A Classic Western
Added 9/27/2009
"Broken Arrow" is a classic western based on fact. Many of the events portrayed in this film are based on history. There actually was a Tom Jeffords (James Stewart) and a Cochise (Jeff Chandler), but some literary license is taken. This film takes a different view of native Americans. I remember seeing this film in a theater as a child and will never forget it. I was glad to see this out on DVD and is a purchase that I will never regret.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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Sympathethic View
Added 3/24/2009
Broken Arrow is excellent, though imperfect by today's PC standards with the blue-eyed Jeff Chandler cast as Cochise. Still, the story is compelling and well-told with a great cast headed by the always great, James Stewart. I write this approximately 3 miles from Tom Jeffords gravesite in Tucson. I have to take issue with the part of Richard Jameson's Amazon review where he states: "Broken Arrow wasn't the first Western to express sympathy for the Indian side in the frontier wars (Devil's Doorway came out earlier in 1950 and filed a more scathing brief on the Indians' behalf). No kidding! Off the top of my head, here are several films sympathetic to Native Americans that pre-date DEVIL'S DOORWAY. As mentioned in another customer review John Ford's FORT APACHE (1948), Cochise is portrayed as an honorable leader, concerned for his people and forced to flee the reservation due to the corrupt management of the Indian agent and forced to fight due to a cavalry commander's (Henry Fonda) arrogance and ignorance. A corrupt Indian agent is again the villain in Ford's SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON (1949). Also, Ford cast Native Americans in both these films as well as many other of his works. Corrupt business interests are clearly the "bad guys" in 1946's BUFFALO BILL and in 1942's THEY DIED WITH THEIR BOOTS ON. Granted, while painting George Armstrong Custer as sympathetic to the plight of the plains indians is strictly a plot convenience, the plots also make it clear in both films that the Cheyenne and the Sioux are forced into war by broken promises and lies. Chiefs Yellow Hand and Crazy Horse are both portrayed as men of honor, and coincidentally both portrayed by Anthony Quinn. To his credit, Mister Jameson is aware that the first films to portray the Native American situation in the 1800s in a sympathetic light were not LITTLE BIG MAN or DANCES WITH WOLVES. Other than that, I have no opinion on this matter.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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Delmer Daves offers an important major role to an Indian character, treating him with quality and esteem as human being...
Added 1/30/2009
Stewart plays a scout who seeks to heal the divisions between the Apaches and white men... But while "Broken Arrow" is a perfectly acceptable depiction of frontier struggles, it does not display Stewart to the best advantages... Delmer Daves was competent enough, but he lacked the ultimate virility and intensity of Anthony Mann...
"Broken Arrow" examines, rather intensely and directly, the mistreatment and flagrant exploitation of the Indians by whites in the early West...
The strength of this often lyrically photographed picture which will a1ways have an honorable place among Westerns lies particularly in the touching dignity of Stewart's love and marriage to an Indian girl (Debra Paget). Indian haters, of course, stir up the usual sort of trouble and Stewart's bride becomes a victim with all the consequent poignancy for which the film is best remembered...
The over-wise Chandler counsels him that he must learn to live with his whiteness just as his new friends must contend with their own place in the cosmic scheme of things... Cochise has words of stark consolation for Stewart: "As I bear the murder of my people, so you will bear the murder of your wife."
The most interesting aspect of " Broken Arrow" is not the interracial romance between Stewart and Paget, but Stewart's relationship with Chandler's Cochise... There is intra-character complexity here, as Chandler struggles to overcome his disturb of all whites, and Stewart attempts to comprehend the different philosophy and cultural of the Indians...
Jeff Chandler was quite apt and professional... He was so believable in the role of the Apache chief Cochise that he was to essay it again in George Sherman's "The Battle at Apache Pass" in 1952... Chandler's facial bone structure lent itself to noble, incisive Indian profiles, and unlike other Caucasian actors he did not look out of place... He was even nominated for Best Supporting Actor at that year's Oscars...
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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Classic Western
Added 12/12/2008
Great western movie with one of Hollywood's best actors. James Stewart is great as a man who sees the future of the west and promotes peace between the Indians and the agressive white man.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Breathtaking Arizona scenes
Added 11/22/2008
Broken Arrow, starting Jimmy Stuart and Jeff Chandler is a superb film about the fight of the Apaches to maintain their way of life as the white man claims more and more territory away from the tribes.
The story takes place against beautiful scenes of the Arizona landscape. We see an ex-army scout by the name of Tom Jefford save the life of young Indian boy who has been shot during a fight with the white man and the boy begins to understand that not all white man are alike, and that while some may be bad, at least this one was willing to stop his day to day activity for the purpose of preservation of his life.
When the tribe finds him, he interferes on behalf of this white man and, in turn, saves his life as he explains to his fellow Apaches how this white man is different. So, the white man in turn, begins to understand that not all Apaches are bad, that they can be honorable and appreciative. To resolve the differences between the Apache and the white man, Tom Jefford learns the language of the Apaches, learns about their customs, ways and beliefs. He wants to meet with their chief, Cochise to see if they can live in peace.
