Skip to content

Chief John Big Tree

Chief John Big Tree

11 movies on Netflix

Biography

Chief John Big Tree was a Seneca actor who worked in Hollywood for decades and appeared in at least 60 films from 1915 to 1950, often without screen credit. He had a noted speaking part in She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949), his second to last movie and the middle entry in John Ford's Cavalry Trilogy, playing Chief Pony That Walks opposite John Wayne's Captain Nathan Brittles, who asked the old chief for aid in stopping a rebellion. Big Tree also claimed that his profile had been used for the Indian Head nickel, though sculptor James Earle Fraser said a different Big Tree served as the third model, and that he had posed for Fraser's sculpture End of the Trail. In 1964 he appeared on the cover of Esquire in a pose recalling the nickel. He died in 1967.

90years old at death

Born June 2, 1877Michigan
Died July 6, 1967Onondaga Reservation
Star sign: GeminiThe sign runs May 21 to June 20

Movie Career

Films: 11
Career span: 25 years1925 to 1950

Genres

Western64%, 7 films
Drama45%, 5 films
Adventure36%, 4 films
Romance27%, 3 films
History18%, 2 films

First and latest

Share

Did you know?!

A first
Big Tree claimed that his profile, from forehead to upper lip, was composited with those of Iron Tail and Two Moons to create the Indian Head on the US nickel. Sculptor James Earle Fraser said in 1938 the third chief was a different Big Tree, a Kiowa also called Adoeette.
A first
Big Tree was featured on the cover of Esquire magazine in March 1964, where he struck a pose that honored the Indian Head nickel.

Chief John Big Tree movies on Netflix

Devil's Doorway1950IMDb rating 7.2as Thundercloud
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon1949IMDb rating 7.2as Chief Pony That Walks
Western Union1941IMDb rating 6.7as Chief Spotted Horse
Drums Along the Mohawk1939IMDb rating 7.0as Blue Back
Stagecoach1939IMDb rating 7.8as Indian Scout
Lost Horizon1937IMDb rating 7.6as Porter
The Telegraph Trail1933IMDb rating 5.7as Indian Chief
Fighting Caravans1931IMDb rating 5.7as Indian Chief in Opening Credits
The Big Trail1930IMDb rating 7.2as Indian
Mantrap1926IMDb rating 6.8as Indian
The Iron Horse1925IMDb rating 7.2as Cheyenne Chief

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon1949 Westernas Chief Pony That Walks
IMDb rating 7.221K votes
Lost Horizon1937 Adventure, Drama, Fantasyas Porter
IMDb rating 7.616K votes
Stagecoach1939as Indian Scout
IMDb rating 7.860K votes
Western Union1941as Chief Spotted Horse
IMDb rating 6.73.7K votes
Devil's Doorway1950as Thundercloud
IMDb rating 7.22.3K votes
Drums Along the Mohawk1939as Blue Back
IMDb rating 7.07.5K votes
The Big Trail1930as Indian
IMDb rating 7.25.3K votes
The Iron Horse1925as Cheyenne Chief
IMDb rating 7.22.8K votes

Most often with

John Ford directed four of these films. John Wayne appears in four of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

John Carradine

Francis Ford

Irving Bacon

Thomas Mitchell

John FordDirector, 4 films

Films together

John Wayne4 films together, 1930 to 1949
John Wayne's page
- She Wore a Yellow Ribbon1949IMDb rating 7.2Tree as Chief Pony That WalksWayne as Capt. Nathan Cutting Brittles
- Stagecoach1939IMDb rating 7.8Tree as Indian ScoutWayne as Ringo Kid
- The Telegraph Trail1933IMDb rating 5.7Tree as Indian ChiefWayne as John Trent
- The Big Trail1930IMDb rating 7.2Tree as IndianWayne as Breck Coleman
John Carradine3 films together, 1939 to 1941
John Carradine's page
- Western Union1941IMDb rating 6.7Tree as Chief Spotted HorseCarradine as Doc Murdoch
- Drums Along the Mohawk1939IMDb rating 7.0Tree as Blue BackCarradine as Caldwell
- Stagecoach1939IMDb rating 7.8Tree as Indian ScoutCarradine as Hatfield
Francis Ford3 films together, 1939 to 1949
Francis Ford's page
- She Wore a Yellow Ribbon1949IMDb rating 7.2Tree as Chief Pony That WalksFord as Connelly - Fort Stark Suttlers Barman
- Drums Along the Mohawk1939IMDb rating 7.0Tree as Blue BackFord as Joe Boleo
- Stagecoach1939IMDb rating 7.8Tree as Indian ScoutFord as Sgt. Billy Pickett
Irving Bacon2 films together, 1931 to 1941
Irving Bacon's page
- Western Union1941IMDb rating 6.7Tree as Chief Spotted HorseBacon as Barber
- Fighting Caravans1931IMDb rating 5.7Tree as Indian Chief in Opening CreditsBacon as Mustachioed Barfly
Ward Bond2 films together, 1930 to 1939
Ward Bond's page
- Drums Along the Mohawk1939IMDb rating 7.0Tree as Blue BackBond as Adam Hartman
- The Big Trail1930IMDb rating 7.2Tree as IndianBond as Sid Bascom
Thomas Mitchell2 films together, 1937 to 1939
Thomas Mitchell's page
- Stagecoach1939IMDb rating 7.8Tree as Indian ScoutMitchell as Doc Josiah Boone
- Lost Horizon1937IMDb rating 7.6Tree as PorterMitchell as Barnard
John FordDirector, 4 films, 1925 to 1949
All films by John Ford
- She Wore a Yellow Ribbon1949IMDb rating 7.2Tree as Chief Pony That Walks
- Drums Along the Mohawk1939IMDb rating 7.0Tree as Blue Back
- Stagecoach1939IMDb rating 7.8Tree as Indian Scout
- The Iron Horse1925IMDb rating 7.2Tree as Cheyenne Chief
Also two films together12 more actors
- Eugene PalletteFighting Caravans (1931) and Mantrap (1926)
- Arthur ShieldsShe Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949) and Drums Along the Mohawk (1939)
- Arthur AylesworthWestern Union (1941) and Drums Along the Mohawk (1939)
- Tully MarshallFighting Caravans (1931) and The Big Trail (1930)
- Charles StevensThe Big Trail (1930) and Mantrap (1926)
- Jack PennickDrums Along the Mohawk (1939) and Stagecoach (1939)
- Yakima CanuttStagecoach (1939) and The Telegraph Trail (1933)
- Tom TylerShe Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949) and Stagecoach (1939)
- Fred KohlerFighting Caravans (1931) and The Iron Horse (1925)
- George O'BrienShe Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949) and The Iron Horse (1925)
- Nora BushThe Telegraph Trail (1933) and The Big Trail (1930)
- Ernest TorrenceFighting Caravans (1931) and Mantrap (1926)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.