They Died with Their Boots On

Movie Review: They Died with Their Boots On

Year of Release: 1941
Country of Origin: USA
Director: Raoul Walsh
Cast: Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Gene Lockhart, Anthony Quinn

Plot outline: Romanticized biography of General George Armstrong Custer and his last stand (IMDb).

They Died with Their Boots On marks a rather low-key, fitting farewell to the intense, onscreen pairing of Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland. Their final scenes, as charismatic General Custer leaves his supportive wife for the doomed battle with Crazy Horse at the Little Bighorn, are moving. As an onscreen couple in British and American period epics, the two generated an intense energy, and one gets a sense the actors were also saying farewell to their bygone roles, before de Havilland embarked on her quest to get richer, more prominent female parts, and Flynn more or less became trapped as an aging action hero. As an accurate historical chronicle of Custer's years from cadet to famously determined General, the movie is sandwiched tightly between fleetingly acceptable and hogwash. Even those unfamiliar with Custer's life will sense the screenwriters are responsible for the stereotypical villain: former cadet school bully Ned Sharp (colourfully played by a young Arthur Kennedy) becomes a greedy exploiter, before voluntarily and honorably redeeming himself, Hollywood style. Warner Bros. have used a sparkling print for their superb transfer, and Max Steiner's lively score booms from the movie's original mono mix. Another well-produced Errol Flynn release - and for film buffs, look fast for Gig Young, unbilled in an early speaking role in the movie! (MH)

My judgement: **1/2 out of 4 stars