She Wore a Yellow Ribbon: A Review (Review #2210)

SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON

This review is part of the Summer Under the Stars Blogathon. Today's star is John Wayne.

John Ford and John Wayne are synonymous with the Western. Their many collaborations have become enshrined in the pantheon of great films. I do not know if She Wore a Yellow Ribbon will find itself listed alongside such collaborations as Stagecoach, The Searchers and The Quiet Man. However, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon is an effective and entertaining film, with strong performances and beautiful imagery.

1876 does not bode well for Captain Nathan Brittles (John Wayne). He is set to retire from the U.S. Cavalry in a week's time. He also is shocked and saddened to learn of General Custer's defeat and extermination at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Brittles, a widower who lost his daughters as well, feels that his final days will not be peaceful.

Prior to all this, Brittles' biggest challenge was to serve as informal referee between two lovestruck cavalry officers. On one side is Second Lieutenant Ross Pannell (Harry Carey, Jr.), who comes from a wealthy background. On the other is First Lieutenant Flint Cohill (John Agar), who does not. The object of their mutual affection is Olivia Dandridge (Joanne Dru), niece of commanding officer Major Allshard (George O'Brien). As the song goes, "she wore a yellow ribbon", indicating that her heart belonged to a cavalry officer. Which one though?

If that were the end of things, Brittles' gruff but loving manner would tolerate things. However, Custer's demise has emboldened various Native tribes to take up arms to rid themselves of the white man forever. Brittles must not only force nearby warriors back onto their reservations but must escort Olivia and her Aunt Abby (Mildred Natwick) to safety out of the fort. The mission meets various failures. Larger than expected Arapaho warriors force the cavalry to take a longer route. This in turn leaves the stagecoach station where Abby and Olivia were to go thinly protected. The troop finds only two orphan children there. 

Time is running out for Brittles, and he hates how his last mission may be a failure. To be fair, it was through little fault of his own. That brings him little comfort. Brittles is determined to squeeze in every single minute to see things through. He makes efforts to prevent war by going to his old friend, Chief Pony That Walks (Chief John Big Tree) to try to persuade the younger warriors to not fight. Both men know, however, that old men must stop war, but young men will not listen. What fate lies in store for Captain Nathan Brittles and his men? Which of the two virile young men will Olivia finally be with? Will Nathan find that he may not end up going to California?

John Wayne looms so large on the American scene that sometimes people forget that he was also a skilled actor. Too often, Wayne's image and/or politics blocks people from appreciating how good he could be as an actor. She Wore a Yellow Ribbon shows Wayne in top form as Nathan Brittles. A deeply moving and affecting scene is when he is at the gravesite of his wife and two daughters. Wayne must carry a monologue where he updates his wife Mary about the latest goings-on, both amusing and alarming. He is very gentle and soft here, revealing the brokenhearted man resigned to life as it is. 

Wayne has several moments that reveal the full humanity of Nathan. He could be quietly understanding of his friend Sergeant Quincannon (Victor McLaglen). The Irish-accented Quincannon, who has been with Brittles for years, likes to take a nip every so often. Brittles forever keeps examining and wondering how and where Quincannon finds a bit of booze. In the end, however, we find that he has always known. At one point, Parnell and Olivia are about to leave the fort, much to Cohill's irritation. Brittles has to navigate the two roosters, doing so with a mix of cleverness and military precision. It is a lighthearted moment in the film. 

Late in the film, the men present Brittles a watch on his final day. In Wayne's performance, you can see Brittles' struggles to not be openly overcome with emotion. We also see his sheepish acknowledgement of his age when he, reluctantly, has to pull out his reading glasses to read the inscription. She Wore a Yellow Ribbon should put to rest ideas that John Wayne could not act. He gives a well-crafted, well-rounded performance. 

Wayne could also easily deliver the action scenes, commanding the men and having no patience for their lapses in judgment. The daring race across the river with the wagon forever in danger of falling is a thrilling sequence. 

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon does a fine job balancing the serious danger the cavalry men and women face with the love triangle. I was not overwhelmed with Harry Carey, Jr., John Agar and Joanne Dru as the triangle. They were not terrible. They all did serviceable, respectable performances. They did have moments of amusement, such as when Parnell attempted to take Olivia "picnicking" over Cohill's objections. The film does keep a good balance of which man Olivia will choose. That plot works well in the story, allowing for the human element within the looming threat of war.

Victor McLaglen was the comic relief as Quincannon. His best moment was when Brittles encouraged him to wear civilian clothes (Quincannon himself was close to retirement). This big-hearted boozing Irishman was not about to let young whippersnappers stop him from going into the bar or put him in the brig. That task would be to the feisty, no-nonsense Abby Allshard, who knew how to handle a man. That sequence might have lengthened She Wore a Yellow Ribbon more than needed and been a bit out of place. However, it did not take away from the enjoyment of the film.

Mildred Natwick had a good moment as well when tending to a wounded soldier. While singing She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, we see her mix of professionalism and fear as to whether the cavalry trooper would make it. 

An element that I do not think has been remarked much on in She Wore a Yellow Ribbon is on how the United States was slowly healing from the Civil War. When the troop arrives at the stagecoach station, an old trooper named John Smith gives a commendation to a young trooper, Sargeant Tyree (Ben Johnson). Both have discernable Southern accents, and Sgt. Tyree is puzzled on why this trooper would praise him. We hear a soft and gentle rendition of Dixie play in the background; it becomes clear quickly why the Confederate anthem was heard. Nathan Brittles gives the trooper a burial on the site, where he gives John Smith's true name and rank: Brigadier General Rome Clay of the Confederate States of America. Abby had hurriedly stitched a small Confederate flag to place over the coffin. 

When Brittles boasts about the various men who endorsed a promotion near the end of the film, he rattles them off with pride. Phil Sheridan, William Tecumsah Sherman and Ulysses S. Grant, President of the United States, Brittles almost squeals with delight. Tyree smiles and says that it would have been nice if he had had four aces. When Brittles asks what he means by that, Tyree merely smiles and says, "Robert E. Lee". Brittles returns the smiles and says, "Hey. Wouldn't have been bad". Tyree was a thorough Southerner (often referring to men such as Custer as "Yankees"). He was also loyal to the Union officer Brittles. There was no judgment on either side, no resentments. The film, intentionally or not, covers the slow healing between North and South.

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon won Winton C. Hotch the Oscar for its Color Cinematography. It was an excellent choice. The film is beautiful to look at. Hotch bathed scenes with elegant visuals, and the vastness of Monument Valley is brilliantly captured.

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon delves into the private and professional lives of those who won the West. It balances the action and romance well. Beautiful and well-acted, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon will never go out of fashion.

DECISION: B+