Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11 in VHS
• Released on: 1996-11-12
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of tapes: 1
• Running time: 118 minutes

Amazon.com
Despite an irritating, tacked-on voice-over narration that somebody must have thought was necessary to make sense of the story (it wasn't), Last of the Dogmen is actually a very moving and magical film. Tom Berenger plays a Montana bounty hunter who helps an anthropologist (Barbara Hershey) search for the descendants of a Cheyenne tribe who disappeared in the 1870s. What the two find in a remote mountain stretch is an entire community of Cheyenne who have kept themselves cut off from the modern world. A Dances with Wolves parallel emerges as the white outsiders gradually fit in, but Last of the Dogmen stands up just fine without comparison to any other films. As in Kevin Costner's Oscar-winning movie, however, there are ways in which this film captures a similar sense of yearning, mystery, and loss. --Tom Keogh

From The New Yorker
It begins like an ordinary prison-break movie, but when a bounty hunter (Tom Berenger, in a strong, sexy performance) is hired to track the escapees the terrain turns unfriendly in a premodern way. The bounty hunter and an anthropologist (Barbara Hershey) follow the prisoners' trail into a remote territory occupied by a tribe of Cheyennes untouched by the twentieth century; and the writer-director, Tab Murphy, trots out seventies-era plotting (with modern life corrupting proud tradition) and pours "Dances with Wolves" syrup over cinematographer Karl Walter Lindenlaub's beautiful images. There are some tense scenes, and the mystery of the escape takes some time to unravel, but the movie shrivels up and dies from piousness. -Bruce Diones
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

Customer Reviews

Modern Day Western With A Century Old Feel
This review refers to the HBO DVD edition of "Last Of The Dogmen"...

"Last of the Dogmen" is a beautiful story that takes my breath away everytime I watch it. It's one of those films that even if you start out viewing it alone, pretty soon, you'll find the rest of the family gathered around simply because one glimpse of the scenery,one paragraph of the dialouge,one look at the story and it's got a hold on you.

It's a modern Western, with all the romantic adventure of one that may take place 100 years ago. Lewis Gates(Tom Berenger) is a bounty hunter hired to track three deadly criminals who have escaped deep into the "Oxbow" of the Montana wilderness. As he follows their trail, he begins to uncover a 100 year old mystery. One of the clues is an arrow that could only have been used by a tribe of Cheyennes that existed over a century ago.
He can't let go of what the possibilities may be and convinces the beautiful Dr Lillian Sloan(Barbara Hershey), expert in Native American culture, that there may be something incredible out there. Their search begins as they try to uncover the past, and what they find is a way of life too beautiful to be spoiled by modern day man and it is up to them to save it!

It's just an incredibly beautiful film that interweaves the search for the past with Gates' own ghosts from his past. The friendships formed,the evolving romance, the cinematogrpahy, the musical score, and the heartwarming story all combined for a wonderful film.
Even "Zip" the dog(played by "Zip"), will be tugging at your heart.Berenger and Hershey worked beautifully together, and Steve Reevis and other American Indian actors were not only wonderful but lent a great deal of realism and authenticity to the film...Bravo!

The DVD presents a wonderful widescreen picture, taking in all the majesty of the Rockies. The DD5.1 is very good. The sounds of nature and the modern day sounds of helicopters and such, are quite a contrast to behold in surround sound.The DVD also has some nice features. It may be viewed with the sound in either the Theatrical version, or the Director version. Both are in DD5.1, and the main difference I found was that the Theatrical version has the captivating narration by Wilfred Brimley,and the Director's version does not. There is the option of Director(Tab Murphy) commentary, and it also provides subtitles in English, French and Spanish for those needing them.There are other features that include, cast bios and costume sketches as well.

If you liked "Dances With Wolves", give this one a try. I can not say enough good things about it. If you have already seen it, you will enjoy it again on this DVD. It's for Western lovers, adventure lovers, romance lovers and anyone who just wants to get lost in a good story for a couple of hours.It is rated PG(there is some violence and mild langauge)

Happy trails and enjoy.....Laurie

also recommended:

Public Eye [VHS](Barbara Hershey)

Great American Western V.11, The(4 films - stories of the American Indian)

Fine Storytelling, Authentic and Engaging tale
Last of the Dogmen ranks as one of my favorite movies of all time. I own it on VHS and DVD and love the additional features that come on the DVD version. If you are interested in the background and behind the scenes details, you will enjoy the DVD. The picture quality is top notch and helps to do justice to the beautiful scenery.

As far as the story, there is something so good, so valuable about the values displayed by Lewis and Lilly in regard to their discovery of the lost tribe of Cheyenne. They never even entertain the thought of making the Cheyenne's presence known to the rest of the world. A strong message of respect for people and nature flows through the film like a deep current. Berenger and Hershey are two seasoned pros that seem to be performing at their peak and I truly appreciate what their talents, wisdom, and experience brought to each of their roles and to the integrity of the story. The native american characters are real people, not "Indians." The actors that portrayed these roles did an outstanding and commendable job of portraying the Cheyenne people with dignity, humanity, and respect. The Cheyenne costumes, language, and customs were authentic.

The score of this film is passionate and moving. It throbs with romance, majestic beauty, and life to the beat of a native american drum.

In essence the film evoked for me purity, passion, wonder, and respect for life. If these are qualities that you appreciate in a story, you won't be disappointed.

Fantastic Movie! Where's the DVD?
My roommate is a native american buff, and was watching this movie as I was gettting home one day. I sat down and watched it with him on a whim.

Wow.

This wondrous tale of innocence lost and found again is something that I'll never get tired of. Sure, the narration by Wilfred Brimley may not have been necessary, but you know what? It certainly doesn't detract from the film, and the film is simply amazing in it's own right.

Tom Berenger and Barbara Hershey are a fantastic and I'm glad that I got a chance to see this film. I've now seen it three times, and I'm really hoping that it's released on DVD so I can purchase it.