She Wore a Yellow Ribbon

As a rule I'm not a western fan, but this movie has it all- comedy, romance, adventure, drama. If you're looking for an all around fun movie, try this one. John Wayne plays a very different role than usual, and gives the romantic lead to handsome John Agar and Harry Carey, Jr. It has poignant moments, great comedy lines, and an occassional moment when your eyes are moist. (On a side note, I love some of the character's names- Flint Cohill, Tyree, Brome Clay, to name a few.)

Okay, after watching Fort Apache and enjoying it I had to continue with the second in the "cavalry trilogy" by director John Ford. I can not believe that I went and bought another fifties western with again John Wayne as the star. But I did, and I think I am becoming addicted to these slow paced movies with "heroes" who have strong character and strong morals.
These horse soldiers of the past led a lonely and dangerous life and they are no longer portrayed in the movies of today. The location where the movie was filmed is a lonely place but has a stark beauty that comes across in the movie and grabs you. Especially the scenes of the clouds and sky. Reminded me of the saying: "Big Sky Country".
Again the Native Americans were portrayed "fifties style" compared to a modern movie such as "Dances With Wolves", however, for the time frame of the movie the portrayal was not bad.
I enjoyed the movie and John Wayne's portrayal as an aging cavalry officer who is due to retire but enjoys the life he leads very much, and I found his character very believable. The story is simply told, but there is a story. This is sometimes lacking in today's movies.
The music and the songs added to the pleasure of the movie. You should give this movie a chance, although more simplistic than the movies of today it is very enjoyable. It is a true classic!

Being fans of John Wayne and John Ford and old enough to have seen most of their movies the first time around,we give them a very good rating. We have purchased many of the westerns that Wayne made. We like the simple plots of good over bad. A shame there is not more of these types of movies today.

This western hails from 1876. News of Custer's recent massacre has spread everywhere. The Indian tribes are emboldened and, forgetting old quarrels, are uniting with each other. If successful in their systematic attacks, it is said, no stagecoach will cross the west again for another hundred years.

Only the US Cavalry can save the day, and John Wayne plays a cavalry captain. Women wear yellow ribbons to honor their boyfriends in the cavalry. There are jealousies among the men, some of it encouraged by the flirting of the women, as to who the individual yellow ribbons are for.

No western would be complete without a barroom brawl. In this one, a tough Irishman takes on and whips 7 or 8 assailants.

Captain Nathan Brittles (John Wayne) visits an elderly Indian chief who wants peace. They each smoke the peace pipe. But the young braves will hear nothing of peace.

So later that night, Captain Brittles, literally minutes from retirement from the US Cavalry, leads a daring surprise attack against a large group of Indians who are planning to attack the settlers. What will be the outcome?

There is little that I can add about this world class western classic. One of John Wayne's best.