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)!
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)!