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.

It condemns America's western expansion for ethical reasons as well as for the entrenched racism- which more reflects US values after WWII. It recognises the Apaches' strength as warriors and stresses that they were a civilised and principled people, even compared to American imperialists. It treats their culture as worthy of respect.

There was location shoot in Arizona, in Technicolor. It's 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. .

It reflects on the perspectives of both the indigenous people and the settlers. James Stewart has to do a lot of editorialising to draw out the nuances of their relative positions. Roughnecks on either side threaten the treaty. It humanises the Native Americans and acknowledges that greed and corruption are the instruments which will overwhelm Apache traditions, and their territory.