Bass Reeves Documentary Hailed as a Must-See by True West Magazine

True West magazine published a glowing review of In Search of Bass Reeves, a documentary that seeks to separate myth from reality about the legendary Deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves. Directed by Dana Celeste Robinson of Knox Robinson Films, the documentary offers a fact-based retelling of Reeves’s life, addressing the misconceptions that have long surrounded his story and presenting a more accurate, nuanced portrayal of his contributions to the American West.

Bass Reeves: From Obscurity to Fame

For over a century, Bass Reeves was renowned among history enthusiasts, but the general public remained largely unaware of his significance. This started to shift in 2006 with the publication of Art T. Burton’s biography on Bass entitled Black Gun, Silver Star. As Parke writes, “Reeves went from obscurity to Wyatt Earp-like fame, and like Earp, much of that fame is based on misinformation and downright fantasy.” This surge of interest led to Reeves being featured in numerous Westerns, sci-fi, and superhero shows like Timeless, Wynonna Earp, The Harder They Fall, and Taylor Sheridan’s Lawmen: Bass Reeves.

But as Parke highlights, Robinson’s documentary In Search of Bass Reeves takes a different route, seeking to separate fact from fiction and providing a comprehensive, “invigorating, fact-based telling of the highs and lows of Reeves’s life and career, and clarifies and corrects many misconceptions.”

The documentary stands out for its dedication to historical accuracy. Rather than relying on the dramatized portrayals common in Hollywood, In Search of Bass Reeves delves into archival photos, newspaper clippings, images and sweeping flyover footage of the lands where Reeves lived and worked. This approach offers viewers a grounded, authentic experience, allowing them to connect with the real-life challenges and triumphs Reeves faced during his time as a Deputy U.S. Marshal.

It does more than just recount Reeves’s accomplishments; it also explores the complexities of his role as a Black lawman in the Old West. As Burton explains in the film, the jurisdictional challenges Reeves faced in the Indian Territory were intricate and often unclear, reflecting the broader legal and cultural complexities of the time.

From Doc Holliday to Bass Reeves: Refining the Narrative

Robinson’s first documentary, In Search of Doc Holliday, laid the foundation for her storytelling journey, but In Search of Bass Reeves is where she found her true stride. “With the Doc Holliday script, I was not confident that I knew I was asking the right questions of my interview subjects that would sufficiently answer who John Henry was really, but when I was writing the script for In Search of Bass Reeves, I knew exactly what questions to ask to tell his story with context,” Robinson explains. The clarity and confidence she brought to this project shine through in the film’s meticulous attention to historical accuracy and detail.

The Documentary’s Journey: A Scholar’s Path to Filmmaking

Robinson’s unique background as a scholar brings a refreshing perspective to her documentaries.  With a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Clemson and a Ph.D. in medieval studies from the University of London, Robinson’s shift into documentary filmmaking might seem unconventional. As Parke details, Robinson’s transformation began when she spent time with a renowned documentarian friend, who showed her how to use a camera to tell stories beyond the confines of academia. “I realized that I was not limited to teaching history in a classroom,” Robinson recalls. This revelation led to her founding Knox Robinson Films, an Atlanta-based production company dedicated to taking an academic approach to retelling stories of the past.

Robinson’s journey led her to discover the parallels between medieval Europe and the American West. She explains, “The American West is not that dissimilar from medieval Europe. Both the medieval European lands and the American western territories were characterized by their frontier dynamics – areas at the edge of established societies where governance and law were in flux. These frontiers were spaces of both conflict and opportunity, where societal norms could be renegotiated and new identities forged.”

Collaborating with Experts to Tell an Authentic Story

A key strength of In Search of Bass Reeves is its collaboration with worthy historians and experts, most notably Art T. Burton. Burton’s in-depth knowledge of Reeves’s life provides the documentary with a credible foundation, allowing the story to be told with accuracy and respect. Burton had watched Robinson’s previous documentary In Search of Doc Holliday and “was impressed by the scholarship that went into that.” He was happy to be asked to take part. The partnership between Robinson and Burton ensures that the film offers a nuanced, fact-driven portrayal of Reeves’ life. Other notable scholars that feature in the documentary are David Turk, the official historian for The U.S. Marshals Service in Washington, D.C, David Kennedy, Curator of the U.S. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith, Arkansas, Bill O’Neal, former official historian for the state of Texas, and Mark Boardman, features editor of The Tombstone Epitaph, amongst others.

Addressing the Challenges of Jurisdiction in Indian Territory

The documentary delves into the intricate legal landscape of the Indian Territory where Reeves operated as a Deputy U.S. Marshal. The Five Civilized Tribes had their own sovereign governments, complete with legislatures, courts, and police forces, which made law enforcement a tangled web of jurisdictions. Art T. Burton explains in the film, “Deputy Marshals could arrest Native Americans for selling whiskey, which was a federal crime. They could arrest them for crimes against non-Natives. They could arrest White men or Black men who committed crimes against Native Americans.” This layered reality adds depth to the documentary, illustrating the challenges Reeves faced as he navigated these legal intricacies.

One of the film’s most compelling elements is its exploration of the multiracial communities that existed in the Old West. Bass Reeves himself was successful in part due to his ability to blend into these communities, which were composed of American Indians, Black Indians, Black Freedmen, and Whites. By living and working alongside these diverse groups, Reeves learned their languages and understood their cultures, enabling him to be an effective lawman in the Indian Territory. The documentary also investigates lesser-known aspects of history, such as the role of American Indian Confederates who owned slaves and fought against the Union during the Civil War. This willingness to confront the complex and sometimes uncomfortable truths of the past is a hallmark of Robinson’s filmmaking.

The Impact of Reconstruction and Plessy v. Ferguson on Bass Reeves’ Life

The film does an excellent job of contextualizing Reeves’s life within the broader societal changes of the era, including the impact of the Reconstruction period and the onset of segregation laws. As the documentary shows, Reeves continued his work in law enforcement even after the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson decision legalized segregation, which must have felt like a deep betrayal after years of faithfully serving the government. Despite this, Reeves persevered, showcasing his resilience and dedication to upholding the law. True West magazine praises this aspect of the documentary, emphasizing how it “clarifies and corrects many misconceptions” about Reeves’s life, including his experiences with racial challenges and legal complexities in the Indian Territory.

A Documentary That Honors Bass Reeves’ True Legacy

In Search of Bass Reeves offers a compelling, well-researched, and thought-provoking look at a legendary figure whose story deserves to be told. It is more than a documentary, it is a journey into the untold stories of the Old West and a reminder of the diverse and complex history that shaped America. As Robinson states,” Bass did what he had to do to survive and it is a testament to his character that he later used those skills and thrived. He chose to be a federal lawman.”

As highlighted in the True West review, the documentary’s strength lies in its ability to separate myth from reality and present a story that is both engaging and educational. By presenting Bass Reeves’ life through a lens of historical accuracy, Robinson has created a film that not only educates, but also celebrates a remarkable figure who played an essential role in the American West.

This film is an essential watch for those interested in Western history, African American history, or anyone seeking a more accurate portrayal of one of America’s most intriguing lawmen.

Read the full True West Review Here

Watch our documentary “In Search of Bass Reeves” for more on Black pioneers of the Old West.