weezeralfalfa
I think of this film, primarily, as Ford's last and best cavalry film, which happens to center on the historical escape of the northern Cheyenne from their hated lethal Oklahoma reservation, and attempt to make their way back to their homeland in the Yellowstone region. It rather follows the formula established in "Fort Apache", where we have a new commanding officer of a fort(played by Fonda), who sees it as his main responsibility to keep the local 'Indians' under control. He regards 'Indians' as inferior beings, and underestimates their military prowess, resulting in his Custer-like demise. In this film, we actually have two such officers in Major Braden and Captain Wessels, in different time frames. They lack Fonda's arrogance, but nonetheless are determined to follow their superior's harsh orders in dealing with the renegade Cheyenne. In contrast, Richard Widmark takes on John Wayne's role in "Fort Apache", as a very conflicted second(often first) in command, trying to give the Cheyenne a break, while maintaining his status as a cavalry officer. His Quaker girlfriend, played by striking blond Carol Baker, has run off with the Cheyenne. Being an Irish Catholic, Ford identified with certain other often persecuted Christian sects, such as the Mormons, in "Wagon Masters", and the Quakers, who had tried to get food for the Irish during their famine years.Many of the details of this historical incident are fictionalized. For example, it's implied that the Cheyenne felt compelled to give themselves up at Ft. Robinson to avoid certain death from winter exposure and starvation. In fact, one group successfully overwintered in the sparsely populated infertile Sand Hills region of Nebraska, which had abundant game, if not bison. It's not acknowledged that the Cheyenne did sometimes raid, kill and rape settlers when they felt it necessary for their survival, or as revenge for past massacres. Thus, there was some justification for the panic among Europeans. It bothers me that filming obviously was done in Ford's favorite places on the Colorado Plateau, which looks nothing like the prairie country that most of this historical trek took place in. On the other hand, the Ft. Robinson massacre was relatively accurately portrayed. Of course, Widmark's journey to Washington, and the journey of the Secretary of Interior out to Montana, are pure fiction, if providing a promising resolution to the Cheyenne's problems.(It's not made clear, but these Cheyenne were eventually given a reservation in their preferred habitat, minus the bison). The characterization of Secretary Schurz(not Shultz), well played by Eddie Robinson, as a 'good guy' has some historical support, but is overblown. Robinson asks his portrait of Lincoln, one of Ford's heros, for guidance. Although we follow only one cavalry group, in fact, many thousands of soldiers from several forts, as well as many civilians, were involved in trying to recapture these couple hundred Cheyenne.Famous Mexican actress Dolores Del Rio, at age 60, has a fairly prominent role, as a Spanish woman who has joined the Cheyenne: the only such woman who speaks English. Her most remembered line, repeated, is the defiant "They will not go back", in response to the fort commander's received order that the Cheyenne must return to their Oklahoma reservation, even in the dead of winter.Now, as to the much maligned Dodge City slapstick farce episode, which superficially seems little related to the rest of the film. At one level, try thinking of this as the bonus comedy short, which happens to be inserted within the main feature film as part of the intermission, instead of its usual place. Ford knew that occasional humor, sometimes involving slapstick, was an important ingredient in his successful films. In this case, the laughs are nearly all concentrated in this bizarre segment. But, it's also clear that Ford meant this episode to have serious relevance to the main point of the film. In part, it's meant to burlesque the striking contrast between the white man's often out of touch corrupt urban world with that of the Native American's viewpoint of themselves as merely one part of a complex web of the natural world. In the last portion, most of the town, including a wagon load of prostitutes and an open bar wagon, go galloping out of town with guns blazing and a wagon of explosives and ammunition, to counter a reported nearby party of rampaging Cheyenne. But, this hysterical mob goes in the opposite direction from the reported location of the Cheyenne! They encounter one lone Cheyenne on a distant hill, who causes further panic with one bullet, which blows up the munitions wagon. This segment, no doubt, is meant as a satire on the huge number of soldiers and civilians(and their general incompetence) deemed necessary to track down and tame or kill a few hundred fleeing starving Cheyenne. Jimmy Stewart, as Wyatt Earp, plays his dominating role in this farce to the hilt: quite possibly his best, if least understood, film performance! Actually, his character is a carbon copy of his character in the beginning of Ford's previous "Two Rode Together". Watch also for Ken Curtis, who wants to pick a fight with Stewart, while the latter is card gambling. Stewart shoots him, under the table, in the foot, discombobulating him. Then, Stewart supposedly extracts the bullet from his foot. Curtis is most remembered for his role as Festus, in the TV "Gunsmoke" series. However, believe it or not, he was Frank Sinatra's replacement as Tommy Dorsey's lead male singer in 1941! He was also director Ford's son-in law, and had been included in minor roles in many of Ford's previous films. Elizabeth Allen, a tall striking brunet, plays the pushy lead prostitute, ending up upside down, bloomers showing, in a fast-moving carriage, in the laps of Stewart and Arthur Kennedy(as Doc Holiday)!
