User reviews

I saw this wonderful film many years ago and loved it. Although I have a copy of the excellent Rattlesnake Productions Documentary done for American Experience and narrated by Linda Hunt, the film starring Joseph Runningfox as a young Ishi has a deep emotional impact - guaranteed to make you cry. Ishi never talked about his time before he emerged from his hiding place, so the film with Dennis Weaver and Joseph Runningfox is speculative. Neverheless, I believe the story that it tells is probably very close to the way it must have been for Ishi, his mother, sister and grandfather as the last of the Yahi remained in hiding. By the way, the film does NOT give the impression that other tribes contributed to the genocide of the Yahi - instead it is quite clear that the bounty on Native Americans was responsible. My Grantfather's brother was an intern under Dr. Saxton Pope, who took care of Ishi when he became ill with tuberculosis. My Grandfather would sometimes go with his brother to visit Ishi and our family has always been very interested in Ishi's story. While the Rattlesnake Productions Documentary is the gold standard for the real story of Ishi, the 1978 TV movie is worth watching for the deeper emotional impact, even if the flash backs to Ishi's life prior to his coming out of hiding are only speculation on the probable lives of the last Yahi while they remained in hiding from the outside world.

I haven't seen this movie but I've seen the documentary. The main culprit of their extinction was genocide by the white population incl. disease and starvation. However, why is it in the plot summary it says they clash with other tribes which sounds like it lead to their ultimate demise. If this is how the movie is, then it's another Hollywood propaganda sensitizing the truth. The Yahi was exterminated by white people, by the time of Ishi feuding tribes were unheard of because they've been eradicated by that time. So, I wonder how many flaws and false information are in this movie.

Also, Ishi wasn't found on a horse. He was found hiding in a barn and the owner pushed him down in fear.