Film Review: They Died with Their Boots On (1941)

When United States was about enter another world war, it would have been strange to see one of their major studios dedicating high budget production to the reconstruction of the event that was and still is considered to be one of the worst disasters of US military history. But Classic Hollywood should have never been underestimated in its ability to give positive patriotic propaganda spin to such events, even at the expense of historical accuracy. And the apparently loved such approach, judging by the enormous success of They Died with Their Boots On, 1941 Western biopic directed by Raoul Walsh.

The protagonist, played by Errol Flynn, is George Armstrong Custer, one of the most flamboyant characters of the Old West and one of the more controversial military leaders in US history. The plot begins in 1857 when young Custer, dressed in outlandish uniform he had designed himself, arrives to West Point military academy. His poor understanding in discipline would often get him in trouble and his grades make him the last cadet in his class. However, when civil war erupts in 1861, Union Army can’t be choosy and Lieutenant Custer is brought to service where he excels as cavalry officer. In 1863 he is accidentally promoted to general and given command of cavalry brigade and plays important in Union’s victory at the decisive Battle of Gettysburg. He returns as hero to home town of Monroe, Michigan, where he would marry Elizabeth “Libby” Bacon (played by Olivia De Havilland). After the war he becomes displeased with lack of action and enthusiastically takes opportunity to get command over 7th Cavalry Regiment, stationed in Dakota Territory. There his mission will be to protect settlers from the restless American Indian tribes that include Sioux, led by legendary chief Crazy Horse (played by Anthony Quinn). He excels in his service, making previously rowdy 7th Cavalry into efficient fighting unit and arranging peace deal with Crazy Horse, promising that the Indians would keep their sacred land in Black Hills. However, greedy and ruthless speculators, who include Custer’s former fellow cadet Ned Sharp (played by Arthur Kennedy), want that land for themselves and launch false rumours about gold deposits in Black Hills, creating another gold rush and flood of white settlers that would cause major war with Indians. On June 25th 1876 Custer would lead 7th Cavalry Regiment towards encounter with large number of Indian warriors at the place known as Little Big Horn.

From mid 1930s and to early 1940s Errol Flynn was the top action star of Hollywood, specialised for swashbuckler period adventures and westerns in which he played slightly roguish characters who would ultimately find redemption and make the world a better place. Character of Custer, at least the version depicted in this film, fits that pattern quite nicely, although Flynn makes the protagonist a little bit more serious, with strands of fatalism that also seeming fitting with the film’s spectacular finale. Flynn has made most of his biggest hits together with Michael Curtiz, but the actor and director never liked each other; this wasn’t the case with Raoul Walsh, immensely experienced and versatile director whose eventful and adventurous private life corresponded with Flynn’s. Walsh directs film with ease, making the more than two hours of its running time pass smoothly. Flynn is also, for the last time (not counting cameo appearances in 1943 film Thank Your Lucky Stars) reunited with reliable screen partner Olivia De Havilland, who effectively plays Custer’s loving and loyal wife Libby, a character in real life most responsible for posthumous deification of her husband as noble soldier and martyr, which is maintained in They Died with Their Boots On. Supporting cast involves many dependable names of Classic Hollywood, while Anthony Quinn, future great star specialised in “ethnic” and exotic roles, would have one of the first prominent role as Crazy Horse. They Died with Their Boots On also benefits from good music soundtrack by always dependable Max Steiner, although the audience is more likely to remember “Garryowen”, traditional Irish song which 7th Cavalry used as its unofficial anthem.

They Died with Their Boots On is well directed, with the script provided a good combination of action, romance, mild humour and melodrama. A lot of money and talent were obviously invested in it and scenes of spectacular cavalry battles even claimed three lives among stuntmen. But the film leaves much to be desired as proper reconstruction of history. Custer starts as undisciplined, “rough” young officer and quickly evolves into capable leader, with his sense of honesty and fairness getting him in trouble with villains who are, in line with popular sentiments following Great Depression, depicted as greedy ruthless capitalists. He ends as a martyr, sacrificing himself and his men to prevent Indians from defeating much larger force and makes sure that the injustice towards Indians that caused the conflict gets corrected. This is much contrary to the historical record, and the character of Ned Sharpe and his henchmen are pure fiction, replacing Custer himself as the source of gold deposits rumours that ultimately led to his demise in real life. This version of history, featuring Custer as hero and martyr, served US militaristic propaganda during Second World War very well. Later generations had little understanding for Custer, preferring versions of Custer as cold professional in Custer of the West or Custer as racist murderous lunatic in Little Big Horn. Compared with them, They Died with Their Boots On looks like watchable piece of Classic Hollywood entertainment, but only to those who don’t mind having dark and complicated history simplified and sugar-coated.

RATING: 6/10 (++)

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