This is one of the few classic westerns I recall taking a stand defending native tribes for what was theirs, ordered by the army to move and going into battle to protect their hunting grounds. Joel McCrea is the title character, William F. Cody, warning the general declaring war that the natives (in this case Cheyenne, led by Anthony Quinn) are unpredictable, and befriending Quinn's future chief Yellowhand with warnings from both of how their meeting in battle could end that friendship, eventually creating a treaty.
The film has a memorable scene between Buffalo Bill's future wife (Maureen O'Hara) and Cheyenne woman Linda Darnell where Darnell bitterly bemoans the fact that O'Hara will always view her as "Indian" even though she's wearing one of O'Hara's dresses. O'Hara is trying to be kind but Darnell sees through that, blaming her for not wanting her dress back because an Indian wore it.
Romantic scenes between O'Hara and McCrea are some of the most romantic I've seen in a 40's western, colorful and humorous as well. Edgar Buchannan isn't recognizable in old age makeup as a mail deliverer, but his voice sure is. Thomas Mitchell plays real life publisher Ned Buntline, and he's as blustery as he was as thar other O'Hara's father.
Moroni Olsen is commanding as Maureen O'Hara's father, and of course, she makes more of her role than was probably in the script. Quinn is quite sexy wearing very little, and makes his character quite honorable. Definitely altered from real history to be more cinematic, and certainly plagued by stereotypes. I cringed every time McCrea said "How!" to Quinn. But it's a promising advancement in the cinema's treatment of the natives, beautiful to look at and one of William Wellman's great directorial achievement.
The film has a memorable scene between Buffalo Bill's future wife (Maureen O'Hara) and Cheyenne woman Linda Darnell where Darnell bitterly bemoans the fact that O'Hara will always view her as "Indian" even though she's wearing one of O'Hara's dresses. O'Hara is trying to be kind but Darnell sees through that, blaming her for not wanting her dress back because an Indian wore it.
Romantic scenes between O'Hara and McCrea are some of the most romantic I've seen in a 40's western, colorful and humorous as well. Edgar Buchannan isn't recognizable in old age makeup as a mail deliverer, but his voice sure is. Thomas Mitchell plays real life publisher Ned Buntline, and he's as blustery as he was as thar other O'Hara's father.
Moroni Olsen is commanding as Maureen O'Hara's father, and of course, she makes more of her role than was probably in the script. Quinn is quite sexy wearing very little, and makes his character quite honorable. Definitely altered from real history to be more cinematic, and certainly plagued by stereotypes. I cringed every time McCrea said "How!" to Quinn. But it's a promising advancement in the cinema's treatment of the natives, beautiful to look at and one of William Wellman's great directorial achievement.