Son of the Morning Star (film)
Son of the Morning Star is a 1991 American two-part television miniseries based on Evan S. Connell’s 1984 book of the same name. Directed by Mike Robe and written by Melissa Mathison, it stars Gary Cole as George Armstrong Custer, with Dean Stockwell as General Philip Sheridan and Rosanna Arquette as Elizabeth Custer. Buffy Sainte-Marie voices Kate Bighead, who provides the Cheyenne perspective.
The story unfolds in two parts: it begins in 1876 after the defeat of Custer’s 7th Cavalry at the Little Bighorn, then flashes back to tell Custer’s life from Elizabeth’s point of view, starting with his Kansas campaigns in the 1860s. Kate Bighead’s narration also explains events like the Fetterman Massacre and the Battle of Washita River to give a broader view.
The miniseries followed the release of Dances with Wolves, and Gary Cole was cast after Kevin Costner was considered. Filming took place on private land near the Little Bighorn site in Montana and in South Dakota, with a large cast including about 400 horses and 150 Native Americans. Around 100 reenactors played the 7th Cavalry and also served as technical advisers.
Critics praised the production, with Variety calling it a master work. New York magazine compared it unfavorably to Dances with Wolves in tone. Son of the Morning Star won four Emmy Awards in 1991 for Costume Design, Makeup, Sound Editing, and Sound Mixing, and it was nominated for Hairstyling.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 12:25 (CET).