Throughout this film, Simon and his people are called the Papago Indians. Well, I looked them up and apparently the correct term is the Tohono O'odham people--the name the tribe use to describe themselves. Odd that the film never mentions this as it's supposed to be a film that elevates them and their status.
When the story begins, Simon (Burt Reynolds) is being released from prison after serving a long sentence for murdering his brother. He was innocent and railroaded...but there's not much he can do about it now, as the man responsible is apparently dead. He's met by a do-gooder social worker, Carroll (Inger Stevens)--a rich lady who appears to be trying to save the poor Papago.
Later, Simon learns that the man responsible for the murder is actually NOT dead...but is hiding because he expects Simon to come looking for him. So, Carroll inexplicably agrees to pay some private investigators to find him...knowing that Simon plans on murdering him. Why would she do this? Did they teach her this in her social work training program?!
Subtle, this film is not! Too often the sound track consists of Indian drums and when Simon goes to a party, folks start asking him to do a rain dance! This comes off as pretty stupid and almost cartoony. The IDEA of the film, with the conflict between contemporary society and the Papago/Tohono O'odham is a good one...but the way it's handled could have been so much better.
