It may seem outdated and a bit racist for our time, but John Ford's She Wore A Yellow Ribbon as well as his entire Calvary Trilogy can all be seen as a tribute to the American spirit that embodied the patriotic feelings that made this country come to be. John Wayne gives one of his very finest performances as Captain Nathan Brittle, a man on the brink of retirement who finds himself amongst one last incident that involves facing seemingly all the Indian tribes gathered together to defeat the white man.
Wayne is so focused with this role; his gait, his speech patterns, his costume all come together to give us the character of a man who has been in the army for so long he knows practically nothing else. He lives for every exciting moment that can happen and he passes this love onto his supporters, Sgt. Tyree (Ben Johnson), and Lt. Cohill (John Agar). These are not only his two most loyal companions but also the two best supporting roles in the movie that complete the action of affection and loyalty needed to convince us that Brittle is a lovable man. Of course, with Ford the visuals enhance and entice us into the picture. Filming once again in Monument Valley, we see the beauty of the American west and why it was so important to discover and pioneer it.
Of course, there is a great case that can be made for the mistreatment of Indians, perhaps the only serious blotch on Ford's resume. Still, as an American and history lover, Ford is the Great American Storyteller and here he continues to entertain and astonish with his love and affection for the beauty and toughness of the western frontier and the spirit of the American destiny that pushed us all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
Wayne is so focused with this role; his gait, his speech patterns, his costume all come together to give us the character of a man who has been in the army for so long he knows practically nothing else. He lives for every exciting moment that can happen and he passes this love onto his supporters, Sgt. Tyree (Ben Johnson), and Lt. Cohill (John Agar). These are not only his two most loyal companions but also the two best supporting roles in the movie that complete the action of affection and loyalty needed to convince us that Brittle is a lovable man. Of course, with Ford the visuals enhance and entice us into the picture. Filming once again in Monument Valley, we see the beauty of the American west and why it was so important to discover and pioneer it.
Of course, there is a great case that can be made for the mistreatment of Indians, perhaps the only serious blotch on Ford's resume. Still, as an American and history lover, Ford is the Great American Storyteller and here he continues to entertain and astonish with his love and affection for the beauty and toughness of the western frontier and the spirit of the American destiny that pushed us all the way to the Pacific Ocean.