Drama

Western

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon

Argosy Pictures

RKO Radio Pictures

United States of America

Español

English

John Wayne

Joanne Dru

John Agar

Ben Johnson

Harry Carey, Jr.

Victor McLaglen

Mildred Natwick

George O'Brien

Arthur Shields

Michael Dugan

Chief John Big Tree

Fred Graham

George Sky Eagle

Tom Tyler

Noble Johnson

Paul Fix

Francis Ford

Cliff Lyons

Frank McGrath

Irving Pichel

William Steele

Jack Tornek

Dan White

Harry Woods

Peter Ortiz

Rudy Bowman

Lee Bradley

Ray Hyke

Billy Jones

Fred Kennedy

Fred Libby

Evelyn Moriarty

Post Park

Jack Pennick

Mickey Simpson

Don Summers

James Warner Bellah

Laurence Stallings

John Ford

Frank S. Nugent

Daniel Hays

Edward O'Fearna

Roy Meadows

Don L. Cash

Jack Caffee

Wingate Smith

John Hudkins

Don Nagel

Bob Rose

Archie Stout

Norm Taylor

Roydon Clark

Harvey Gould

Everett Creach

John Epper

Bryan 'Slim' Hightower

Robert Campbell

Chuck Hayward

Gil Perkins

Terry Wilson

Jack N. Young

Frank Webster

Merian C. Cooper

James Basevi

Clem Portman

Jack Cosgrove

Jack Murray

Lowell J. Farrell

Joseph Kish

D. Pat Kelley

Richard Hageman

Tom Clement

Jack Colconda

Barbara Ford

Winton C. Hoch

The army is always the same. The sun and the moon change, but the army knows no seasons. 

The second instalment of the acclaimed John Ford cavalry trilogy had a lot to live up to after Fort Apache (1948). So it may not be too controversial to state that "Yellow Ribbon" doesn't quite achieve the potential promise that Fort Apache's foundation building had provided. However, here is still a mighty Western of many joys. 

The lead theme here is the passing of time, of time and love lost, lest we forget indeed. These themes give the film a strong emotional heartbeat from which to work from - even if on proviso it's noted that elsewhere there is not much in the way of an adrenalin pumping action extravaganza. Accepting it as an affecting character piece is something of a requisite if you want to get the most out of the viewing experience, and of course simultaneously getting wrapped up in the gifted art of film making in the process. 

John Wayne gives a top notch performance in what is obviously one of the first out and out serious roles that Ford gave him. His ageing Captain Nathan Brittles requires him to put in a very fallible human type of performance, something that he achieves in spades. He's a believable leader who is ruing the calling of time on his career in the service. Yet even Wayne's affecting turn is trumped by some of the most gorgeous cinematography you could wish to see from the 1940s. 

Winton Hoch clashed with Ford on the shoot about various perfections (both parties equally to blame of course), but the final result is incredible. Witness a scene as Brittles visits his dead wife's grave, the backdrop is all purple and red, a storm is imminent, metaphorically and in reality. Has shooting in the desert ever been so colourfully lush? The locations are breath takingly brought to vivid life, Monument Valley in all its glory.

Picture leaves an indelible mark on the conscious for the art and performances (Joanne Dru, Ben Johnson, Victor McLaglen & Harry Carey Jr bring their "A" game), but temper that slightly for as a story it just about gets by for dramatic purpose. Yet of course John Ford knows his onions and structures it accordingly, bringing precision and a genuine love of the genre and the material to hand. 8/10

CinemaSerf

Approaching the end of his military career, "Capt. Brittles" (John Wayne) is charged with one final patrol whilst trying to reconcile two hormonal lieutenants who have the hots for the prim "Miss Dandridge" (Joanne Dru). One is from military gentry "Pennell" (Harry Carey Jr.) the other a more working man "Cohill" (John Agar) and she is having quite good fun playing the cat with two balls of wool. Just to compound his misfortunes, "Brittles" has to take this woman, and the major's feisty wife "Abby" (Mildred Natwick) on his tour too. Yikes, maybe the Apache would be a welcome relief from all these shenanigans. Perhaps not though, as it transpires that the Indians are very much on the warpath and it might not matter for very long for whom "Dandridge" wears her yellow ribbon. There's a solid cast here, as you'd expect from a John Ford who has pretty much assembled a team to follow his adventures through the genre with the Duke. Ben Johnson's confederate veteran "Tyree" as well as Victor McLaglen's mischievous top sergeant "Quincannon" and his cohort of fellow whiskey lovers all keep the film moving along entertainingly with plenty of action and just a little slapstick humour to raise a smile as Wayne continues to engagingly rule the roost.

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949) Original Trailer [FHD]

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She Wore a Yellow Ribbon

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Cast

John Wayne

Joanne Dru

John Agar

Ben Johnson

Harry Carey, Jr.

Victor McLaglen

Mildred Natwick

George O'Brien

Arthur Shields

Michael Dugan

Box office

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