Powwow Highway
1989 | 91m | English
Popularity: 0.5 (history)
| Director: | Jonathan Wacks |
|---|---|
| Writer: | David Seals, Janet Heaney, Jean Stawarz |
| Staring: |
| Two Northern Cheyenne men take a road trip from Montana to New Mexico to bail out the sister of one of them who has been framed and arrested in Santa Fe. On the way, they begin to reconnect to their spiritual heritage. | |
| Release Date: | Feb 24, 1989 |
|---|---|
| Director: | Jonathan Wacks |
| Writer: | David Seals, Janet Heaney, Jean Stawarz |
| Genres: | Comedy, Drama |
| Keywords | native american, native american reservation, indigenous peoples, jailbreak, rickety old car, best friends, road film |
| Production Companies | Handmade Films |
| Box Office |
Revenue: $0
Budget: $0 |
| Updates |
Updated: Jan 30, 2026 Entered: Apr 25, 2024 |
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| A Martinez | Buddy Red Bow |
| Gary Farmer | Philbert Bono |
| Joanelle Romero | Bonnie Red Bow |
| Amanda Wyss | Rabbit Layton |
| Sam Vlahos | Chief Joseph |
| Wayne Waterman | Wolf Tooth |
| Margot Kane | Imogene |
| Geoffrey Rivas | Sandy Youngblood |
| Roscoe Born | Agent Jack Novall |
| John Trudell | Louie Short Hair |
| Graham Greene | Vietnam Vet |
| Wes Studi | Buff |
| Rodney A. Grant | Brave on Horse |
| Tony Frank | Captain Roberts |
| Chrissie McDonald | Jane Red Bow |
| Sky Seals | Sky Red Bow |
| Maria Antoinette Rogers | Aunt Harriet |
| Nicholas Anthony | Condo-Man |
| Kandi Brooks | Hi-Fi Hut Cashier |
| Dalin Gomez | Lucinda Sanchez |
| Irene Handren-Seals | Jail Guard |
| Lafayette J. Harris | Stockyard Foreman |
| Bill T. Head | Sioux Driver |
| Ron Holmstrom | Police Officer |
| Mike Means | Young Buddy |
| Marc Miles | Patrolman |
| Nuchie Nashoba | Condo-Woman |
| Rogene Not Afraid | Floozy |
| Leigh Opitz | Waitress |
| Randal Patrick | Hi-Fi & Car Salesman |
| Stephanie Roberts | Secretary |
| Ariane Rowland | Young Bonnie |
| Chris Rowland | Light Cloud |
| Keith Shoulder Blade | Young Philbert |
| Titus Shoulder Blade | Manny |
| Adam Taylor | Bull Miller |
| Patricia Van Ingen | Pueblo Woman |
| Floyd "Red Crow" Westerman | CB Radio Voice (voice) |
| Del Zamora | Fidel de Baca |
| James "JR" Pollard | Bar Patron (uncredited) |
| Name | Job |
|---|---|
| Isis Mussenden | Costume Design |
| David Seals | Novel |
| Janet Heaney | Writer |
| Jean Stawarz | Writer |
| Barry Goldberg | Original Music Composer |
| Jim Stewart | Editor |
| Cynthia Sowder | Production Design |
| Celeste Lee | Set Decoration |
| Jonathan Wacks | Director |
| Toyomichi Kurita | Director of Photography |
| Junie Lowry-Johnson | Casting |
| Don Diers | Art Direction |
| Russell Towery | Stunts |
| Angela Nogaro | Hairstylist, Makeup Artist |
| Joanna Robinson | Hairstylist, Makeup Artist |
| Lee Alan McConnell | Second Assistant Director |
| Susan E. Novick | Third Assistant Director |
| Kelly Schroeder | First Assistant Director |
| Dody Dorn | Supervising Sound Editor |
| Michael Dressel | Foley Editor |
| Wayne Heitman | Sound Re-Recording Mixer |
| Matthew Iadarola | Sound Re-Recording Mixer |
| George Leong | Boom Operator |
| Terrisa Algarin | Foley |
| Ed Novick | Sound Mixer |
| David Maughan | Special Effects |
| Scot Silver | Special Effects |
| G. Lynn Maughan | Special Effects Supervisor |
| Rick Barker | Stunts |
| Shelley S. Boyle | Stunts |
| Tim Carroll | Stunts |
| Summer Eubanks | Stunts |
| Randy Fife | Stunts, Stunt Coordinator |
| Elena Bertagnolli | Stunts |
| Ron Holmstrom | Stunt Driver |
| Ben Loggins | Stunts |
| Lee Sollenberger | Stunts |
| John Zumpano | Gaffer |
| Jorgen Wedseltoft | First Assistant Camera |
| Steven Kline | Second Assistant Camera |
| Kathie Broyles | Title Designer |
| Jeffrey A. Okun | Title Designer |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Jan Wieringa | Producer |
| Denis O'Brien | Executive Producer |
| Carl Kraines | Associate Producer |
| George Harrison | Executive Producer |
| Organization | Category | Person |
|---|
Popularity History
| Year | Month | Avg | Max | Min |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 2 |
| 2024 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 3 |
| 2024 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 2 |
| 2024 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 2 |
| 2024 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 2 |
| 2024 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 2 |
| 2024 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 2 |
| 2024 | 11 | 4 | 11 | 2 |
| 2024 | 12 | 3 | 6 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2025 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 2025 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| 2025 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Trending Position
This is one of a handful of obscure gems that I will place on my list of 25 favorite movies when I get around to creating the list (Finnegan Begin Again also comes to mind). This is truly an ensemble cast putting in superlative performances. It is not a message movie, which are sometimes heavy ... handed, but a serious thread runs through it in the form of indigenous people’s treatment, history and rights, but the story is not weighed down by the message. Gary Farmer is delightful as an optimistic young Cheyenne who buys a pony (aka a Buick) and join forces with a Viet Nam vet who is an activist. They go on a road trip, with Farmer’s character using the old ways to gather power so that they can provide assistance to their reservation. There s tension and drama, but humor balances the story nicely. And the great actor Graham Greene puts in an appearance also. The movie is based on the novel of the same name by David Seals, a real life activist for indigenous people and long time member of AIM (American Indian Movement). It is difficult to find this out of print movie for less than $40 the last time I checked. I have a grainy copy I transferred from VHS to DVD with a grainy picture, but it will have to do as I do watch it every few years, and I think I am due for another viewing.