Broken Arrow
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Movie Reviews of Broken Arrow
Movie Review: Before Avatar and Dances with Wolves, there was Broken Arrow!
Summary: 5 Stars
In the old western days of 1870, former union soldier Tom Jeffords (James Stewart) has been assigned to bring peace between the Apache Indians of Arizona and the settlers after a cruel war for 10 years, Chief Cochise (Jeff Chandler) who is a reasonable but wise leader of an Apache tribe befriends Tom and wants to make an agreement along with General Oliver Howard (Basil Ruydael) to make a treaty. Tom finds love with a beautiful Indian maiden named Sonseehry (Debra Paget) as then some white settlers would still want to kill some apache members but can Jeffords bring peace and still be one of the people?
One of the greatest westerns of all time and an underrated classic! Based on Elliot Arnold's novel "Blood Brother", this Delmer Davis production became an inspirational film that inspired stuff over the years like "Man Named Horse", "Dances with Wolves" to even James Cameron's "Avatar". I love how it portrays Indians as decent regular people instead of cruel barbaric savages and this movie portrays them wonderfully. It's an exciting color production that brings out excellent acting, wonderful direction and of course emotion with it's interracial love story, it's one of my favorite westerns for a long time.
This DVD contains excellent picture and sound restoration with good credits like Fox Movietonenews featurette on the film, INteractive pressbook gallery, poster gallery, trailer, and Restored Credits.
Movie Review: Must See
Summary: 5 Stars
Is this a perfect movie? No. Does it make right all the stereotypes of Native Americans? No. But it was and is an amazingly nuanced and important movie. The "bad indian," Geronimo is given passion and dignity by Jay Silverheels. There is a reason Geronimo is who he is. The "bad white man" is given passion and dignity by Will Geer. There is a reason he is who he is. And in the middle are two historical figures, who actually did what the movie suggests. They found a way to make peace.
For a more nuanced look, for those among us who still read, see the book "Blood Brother" by Elliot Arnold. In his preface Arnold does what I have always wished historical novelists would do, he tells you exactly what's historical fact and what's been invented to make a better story (the love interest is an invention).
What is truly sad, and what makes this a movie for all times, is that the issues haven't changed. The demonization of "the enemy." The idea that "we can do whatever we want to 'them' because we're right and they are the enemy." And, to risk getting a tad political, peace can only come when people of good will are willing to talk to each other.
Buy this movie. See it. Loan it to friends.
Movie Review: Realistic Western from the 50's!
Summary: 5 Stars
This really is a terrific Western! The story you probably know by now, what you may not know is the great DVD tranfer, great color, and great Sedona Ariz. filming locations!
Jimmy Stewart starting doing westerns in 1950 with Winchester 73', a black and white film and a classic. Broken Arrow was his second entry and 5 more followed in the 1950's. But none were to top Broken Arrow. Or Winchester 73'!
Not only is the story very solid, fiction based on real events and people, but all the actors casting is flawless! Will Geer, an emotionally hurt settler, Debra Paget at 17 looking like a Indian instead of a young startlet, and Jeff Chandler as Cochise in a very believable good performance. Mabye his best!
And make sure to check out Jay Silverheels in the role of Geronimo, a top notch performance and I think biggest speaking part of anything he'd ever been in, including the Lone Ranger series. When he defies Cochise to follow the peace trail, his emotion is so powerful that it jumps off the screen. A truly great moment in the film. I had to replay that scene many times because I liked it so much!
I'm proud to place this among my Western Collection of DVDs!
Movie Review: Classic Western
Summary: 5 Stars
Nominated for three Academy Awards, BROKEN ARROW (1950) is one of the great, landmark westerns. It's the first significant film that treated Indians as human beings and not just blood-thirsty savages, and led the way to such later films as CHEYENNE AUTUMN, LITTLE BIG MAN and A MAN CALLED HORSE.
Adapted by Michael Blankfort from Elliott Arnold's book, BLOOD BROTHER, and directed by Delmer Daves, the film tells the essentially true story of Tom Jeffords (James Stewart and his friendship with Apache chief Cochise (Jeff Chandler, in an Oscar-nominated role).
The year is 1870, and former Union soldier Tom Jeffords, tired of the on-going war between Apaches and white settlers, learns about the Apache culture in order to attempt a peace treaty between the two sides.
Not only is Jeffords, over time, able to convince Cochise that such a treaty would be good for his people, but he also falls in love and marries a Native American girl (Debra Paget) with tragic consequences.
Basil Ruysdael, Will Geer, Arthur Hunnicutt and Jay Silverheels (as Geronimo) co-star in this handsome, action-filled western.
© Michael B. Druxman
Movie Review: A True Friend Indeed
Summary: 5 Stars
The battle over the western frontier between the native inhabitants and the colonizing foreigners was handled poorly. The foreigners thought they could just take what they wanted, because to them this frontier was unsettled and belonged to no one. The natives didn't claim ownership to anything because of their beliefs until the foreigners invaded their way of life. Once the natives realized they had to fight to keep from becoming annihilated, the carnage, stealing, and killing on both sides became devastating.
Broken Arrow is a Hollywoodish account of two rational and honest men representing the two sides. Tom Jeffords (James Stewart) a mediator and Cochise (Jeff Chandler) an Apache Chief, came to a trustworthy and honest relationship. The U.S. Army wants to exploit this relationship to get a peace treaty signed. The local settlers are too wrapped up in their prejudices to believe Tom could even associate with Cochise and his people. The result of this hatred only means some will be the object of violent and murderous cruelty.