.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Native characters were portrayed in Little Big Man. How did they compare to portrayals in other movies of the time? Why is on-screen representation important?
Talk about the violence in the movie. Was it shocking? Thrilling? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
Chief Dan George was nominated for an Oscar for his role as Old Lodge Skins (although the part was offered to White actors first). Why is it important for underrepresented communities to be cast in these parts on-screen? How would the film have been different had Old Lodge Skins been played by a White actor?
Woman take on supporting parts in the movie, and their characters are often stereotypical and one-dimensional. How did that affect the movie overall? Can you think of any films set in the American West during a similar era where women take on more prominent roles?
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 14, 1970
- On DVD or streaming : April 29, 2003
- Cast : Dustin Hoffman , Chief Dan George , Faye Dunaway
- Director : Arthur Penn
- Studio : Paramount
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Adventures , Book Characters , History
- Run time : 139 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : intense battle sequences and some sexual content
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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