Saturday, September 02, 2006

'She wore a yellow ribbon'

'This movie sounds really dull' said Redmond, 'sounds like the most boring movie ever made'. Well there's the generation gap for you. I was brought up on John Wayne - mostly being dropped off at the cinema while my parents shopped - usually I got to see the lesser 60s westerns like the War Wagon, the Undefeated and the Ford-like Alamo. Anyway John Wayne has always been a bit like an alternative on-screen father figure to me as he nonchalantly slugged his way through the history of America. An embodiment of post war Americana. You probably aren't bothered about the man, but if you're curious to see what the fuss was all about you can now buy She Wore a Yellow Ribbon very cheaply on dvd as an intro to the John Wayne Collection (see above link).
I LOVE the John Ford cavalry movies - which includes Fort Apache and Rio Grande - written originally as short stories by James Warner Bellah an ex-army officer. I can't say why I love them - they are as corny as White Christmas but they are pure cinema magic - the supporting cast is a treat - Victor Maclagen in particular with his characterisation of an Irish pugilist fond of whisky is usually hilarious and there is usually other familiar faces like Ward Bond and Ben Johnson. If you're lucky you might get a turn from Hank Worden. I particularly love the choral songs so often raucously sang in the background, and the familiarity of a lot of the scenes. I find them a great escape and find them more enjoyable every time I watch them. So why not bask in the glory of mythic storytelling and some great visual delights and get this movie. She Wore a Yellow Ribbon IMdb wiki on the same
Propaganda and American Values in She Wore a Yellow Ribbon by Laurel Westbrook
James Warner Bellah filmography

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