She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949)

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

After the defeat of General Custer at the Little Big Horn several American army posts have been placed under full alert as various tribes have begun harassing everybody in their immediate area. One case in particular involves Fort Starke which has come under intense scrutiny by the Cheyenne who have migrated further south than usual. As a result, rather than keeping his wife and daughter at the army post the commanding officer, "Major Mac Allshard" (George O'Brien) decides to send them with a cavalry patrol further east where they will be safe. On their way, however, they encounter an Arapaho column heading in the same direction and as a result make a detour around them which causes the two female passengers to miss the last stagecoach out. And then the hostilities begin. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was an excellent Western movie which benefits from the beautiful scenery and the on-screen charisma exhibited by John Wayne (as Captain Nathan Brittles) along with several other good actors in supporting roles. To that end, I believe that those who enjoy a film of this type might want to check this one out as it is definitely worth a view.

SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON is a 1940s western (in colour!) from famed director John Ford, set in the immediate aftermath of the Custer massacre and once again featuring soldiers in a plot in which they fight back against murderous Native Americans. As is usual for a Ford film, the main star is John Wayne, but there's a surprise in store here for the fans: Wayne is playing something OTHER than his usual character! Wayne fans well know that the star was famed for playing essentially the same character over and over again during his long career - that consistency is what we love about him, after all - but here he plays an old-timer and is pretty much unrecognisable in the role, aside from his voice.The film is solid enough viewing for western fans, featuring some great visuals and an ensemble cast of familiar faces who acquit themselves well with the material. The story rarely flags and builds to a thoroughly exciting denouement which doesn't disappoint. I could have done without all of the love triangle stuff but even that doesn't detract from the experience too much.

The best of director John Ford's (and actor John Wayne's) U.S. Cavalry trilogy, which includes Fort Apache (1948) and Rio Grande (1950), this essential Western won Cinematographer Winton Hoch his second of three Oscars (on three nominations). Hoch's sweeping views of Utah's Monument Valley and beautiful blue, cloud dotted skies are unforgettable. It's based on stories by James Warner Bellah that were adapted by Frank Nugent and Laurence Stallings. Ford and Merian C. Cooper were its executive producers.Wayne stars as a retiring officer, Nathan Cutting Brittles, trying to stave off a pending Indian attack, after General Custer's massacre. John Agar, Ben Johnson as Sergeant Tyree, Harry Carey Jr., and Victor McLaglen (the drinking Irishman) as Sergeant Quincannon are under his command; Joanna Dru is among the women whose evacuation complicates his plans.Of course, affections for the lovely Ms. Dru's character, among the two young lieutenants (Agar and Carey Jr.), is an additional source of conflict. Wayne, for whom Dru wears the yellow ribbon, must lead and help these two grow to fill his job, in the less than a week he's got left until retirement.

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon is a wonderful, first-class film overall. Because there are so many good things about it, I never felt bored. In regards to the pace, I had no problem with it, same with the length. Also, I actually think in general the scenes with the Indians and the romantic subplot worked, there have been westerns when they haven't, or one of them anyhow, but while they weren't the best parts of the story they didn't distract too much either. In fact my only real problem was Victor McLaglen, the Irish whimsy occasionally got a tad too much.She Wore a Yellow Ribbon has a huge amount to like. There is the beautiful cinematography that perfectly captured the magnificent Monument Valley locations. There is the stirring and quite majestic score, that brings drama, intensity, the like to any scene it appears in. There is John Ford's superb direction, the compelling story and nice dialogue. And there is also John Wayne's marvellous central performance and the fine cast that support him especially Harry Carey Jnr and the lovely Joannna Dru. In conclusion, a great film and a great calvary western. 9/10 Bethany Cox