Windwalker (1980)

Interesting facts

Windwalker is a 1981 Western film directed by Kieth Merrill and written by Ray Goldrup, based on a novel by Blaine M. Yorgason. It stars Trevor Howard and Nick Ramus. The film is set in the pre-colonial Intermountain West, and focuses on the life of a Cheyenne man, who comes back to life to protect his family from Crow warriors and be reunited with his long-lost son. It was filmed in various natural outdoor locations in Utah. Unusually for westerns, all of the characters are Native Americans. Merrill cast Trevor Howard, an English actor, for the role of the aged Windwalker, a decision that stood out in a cast of mostly Native American actors, with authenticity as a main production value.

Production and release

Windwalker was a co-production between Pacific International Enterprises and Santa Fe International. It was shot in various outdoor locations in Utah including the Wasatch and the Mirror Lake area in the Uinta Mountains. It was also filmed in the Arches part of the Four Corners area.

Production was impacted by the eruption of Mount St. Helens. Kieth Merrill later stated that ash was not present in their filming locations, and that production was not impacted at all.

Merrill said that authenticity was important to the production of the film, and stated that "all props and costumes have been carefully researched and recreated."

The film's dialogue is spoken in the Cheyenne and Crow languages, with English subtitles. Chief Dan George was favored to play Windwalker, but became ill. Merrill cast Trevor Howard, an English actor, for the role. James Remar played the main character as a young man. Thus, while Native American languages were used to impart authenticity, both young and old Windwalker were played by white actors.

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