NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Indicator Blu-ray (December 2020): Indicator have transferred Robert Altman's Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson to Blu-ray. It is advertised as a "High Definition remaster" and it remarkably different from the Kino 1080P transfer from 2014. The heavy brown and richer, deeper colors are not solely from the higher bitrate or dual-layering. While in comparison it may look overly 'earthy' - it played fine on my system looking quite pleasing.  The "antique" appearance is intentional and hasn't been seen outside the original theatrical release.

 Indicator offer two presentations of the film: the original theatrical cut distributed in the US and UK (124 minutes); and the shorter European cut (104 minutes) seamlessly branched with the same image quality for both HD presentations.  

NOTE: We have added 40 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

For the audio on their Blu-ray, Indicator also use a DTS-HD Master - but in 24-bit - in the original English language. It advances a notch in bass over the 16-bit Kino. The score is by Richard Baskin plus there is the fanfare of the Wild West shows sounding intentionally scattered and unprofessional. Indicator also offer optional English subtitles but their Blu-ray is Region 'B'-locked.

Aside from the two presentations of the film, the Indicator Blu-ray has the same 1976 archival on-set documentary featuring rare footage of Robert Altman and Paul Newman entitled "From the Prairie to the Palace". Indicator add new supplements including a new (2020) interview with Jim Webb, the sound mixer who discusses his work on the film for over 22-minutes. There is the 7-minute 'French Title and Credit Sequence' plus almost an hour's worth of seven silent films featuring Buffalo Bill and the stars of his Wild West shows, with optional musical accompaniment by Bernard Wrigley: Annie Oakley (1895); Parade of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, No. 1 (1898); Parade of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, No. 2 (1898); Buffalo Bill's Wild West Parade (1902); Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Pawnee Bill's Far East (1910); The Life of Buffalo Bill Parts I-III (1912); and Ford Animated Weekly (1916.) Lastly, are an original theatrical trailer, TV spot and image gallery of promotional and publicity materials. The package has a limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Richard Combs, extracts from Altman on Altman, an overview of contemporary critical responses, Peter Stanfield on the silent films of Buffalo Bill, and film credits

Paul Newman is wonderful in Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson. The film has Altman's sardonic edge - a cynical and funny film - in the director's own haphazard storytelling methods. Not the director's best, and not to all tastes, but the Indicator Blu-ray gives a different 1080P presentation of Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson with interesting extras including the hour's worth of silent Wild West shows. Recommended to Altman completists.

Gary Tooze