At least he wants to get Cochise to agree that no post-man carrying US mail will be attacked. Correspondence exchanges had come to a stop for the people of the town.
The big day comes when Tom Jefford rides towards the unknown, getting deeper and deeper into Indian Territory in search of Cochise. He has been told not to lie under any circumstances because Cochise is able to see into his heart. As he approaches the chief's hold-out, he realizes that he is not stopped even though many worriers are looking as he goes by and finally, he reaches Cochise.
The men meet and develop mutual respect and in time, a great friendship. Tom walks away with the promise that the mailmen will be respected, even though all other travelers will still be at war. Now, the hard work starts because on both sides, Indians and whites, there are many resentful individuals that try to prevent peace.
The story develops with great challenges on sides, much hard ache and we see how "change' is a difficult subject and how men must work hard to evolve beyond war to live in peace.
But the movie is beautiful, the scenery breathtaking and the acting simply superb, so we sincerely recommend that you do not miss this one!
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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A Classic Western
Added 9/27/2009
"Broken Arrow" is a classic western based on fact. Many of the events portrayed in this film are based on history. There actually was a Tom Jeffords (James Stewart) and a Cochise (Jeff Chandler), but some literary license is taken. This film takes a different view of native Americans. I remember seeing this film in a theater as a child and will never forget it. I was glad to see this out on DVD and is a purchase that I will never regret.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
|
Sympathethic View
Added 3/24/2009
Broken Arrow is excellent, though imperfect by today's PC standards with the blue-eyed Jeff Chandler cast as Cochise. Still, the story is compelling and well-told with a great cast headed by the always great, James Stewart. I write this approximately 3 miles from Tom Jeffords gravesite in Tucson. I have to take issue with the part of Richard Jameson's Amazon review where he states: "Broken Arrow wasn't the first Western to express sympathy for the Indian side in the frontier wars (Devil's Doorway came out earlier in 1950 and filed a more scathing brief on the Indians' behalf). No kidding! Off the top of my head, here are several films sympathetic to Native Americans that pre-date DEVIL'S DOORWAY. As mentioned in another customer review John Ford's FORT APACHE (1948), Cochise is portrayed as an honorable leader, concerned for his people and forced to flee the reservation due to the corrupt management of the Indian agent and forced to fight due to a cavalry commander's (Henry Fonda) arrogance and ignorance. A corrupt Indian agent is again the villain in Ford's SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON (1949). Also, Ford cast Native Americans in both these films as well as many other of his works. Corrupt business interests are clearly the "bad guys" in 1946's BUFFALO BILL and in 1942's THEY DIED WITH THEIR BOOTS ON. Granted, while painting George Armstrong Custer as sympathetic to the plight of the plains indians is strictly a plot convenience, the plots also make it clear in both films that the Cheyenne and the Sioux are forced into war by broken promises and lies. Chiefs Yellow Hand and Crazy Horse are both portrayed as men of honor, and coincidentally both portrayed by Anthony Quinn. To his credit, Mister Jameson is aware that the first films to portray the Native American situation in the 1800s in a sympathetic light were not LITTLE BIG MAN or DANCES WITH WOLVES. Other than that, I have no opinion on this matter.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
|
Delmer Daves offers an important major role to an Indian character, treating him with quality and esteem as human being...
Added 1/30/2009
Stewart plays a scout who seeks to heal the divisions between the Apaches and white men... But while "Broken Arrow" is a perfectly acceptable depiction of frontier struggles, it does not display Stewart to the best advantages... Delmer Daves was competent enough, but he lacked the ultimate virility and intensity of Anthony Mann...
"Broken Arrow" examines, rather intensely and directly, the mistreatment and flagrant exploitation of the Indians by whites in the early West...
The strength of this often lyrically photographed picture which will a1ways have an honorable place among Westerns lies particularly in the touching dignity of Stewart's love and marriage to an Indian girl (Debra Paget). Indian haters, of course, stir up the usual sort of trouble and Stewart's bride becomes a victim with all the consequent poignancy for which the film is best remembered...
The over-wise Chandler counsels him that he must learn to live with his whiteness just as his new friends must contend with their own place in the cosmic scheme of things... Cochise has words of stark consolation for Stewart: "As I bear the murder of my people, so you will bear the murder of your wife."
The most interesting aspect of " Broken Arrow" is not the interracial romance between Stewart and Paget, but Stewart's relationship with Chandler's Cochise... There is intra-character complexity here, as Chandler struggles to overcome his disturb of all whites, and Stewart attempts to comprehend the different philosophy and cultural of the Indians...
Jeff Chandler was quite apt and professional... He was so believable in the role of the Apache chief Cochise that he was to essay it again in George Sherman's "The Battle at Apache Pass" in 1952... Chandler's facial bone structure lent itself to noble, incisive Indian profiles, and unlike other Caucasian actors he did not look out of place... He was even nominated for Best Supporting Actor at that year's Oscars...
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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