| The last of several B&W cavalry films starring Flynn, and the only one not directed by Michael Curtiz, whom Flynn hated. Also, the first and most remembered Flynn-starring film directed by the equally famous Raoul Walsh, who would direct or codirect nearly all of Flynn's WWII-related films and several of his remaining westerns during the '40s. Also, the last of 8 pairings of Flynn with Olivia De Havilland as the leading lady wife Libby . Olivia has a greater presence in this film than in most, despite the emphasis upon Custer's military events. In a cleverly comedic incident, <more> she has good reason to initially view Flynn's character very negatively, but quickly changes her attitude when offered a reasonable explanation. The initial animosity between Libby's father and Custer is faithfully dramatized in a series of often humorous scenes during their courtship, sometimes including their maid, charismatically played by Hattie McDaniel.Flynn, of course, was perfect for the role of the brash, loose cannon, side of Custer, as well as his more serious side. The early part of the film, dealing with Custer's less than stellar record at West Point, memorably burlesques Custer's penchant for fancy dress and irreverence toward authority and tradition: modeling himself on Napoleon's flamboyant cavalry leader Joachim Murat. Rather reminds us of Flynn's portrayal of Robin Hood, complete with occasionally being the victim, rather than the perpetrator, of pranks, in a very memorable incident. The W.P. brass comment that they can't remember a cadet as unpromising in academics and discipline since Ulysses Grant: a pregnant point of irony.In view of his ignominious record at West Point, the film dramatizes the difficulties and luck involved in getting his desired appointment as a cavalry officer in the Civil War. It then dramatizes his brash disobedience of orders and reckless charges in several situations, that luckily led to positive results that overrode court marshaling considerations. His several charges at or near Gettysburg are reminiscent of that in the previous "The Charge of the Light Brigade". Custer's courtship of Libby provides an often humorous interlude during this segment.Since NAs, who were Custer's later foes in battle, couldn't be faulted for defending their sacred homeland and way of life, the script needed a fictional white villain as Custer's periodic foe, rather similar to Van Helflin's character in the previous "Santa Fe Trail". This appears in the form of the Sharp father and especially son, who are overcharging frontier army personnel for supplies and refreshments, selling firearms to the NAs, and later spread a 'false' rumor of a gold discovery in the sacred Black Hills, to encourage flocks of gold seekers they can sell supplies to at inflated prices. The younger Sharp eventually suffers poetic justice when he is kidnapped by Custer, and essentially forced to take part in 'Custer's Last Stand': bizarre fiction! Historically, Custer was instrumental in blowing open this scandal, presented at the end of the film as a fitting posthumous victory for Custer. As dramatized, during this period, Grant looked upon Custer as a thorn in his side, not only for implicating his brother-in-law in this scandal, but for criticizing his overall 'Indian' policy. However, I find it nauseating that Custer is painted as having pro-NA sympathies. His copied, if controversial, innovation of using NA women and children as shields in the Battle massacre? of Washita River is skipped. Also unforgivable is his bizarre claim that the report of a gold discovery in the Black Hills is a false rumor. Historically, it was a scouting expedition lead by Custer that confirmed rumors of some gold in the Black Hills! The US government lacked the muscle or desire to keep prospectors out of this treatied 'Indian' lands, hence decided that the only solution was to make the NAs move to a far off reservation. Also, Custer is falsely presented as assuming that his command would be wiped out by an overwhelming NA force at the Little Big Horn, thus making them a sacrificial lamb to the greedy traders and gold seekers. Prior to this incident, Custer was unduly lucky in surviving all of his cavalry charges and other battles.In addition to Flynn and Olivia, we have several very recognizable character actors in support. Tony Quinn, as chief Crazy Horse, was still treated as a supporting actor at this time. His speeches are typical Hollywood 'Indian -pidgin'. Of course, Crazy Horse never had a parley with Custer, as dramatized, and didn't personally kill Custer...Always charismatic 'old codger' Charlie Grapewin adds some needed humor to the second half, as a crazed old loner pioneer. His appearances in "The Good Earth", "The Grapes of Wrath" and "Tobacco Road" also stand out in my mind... The very familiar Gene Lockhart plays Olivia's father. ..Noted cavalry leader Phil Sheridan, who was periodically important in Custer's career, pops up periodically. But, he certainly wasn't the West Point commander! Old General Winfield Scott also is presented as an important, if often unsure, promoter of Custer's career.In all, a captivating , historically relevant, Flynn vehicle, with historical accuracy a distant second consideration to making his character appear to die for heroic reasons rather than brash overconfident stupidity. <less> |
