MovieChat Forums > Jeremiah Johnson (1972) Discussion > Johnson freaked out in Crow cemetery

Johnson freaked out in Crow cemetery

posted 16 years ago by jeffyoung1
2 replies | jump to latest

One of the visceral scenes in the beautiful movie, "Jeremiah Johnson", has Jeremiah, riding back through the Crow cemetery alone when something 'spooks' or 'freaks' him out and he spurs his horse into a gallop to get the out of there fast. It was one thing to be in the company of a number of men riding through the cemeterey, but it is totally another thing to be alone going through a spooky graveyard even in broad daylight.

Myself, there were instances in my life when I was alone at the moment but scared inside and totally wishing I had a companion by my side. Even if the person wasn't capable of defending me, it would have been better than being alone. Just having someone who's also an adult next to you in uncertain circumstancess really helps calm one's fears.

Johnson wasn't just 'freaked' out for himself, though. He somehow 'sensed' something was wrong back home and his worst fears were realized.

Johnson takes on six (6) Crow warriors in a seemingly suicidal, kamikazie attack. But he decimates the war party except one he leaves alive, possibly because the warrior was invoking an Indian chant to spare his life.

1) Jeremiah used the element of surprise. No bunch of six guys expects one man to attack them all.
2) Jeremiah attacked with cold fury without fear. He was near psychotic at that moment. An assailant who has lost his own fear of death is dangerous.
3) Jeremiah was armed with three firearms which he used to quickly whittle down the war party to 50% of its original number, substantially lessening the odds. Still using the element of surprise, he took out another warrior with the swing of his Hawken rifle butt.
4) The sixth indian wisely ran away after seeing madman Johnson quickly take out five of his war party buddies.

[–] Etherdave 7 years ago

Johnson 'freaks out' because he sees that one of the Crow dead is wearing Swan's blue fabric; the film editing is very quick, and this detail is often missed by viewers.

[–] Kingswood (1241) a month ago

I appreciate you sharing this detail, didn't notice it myself.

So Johnson see's her blue fabric on a Crow corpse, which indicates that she's already probably dead. That's why he suddenly bolts out of there and rides fast back to the cabin. He's not afraid of the burial ground spirits, he fears Swan and the boy have been killed by the Crow.

Keep in mind he had just lead the troops through there a day or two before, so within that time some Crow had come and adorned a corpse with her blue fabric. That would indicate that they killed Swan and the boy pretty much the same day or following day after he left the cabin with the troops.

They were killed because Johnson was seen leaving with the troops by those Crow who had been watching the detachment of troops climb the mountain, as reported by the lieutenant. Up to that point, the Crow had left Johnson, Swan, and the boy alone in a live-and-let-live arrangement. Seeing Johnson ride away with the troops broke that unwritten arrangement.

Swan and the boy weren't killed because Johnson and the troops ''trespassed' on the Crow burial ground, since that didn't happen until after they were already dead.

Just trying to set the timeline right in my head.