She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949)

After Custer and the 7th Cavalry are wiped out by Indians, everyone expects the worst. Capt. Nathan Brittles is ordered out on patrol but he's also required to take along Abby Allshard, ... See full summary »

Director:

John Ford

Writers:

James Warner Bellah (story), Frank S. Nugent (screenplay),

Stars:

John Wayne, Joanne Dru, John Agar

Won 1 Oscar. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
John Wayne	...	Capt. Nathan Cutting Brittles
Joanne Dru	...	Olivia Dandridge
John Agar	...	Lt. Flint Cohill
Ben Johnson	...	Sgt. Tyree
Harry Carey Jr.	...	2nd Lt. Ross Pennell
Victor McLaglen	...	Top Sgt. Quincannon
Mildred Natwick	...	Abby 'Old Iron Pants' Allshard
George O'Brien	...	Major Mac Allshard, Commanding Officer Fort Starke
Arthur Shields	...	Dr. O'Laughlin
Michael Dugan	...	Sgt. Hochbauer
Chief John Big Tree	...	Chief Pony That Walks
Fred Graham	...	Sgt. Hench
Chief Sky Eagle	...	Chief Sky Eagle
Tom Tyler	...	Cpl. Mike Quayne
Noble Johnson	...	Chief Red Shirt

Storyline

After Custer and the 7th Cavalry are wiped out by Indians, everyone expects the worst. Capt. Nathan Brittles is ordered out on patrol but he's also required to take along Abby Allshard, wife of the Fort's commanding officer, and her niece, the pretty Olivia Dandridge, who are being evacuated for their own safety. Brittles is only a few days away from retirement and Olivia has caught the eye of two of the young officers in the Company, Lt. Flint Cohill and 2nd Lt. Ross Pennell. She's taken to wearing a yellow ribbon in her hair, a sign that she has a beau in the Cavalry, but refuses to say for whom she is wearing it.

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Plot Keywords:

retirement | cavalry | attack | chewing tobacco | barroom brawl | 

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Taglines:

Wayne's greatest role as an Indian fighting Captain !

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Genres:

Drama | Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 October 1949 (USA)

Also Known As:

Der Teufelshauptmann

Filming Locations:

Kanab Movie Fort, Kanab, Utah, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,600,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Argosy Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the graveyard, one of the crosses carries the name "DeVoto", this is likely an homage to Bernard DeVoto, a prominent historian of the American West.

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Goofs

When Sgt Tyree brings in the paymasters stage and the doctor is examining the Paymasters body, we see the doctors hat and bag on the ground next to the doctor. In the next shot, the doctor's hat is leaning against the doctors bag.

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Quotes

Olivia Dandridge: [after the massacre at Sudrow's Wells] You don't have to say it, Captain. I know all this is because of me; because I wanted to see the West; because I wasn't - I wasn't "Army" enough to stay the winter.
Captain Nathan Brittles: You're not quite "Army" yet, miss... or you'd know never to apologize... it's a sign of weakness.
Olivia Dandridge: Yes, but this was your last patrol and I'm to blame for it.
Captain Nathan Brittles: Only the man who commands can be blamed. It rests on me... mission failure!

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Connections

Referenced in I'm King Kong!: The Exploits of Merian C. Cooper (2005)

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Soundtracks

"St. Patrick's Day"
(uncredited)
Traditional Irish tune
In score

User Reviews

Color Is Magnificent; Story Is So-So

I got interested in seeing this film not because I like westerns (which I do) but because I read where this was a spectacular visual film.. Well, that it is, with some drop-dead gorgeous color in spots that looks super on VHS or DVD, the latter being better, of course. Director John Ford has some nice shots of his favorite locale, Monument Valley, along with other nice shots.

For a western, there isn't much action in this film. However, the beautiful colors and the magnetism of John Wayne, who dominates this film, still make it interesting. Victor McLaghlen adds some humor to the tale with with whiskey- drinking, hard-fighting Irishman role and Ben Johnson is good as the key scout.

I couldn't believe how young Johnson looked as I am used to seeing him as a grizzled veteran. In fact, I wouldn't have known it was him but for his distinct voice and accent. At any rate, I thought he was the best character in the film.

A good part of the story is about two guys - John Agar and Harry Carey Jr. fighting over Joanne Dru. That gets annoying after awhile and, after three looks at this movie, was a contributing factor in me trading this movie for another.

All in all, a "decent" western that those who don't like a lot of violence might like because there are no villains to hate and a surprising non-violent ending.