Tonka (1958)

Directed by Lewis R. Foster
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Walt Disney)

A sentimental Disney story about an Indian teenager and his horse. There are lengthy scenes where he catches and tames it in beautiful western locales. We develop a bond with both of them, so when the evil older cousin demands the horse for himself and then mistreats him, I felt just about as devastated as White Bull. He sets the horse free, in a scene reminiscent of Old Yeller, only to be recaptured and sold to the US Cavalry. The second half of the film chronicles this life, including the historical figure of General Custer and the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Of course the Indian boy and horse are reunited, in a somewhat contrived ending.