Broken Arrow

...but this was a very fine Western, and I don't even like the Western genre particularly well. James Stewart plays Tom Jeffords, an ex-army soldier, scout, and now someone who is panning for gold in Apache country. He comes across a wounded Apache child and heals him, but he doesn't leave Apache country before he comes upon a war party. When they learn he isn't somebody who takes Apache scalps and that he helped one of their own, they let him go but warn him not to return. This teaches him that the Apache can play fair. He decides to learn their ways and language from an Apache in town, and sets out on the dangerous mission to meet Cochise, leader of the Apaches, and to try to slowly build peace between the Apache and the Americans, who are trying to settle Arizona after the Civil War - that is if he survives his first encounter with an Apache scouting party, who just might kill him for the sake of the Apache and Americans being at war. I don't know how accurate this film is historically, but there is some fine acting, action, suspense, and even a touching Anglo-Apache romance. Although the idea of Jeff Chandler as Cochise, who usually played beefcake roles over at Universal, seemed somewhat laughable to me at first, his performance rings true. So true, in fact, there was a kind of sequel where Chandler again played Cochise and Jay Silverheels again played Geronimo. Maybe this film had Jeffords as a kind of "loyal American loner" to speak to issues larger than just that of the history of which this film deals. As a loner Jeffords could see the problem more objectively than somebody with a large extended family and network of friends that could influence him against the reasoning of his own mind. With the Cold War in full swing and the civil rights era just beginning in America at the time it was made, maybe this film was trying to speak for the equality of all people and against the mentality of the mob. I think that's why so many Westerns were made in the 50's and 60's. There was the interesting story on the surface, but there was also the dealing with tricky social issues just under that surface that society wasn't quite ready to face in a direct manner yet.

One of the best westerns of the 50's, "Broken Arrow", directed by the always efficient Delmer Daves, is groundbreaking in it's treatment of Native Americans. Here we are shown the Apache chief, Cochise (Jeff Chandler, excellent), with respect, being portrayed with intelligence and heart. James Stewart gives one of his best performances as Tom Jeffords, the white man who is willing to, and comes to, understand the Apache's way of life. "Broken Arrow" is also a great romance, with the beautiful Debra Paget as the Native American girl falling in love with Stewart, and vice versa. Paget does look very young next to Stewart, as has been mentioned, but their acting makes it touching and believable (and tragic when the end comes). I was swept away into the world of this film very easily-- and I was helped by the arresting colour photography by Ernest Palmer and Hugo Friedhofer's score. Who said Westerns were all shoot'em'up? This one is moving, thoughtful, challenging and yet still entertaining in the grand sense of the Western genre.

Janes Stewart, Jeff Chandler, Debra Paget truly make the movie, but do not forget the awesome scenery! I live in Arizona and know where this film was made. Near the town of Sedona and of course, Monument Valley to mention the area. This is probably in my mind one of the top five movies of all time in the Western genre. It is there with Shane and one that is rarely mentioned; Lonesome Dove! What I do not understand is why there is no DVD on this movie. It has stood the test of time; over 55 years and still movie audiences still enjoy it. I own a copy of Broken Arrow on Key Video Label, under CBS/Fox Company. This movie is listed as Cat. No. 1310. I have had it since 1988 and it is still in pristine condition. Whether Fox will ever release it on DVD is anyone's guess. I hope they do!

The real history of the Indian fight with the white in US is an issue to study. Hollywood always showed the Indians as the bad boys, I am saying here what has been also asserted by other actors like Marlon Brando and Jack Palance, and I agree with them. Now, this film seems different, but not so deep, it goes shallowly into the problem, but it is a film different from others touching the Indian problem. Cochise was in fact a good politic and not only a fighter, he understood well that the end of the war with whites would have been the extermination of the Apaches, and for that reason he decided to make the peace with the white. Was the peace reasonable and fair for the Indians? I do not think so. In this film it is shown that the Government of US was only giving a territory of 50 square miles to the Apaches, a misery compared to what they had before the colonization. In addition, Geronimo is here shown as a criminal and somebody hating the whites, again I do not think this Apache boss was like that. Every person is a product of the environment where he lives, faced problems, etc. So showing the hard-fighting Geronimo as the bad boy is not fair with the history. The film shows the initiative of Tom Jeffords (James Stewart) to make the peace with the Apaches, it looks to me very innocent the way this problem was treated, and how easy it was to 'convince' an already convinced Cochise of the need of peace. I know that the screenplay of this film was made by the writer Albert Maltz, whom I personally respect because of his work and novels, but the film did not go deep into the problems, showing to what extent the whites were responsible for this war with the Apaches. May be Hollywood can remake this film with more historic and fair information about the Indians in the coming future.

Broken Arrow is a bit of a precursor to Dances With Wolves and I don't mean that as a compliment. You've got your Indians being portrayed as human beings rather than savages. You've got whites portrayed as clueless bumblers and interlopers. You've got a pathetically painted white woman portraying the Indian love interest. You've got bad dialogue stiffly delivered. You've got narration for half-wits who can't follow the story. And you've got beautiful photography and exciting action sequences. Jimmy Stewart delivers his lines so indignantly and earnestly the words come across as a first-semester term paper from a co-ed at Arizona State University majoring in Southwest American studies. The love angle is cringe-worthy. I almost barfed when they kissed. If you want to learn about Arizona native tribes visit the Heard Museum in Phoenix. If you want to get an eyeful of Sonoma, go visit it in person because it's even more beautiful in real life than on film.

This mediocre film barely whispers Fellini or Ford, but the creepiness of Stewart's character bedding a 15 yr. old character destroys any notion of quality. The casting of a nubile Debra Paget is unforgivable. Supposedly Stewart was told she was 17 but when the truth surfaced Jimmy allegedly besotted with guilt. Legend or not, the smooching between Paget and Stewart is downright scuzzy. A noble tale about Cochise is ravaged into obscure perversion and the viewer is screened from levels of qualitly that the script suggests. The seduction by a 41 yr. old hack cowboy onto a 15 yr old tissue child is criminal. Why this film proceeded past hollow reads is a vaunted mystery. Spare yourself the ignominy and avoid this abortion.

Good movie!

Broken Arrow

When I was a young boy I saw this picture. It was the first western in which the Indians were not uncivilised barbarians, but normal people, with their own standards. It was a revelation! At last one director had the courage to show this to us. So thank you, Delmer Daves! The performances of Jeff Chandler and James Steward were touching and also Debra Paget was fantastic. I do hope to see this film again someday on DVD. Hans Dullaart Delft Netherlands.

Tom Jeffords (James Stewart) is an enlightened white man who saves an Apache boy. He is pulled into the conflict between the Apaches and local white folks. He ends up trying to bring peace between the Apaches and the US government. Apaches leader Cochise and the rest of his people are portrayed as real people more or less even if they are being played by white actors. We're not completely enlightened yet. It's got a good message. There are good fight scenes and good acting. I do wish it was more realistic with a more gritty rougher feel but that may be asking too much. It is still a western from it's era. One of the good things is that not all the Indians are noble. Not all of them go along with peace. In that sense, it's more realistic.