Broken Arrow

 

 

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My favourite Jimmy Stewart western. Shows a balanced view of the First Nations people and the Caucasion invaders. Caught between two worlds Jimmy Steward falls in love with the cheif's (Jeff Chandler) daughter
(Deborah Paget) This movie stands up there with Shane and John Wayne's Stagecoach and True Grit. It's one of the best westerns ever made. Sad ending yet uplifting. Available for $14.99 at 1-800-4-MOVIES plus S &H. Less on their website Movies Unlimited, a website strictly for serious collectors like myself who love classics and 'old movies' not available at Blockbuster etc. or Amazon.ca or Amazon.com in this case. Amazon.ca is my first choice but if I can't get it there I can always get it at Movies Unlimited.

20th Century Fox presents "BROKEN ARROW" (1950) (93 min/Color) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) --
Tom Jeffords (James Stewart) is a scout who seeks to heal the divisions between the Apaches and white men --- Cochise (Jeff Chandler) is outstanding as the Apache leader --- Debra Paget as Sonseehray is played within the boundaries of innocence and caring bliss --- Excellent adaptation of Elliott Arnold's book "Blood Brother" concerning the talk, the need, and the struggle for peace between the white man and the Apache Indians in 1870 Arizona.

Strong, moving story relies on the complicated interpersonal relationships between the characters for its impact, and the performances from Stewart, Paget, and Oscar-nominated Jeff Chandler do not disappoint --- Beautifully filmed on rugged locations Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California --- Delmer Daves directs a winner, one of the best westerns of the '50s, which has been dubbed a classic.

1951 Nominated Oscar Best Actor in a Supporting Role by the Academy Awards was Jeff Chandler --- Best Cinematography, Color was Ernest Palmer

Best Writing, Screenplay Albert Maltz (Originally Michael Blankfort had been listed for this nomination. Blankfort fronted for Maltz, who was a blacklisted writer at the time. Following research by the Writers Guild of America West in July 1991, the Academy officially attributed the nomination to Maltz and removed Blankford)

The picture is very clear and sharp --- There are only a handful of night scenes during the film but all showed an impressive lack of low level noise.

Under the production staff of:
Delmer Daves [Director]
Elliott Arnold [novel "Blood Brother"]
Albert Maltz [Screenwriter]
Julian Blaustein [Producer]
Hugo Friedhofer [Original Film Score]
Ernest Palmer [Cinematographer]
J. Watson Webb Jr. [Film Editor]

BIOS:
1. Delmer Daves [Director]
Date of Birth: 24 July 1904 - San Francisco, California
Date of Death: 17 August 1977 - La Jolla, California

2. James Stewart
Date of Birth: 20 May 1908 - Indiana, Pennsylvania
Date of Death: 2 July 1997 - Los Angeles, California

3. Jeff Chandler [aka: Ira Grossel]
Date of Birth: 15 December 1918 - Brooklyn, New York
Date of Death: 17 June 1961 - Culver City, Los Angeles, California

4. Debra Paget [aka: Debralee Griffin]
Date of Birth: 19 August 1933 - Denver, Colorado
Date of Death: Still Living

the cast includes:
James Stewart - Tom Jeffords
Jeff Chandler - Cochise
Debra Paget - Sonseeahray ('Morningstar')
Basil Ruysdael - Gen. Oliver 'The Christian General' Howard
Will Geer - Ben Slade, Rancher
Joyce Mackenzie - Terry, Scatfly Proprietress
Arthur Hunnicutt - Milt Duffield, Mail Superintendent
Jay Silverheels - Geronimo

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 4 Stars
Performance: 4 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 4 Stars
Overall: 4 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 93 min on DVD ~ 20th Century Fox ~ (05/22/2007)

Though far from historically accurate, _Broken Arrow_ is an agreeable, upbeat action film that has some thought behind it. This is not an entirely predictable moral tale, but acknowledges the savagery of the clash between Indians and Whites in the west.

The story, though told by the Indian agent Tom Jeffords (Stewart) is really that of the great Apache leader, Cochise (Chandler). It is in the study of Cochise that much of the film's fascination lies. Though Stewart's narrative frames the story, it is Cochise's decisions and actions that move the peace process forward.

Though admittedly some of the Indians are portrayed by white actors, just consider these cast members: Iron Eyes Cody as one of Cochise's lieutenants, Teese; John War Eagle as the spurned suitor, Nahilzay; and Jay Silverheels as the deadly and intransigent Geronimo-- in an excellent performance that is a far cry from his affable 'Tonto' of _Lone Ranger_ films and series!

Also watch for a young Will Geer cast against type as the embittered and treacherous Ben Slade, and the great character actor, Arthur Hunnicutt, as reluctant Stewart sidekick Milt Duffield.

This is a great western, and despite the somewhat schmaltzy romantic plot, it plays well today just as it did almost 50 years ago.

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3.0 out of 5 stars Better late .....
The item arrived more than a month after the order was placed. The vendor placed the blame on overzealous border officials, and who am I to doubt it. Read more

Published 12 months ago by Barney

5.0 out of 5 stars Blood brothers of the Southwest
This film classic is one of the few westerns that explores the Indian point of view, in war and in peace, and is the story of a proud people led by Cochise who wages a savage... Read more

Published on May 31 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars Encounter between two worlds.
I've seen Broken Arrow when I was just a kid. The power of the images of this film remained in the back of my mind. Read more

Published on April 16 2004 by Maximiliano F Yofre

4.0 out of 5 stars A Classic Western That Deserves DVD Release!
This is really intended for Amazon--please convey to whomever that a market exists--we're all waiting for the remastered DVD!!!

If you agree, please cast your vote here!!!

Published on Jan 29 2004

4.0 out of 5 stars A fine Western
An engrossing, enjoyable Western dramatizing the Native American leader Cochise, who led the Apache nation in a struggle against white settlers in the Southwest border region... Read more

Published on Sep 9 2003 by DJ Joe Sixpack

4.0 out of 5 stars A timeless classic
This is one of my personal all time favorites. I can't remember how many times over the years I have seen it . Read more

Published on Jun 19 2003 by F. D Sims

5.0 out of 5 stars A more accurate portrayal of the West
Broken Arrow was truly one of the first western flicks to portray the conflict between native Americans and white men with sympathy to the plight of the Indians. Read more

Published on Jan 17 2003 by Cory D. Slipman

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best of the western classics
In my work as an educator, I have developed lesson plans to go with timeless film classics to teach character. Read more

Published on Jan 25 2002 by Onalee McGraw

5.0 out of 5 stars Great any time
They couldn't have picked better actors than they did, Deborah paget was so beautiful as the indian maiden James Stewart fell in love with and Cochise could only have been Jeff... Read more

Published on Jun 19 2001 by jeanette chisholm

4.0 out of 5 stars BROKEN EXPECTATIONS
In Delmar Daves' revisionist Western Broken Arrow (1950), Jimmy Steward plays Tom Jeffords, a good natured cavalry scout with traditional views about Indians, especially the... Read more

Published on Mar 17 2001 by Danny Wedding

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