funkyfry
I have mixed feelings about this film -- parts of it are engrossing, and I thought it was more fair to the Native American characters than other John Ford films (certainly far more than most Western films of the time in general). However, it is marred by several characters who seem to have been inserted into the film for no reason other than perhaps marquee value.The central narrative concerns the plight of the Cheyenne people, who have been stranded on a reservation and have not been given the food and supplies they were promised. The leaders, played by Ricardo Montalban and Gilbert Roland, take them on a 1500 mile journey back to their ancestral homelands. The military commander sent to track them down, Captain Archer (Richard Widmark), is sympathetic enough to their cause that he eventually intercedes on their behalf with the head of the Interior Department (Edward G. Robinson, spliced-in for the missing Spencer Tracy). The harrowing journey of the Cheyenne, which takes its toll especially in the lives of the elderly and the young, is shown in some detail.Unfortunately, the film also includes a long sequence right in the middle of the film with Jimmy Stewart, Arthur Kennedy and John Carradine -- this sequence seems to have nothing to do with the rest of the film. While one is often inclined to forget a nonsensical sequence if it's just "too darn fun", this one is just pointless and distracting. I kept waiting for these characters to appear in the rest of the narrative.... but nothing ever happens to tie the events together with the main story. There's not even enough of a thematic connection for any but the most die-hard apologist to make sense of its inclusion in the film.Also disappointing is Karl Malden's heavy-handed performance as an ineffective prison commander.Could have been great, but I can settle for a good western on the right occasion, and this one had enough good scenes (especially the conversations between Widmark's character and Mike Mazurki's veteran campaigner) to make for a solid film experience.
thinker1691
From director John Ford comes this moving tribute to the Native American. Unlike his early films where they were seen as uncivilized savages, this film " Cheyenne Autumn " depicts them as they really are. Natives Americans who long wish to return to their Homeland. Set against the beautiful, panoramic landscape, these noble people set out across the open desert. Although it's 1,500 miles and in the mists of sub-zero winter, they struggle to reach their sacred ground where they wish to live with their children. Along the way, their every encounter with the White man is met with racial hostility and murder. Their most threatening adversary is the American Press which decries the Indian as everything from blood-thirty barbarians to a marauding hoard of renegades. The inner story is of sympathetic Capt. Thomas Archer (Richard Widmark) a Calvalry Officer who understands their plight and attempts to see the Sect. of the Interior (Edward G. Robinson) to correct a grievous injustice. Within the Cheyenne Tribe are two brothers, Little Wolf and Dull Knife (Ricardo Montalban, Golbert Roland) who wrestle with conflicting methods as to how to win their ultimate victory. This is difficult as Dull Knife's son (Sal Mineo) is seen as dishonorable for coveting Little Wolf's wife. With a plethora of Hollywood stars like Mike Mazurki, Karl Malden, James Steward, Patrick Wayne, Arthur Kennedy, Carroll Baker, John Carradine, Victory Jory and Ken Curtis, this film nearly becomes top heavy. Instead the entire cast makes for a tremendous effort to establish what has come to be known as a John Ford Classic. Excellent film. ****
