Dances with Wolves (Orion, 1990)
A cinematic masterpiece of the American frontier, Dances with Wolves (1990) is an epic Western film that redefined the genre with its sweeping storytelling and deep cultural significance. Directed by and starring Kevin Costner, the film was a critical and commercial success, earning over $424 million worldwide and winning seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.
The story follows Union Army Lieutenant John Dunbar (Kevin Costner), who is assigned to a remote outpost on the Western frontier during the Civil War. As he forms a deep bond with the Lakota Sioux, he embraces their way of life, adopting the name “Dances with Wolves.” However, his newfound loyalty is tested when the U.S. Army threatens the tribe’s existence.
Praised for its breathtaking cinematography, emotional depth, and respectful portrayal of Native American culture—including extensive use of the Lakota language—the film remains one of the most influential Westerns, celebrated for its authenticity and human storytelling.
Buffalo Head Prop Used in the Hunt Scene
KNB Effects created this buffalo head for the buffalo hunt scene in Dances with Wolves. KNB Effects and the production company went to great effort and expense to stage realistic animal scenes without harming the animals. The massive buffalo stampede and hunt was partially achieved with the use of 23 artificial and mechanical buffalos to the cost of $250,000.00. 3,500 live buffalo were used for the stampede, some of which had arrows attached with clips to their fur to give the impression they had been struck by arrows. In the scene with this prop, the carcasses of dead buffalo lie strewn across a field. These buffalo were supposedly killed and skinned and their tongues removed by white hunters who left their carcasses to rot in the field. This original, life-size, realistic buffalo head prop is constructed of board and fiberglass armature with cast foam latex rubber skin, expertly painted with realistic hair added overall. It includes resin teeth, mouth, and prosthetic grade glass eyes. The “carcass” this head prop leaned against was made of foam latex.
Dances with Wolves: Buffalo Hunt Scene
