Of all the screen versions of Custer's Cosmic Comeuppance, "Don't Touch the White Woman!" is easily the most surreal in its giddy satire of the old west transposed to the streets of modern day Paris. Marco Ferreri directs in a blithely anarchic spirit(the Indians realize their full power in collective action) but
still deadly serious when it comes to the crimes of the era. The Indians under the leadership of Sitting Bull(Alain Cuny) are trapped in a building site. The railroad interests conspire with Pinkerton(Paolo Villaggio), claiming to be an anthropology professor, looking on in casual modern dress.(I don't have to explain the significance of that name, do I?) They bribe General Terry(Philippe Noiret) with railroad bonds which he gives to his daughter(Daniele Dublino) as a wedding present. They want him to clear out the land so they can exploit it. He in turn employs General Custer(Marcello Mastroianni) to run field operations who is in competition with Buffalo Bill(Michel Piccoli) for top billing. The movie successfully connects these events to present day imperialism, not only in the United States but also in France. Nixon is the President and his face can be seen everywhere while Pinkerton has places to be and governments to be overthrown.
June 12, 2010
