Rent Broken Arrow (1950)

Classic Western. - Broken Arrow review by Steve

This is the western as political history. Of course it is fictionalised to fit an acceptable narrative, but it is a biopic of Tom Jeffords (James Stewart) a US army scout who constructed a relationship with Cochise (Jeff Chandler) leader of the Apaches in 1861, which was instrumental in ending the war in Arizona. Clearly, it's Hollywood history and primarily an entertainment.

The story condemns the American western expansion for ethical reasons as well as for the entrenched racism which may also have spoken to US attitudes when the film was released in 1950. Broken Arrow recognises the Apaches' strength as warriors, which other films had done by 1950, but also stresses that they were a civilised and principled people even compared to American imperialists. It treats their culture as worthy of respect.

 This was shot on location in Arizona in technicolor. It is a vivid spectacle full of well staged action scenes. As so often, Stewart is able to mute the heroics and reveal the common man within the hero. Chandler is dignified and charismatic and plays Cochise as a philosopher-warrior. Debra Paget is appealing as Jeffords' Apache love interest and it's quite startling to realise she was only 15 when shooting started.

Broken Arrow isn't written solely from the point of view of the Apaches, it voices either side. James Stewart has to do a lot of editorialising to draw out the nuances of the relative positions. Roughnecks in both groups threaten the treaty. It humanises the Native Americans and acknowledges that greed and corruption among the settlers will overwhelm Apache traditions as well as their territory.