The film cost a reported $1.6 million, making it one of the most expensive Westerns at that point in Hollywood history. Having starred in the first outing of John Ford’s Cavalry trilogy in 1948’s Fort Apache, John Wayne returned to lead the director’s follow-up in She Wore a Yellow Ribbon a year later. Fans still praise the movie following its release in 1949.
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon had Wayne portray Cavalry Captain Nathan Brittles on his last job before retirement. In the movie, the mission of the old soldier was to soothe tensions between the Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians following Custer’s Last Stand otherwise known as the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876.
Meanwhile Brittles had to transport the niece and wife of his commanding officer to safety. But when both of these objectives stalled, he pursued a meeting with a Native American Chief to prevent the outbreak of war.
The war film is currently free to stream on BBC iPlayer and the iconic movie recently celebrated its 76th anniversary earlier this year.
Fans have hailed the Western a « true masterpiece » with an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score of 92%.
Reviews are still coming in thick and fast for the classic film as one person commented: « Great classic Western! »
Another echoed: « One of the finer Ford films. Love the performances and characters. »
« In the brightest moment of his acting career John Wayne participates in one of John Ford’s greatest classics. An equally touching and thrilling ride with a terrific music theme to follow it. A true masterpiece, » a third gushed.
A fourth mused: « Excellent, classic Western that features John Wayne in perhaps his best performance! A great tribute to the Army of the 1800’s, with great cinematography that famously features Monument Valley. Lots of superior supporting performances, especially Ben Johnson who shows off his actual horse riding prowess! »
While a fifth delighted: « Greatest Western war film ever. »
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon is available to stream on BBC iPlayer
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