The Scalphunters is a 1968 American Western film starring Burt Lancaster, Ossie Davis, Telly Savalas, and Shelley Winters. The film was directed by Sydney Pollack, with the score written by Elmer Bernstein. Davis was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the film. Filming took place in Sierra de Órganos National Park in the town of Sombrerete, Mexico.
Joe Bass, a rugged trapper, is on his way to sell the furs he has amassed over the winter. He encounters a group of Kiowa Indians led by Two Crows, who take his furs. In exchange, they give him Joseph Lee, a well-educated escaped house slave, whom they had previously taken from a group of Comanches. As Bass and Lee catch up to the Kiowa, they see a group of scalphunters ambush them. The scalphunters, led by Jim Howie, kill the Kiowas and take their scalps for the bounty offered by the territorial government. They also take the furs the Kiowas took from Bass. Bass and Lee trail the new group.
This film provides examples of:
- Artistic License – History: The film is set in 1860. However:
- While telling Kate's fortune, Lee refers to the planet Pluto. Pluto wouldn't be discovered for 70 years.
- Except for the Colt revolving rifle, all of the firearms shown came into use after the Civil War.
- Bodybag Trick: A variant where Howie hides under the rocks piled over the grave of the man who died when the horses were poisoned with locoweed, waiting to ambush Bass and Lee.
- Bookends: After Two Crows steals his furs at the beginning of the film, Bass tells Lee that his packhorse was also carrying a cask of whiskey, so in a few hours, there will be a bunch of drunk Indians. After Two Crows steals the furs again at the end of the film, Lee tells Bass that Howie's wagon contains two cases of whiskey, so in a few hours, there will be a bunch of drunk Indians.
- Born into Slavery: Joseph Lee, of course.
- Buddy Picture: Much of the film focuses on the relationship between Bass and Lee.
- Character Development: At the beginning of the movie, Bass rides while forcing Lee to walk. At the end of the movie, Bass helps Lee up onto the horse so they can both ride.
- City Mouse: Before he escaped, Lee was a house slave. He is well-educated and refined, in contrast to the rugged, illiterate Bass. But he is completely out of his element in the wilderness.
- Fish out of Water: The well-educated and refined Lee is completely out of his element in the wilderness.
- An Offer You Can't Refuse: Two Crows and the group of Kiowa Indians have Bass at gunpoint and take his furs, leaving Lee with him in exchange.
- One-Steve Limit: Averted with the two main characters: Joe Bass and Joseph Lee.
- Politically Incorrect Villain: Howie and his band of scalphunters.
- Run for the Border: Joseph Lee wants to go to Mexico, where slavery is illegal. Conveniently, Jim Howie and his men, on the run from the law, are also headed to Mexico.
- So Much for Stealth: Bass tells Lee to wait for him at the top of the cliff overlooking Howie's camp. As Bass sneaks up to the camp, Lee falls down the cliff and is captured.
- Your Princess Is in Another Castle!: At the end of the movie, Bass and Lee defeat Howie and recover the furs. Then they beat each other up in a good old-fashioned brawl. When they look up, Two Crows has returned with another group of Kiowa Indians. They defeat Howie's men and ride off with Howie's good, including the furs.
