Plot: What’s it about?
Captain Nathan Brittles (John Wayne) has served in the cavalry for many years now, but the end of his service looms just around the corner. He has spent what seems like his entire life in this organization, but soon he will leave it behind and start a new life for himself. It won’t be easy for him or his men however, as he is the commanding officer of Fort Stark, but even without that title, he is known to be the leader of the men there. His career has been close to its end for a while now, but via some event or another, it has been pushed back time and again. The threat of an Indian invasion is always on the minds of the men, but now that the tribes have merged under shared leadership, that threat has become much more realistic. As Brittles prepares for his final days in the cavalry, he longs for his last mission to be different, as he thinks the younger soldiers have taken the wrong direction of late. But is this destined to be Brittles’ last tour with his men and if so, can he guide them toward the right directions?
When most people think of John Wayne movies, they probably think of rootin’ tootin’ westerns or gung-ho war pictures, which is with good reason. But Wayne also starred in some more personal, reserved efforts, such as She Wore a Yellow Ribbon. Although we’re in the cavalry days and Wayne is in a role we’ve seen him in before, director John Ford throws in some new, perhaps then unexpected elements. Wayne is aged by twenty years for this part, so instead of a gunslingin’ rider, he plays a more relaxed, natural kind of character. I still think fans of Wayne and Ford will be well served however, as the movie is steeped in the usual Ford touches, while Wayne gives a strong, confident performance. The visuals are amazing here also, to the extent that an Oscar went to the cinematographer, one that was well deserved, to be sure. I found She Wore a Yellow Ribbon to be a very personal, powerful motion picture, one that not just genre fans, but anyone interested in cinema should look into. Warner’s disc has a gorgeous new transfer, so even though extras are slim, this is still a worthwhile release.
I’ve been a fan of John Wayne since I was a kid, but as I’ve grown up, I’ve found more & more of his work to be repetitive. Even so, it is fun to watch Wayne in the same kind of roles over and again, as he is perfect within them and remains interesting. But I also like to see him stretch, even if just a little, to take on a different kind of character. In this case, the character is the same kind as usual, but the circumstances have changed and by default, that means Wayne’s performance adapts to the changes. I don’t think this is a top level effort or even Wayne’s best, but he does well and adds a terrific turn to his resume. Other films with Wayne include The Cowboys, The Searchers, The Quiet Man, Stage Coach, True Grit, Fort Apache, and Sands of Iwo Jima. The cast also includes Joanne Dru (All the King’s Men, Three Ring Circus), John Agar (The Brain from Planet Arous, The Mole People), and Ben Johnson (Cherry 2000, The Last Picture Show).
Video: How does it look?
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon is presented in a full frame transfer, as intended. I commend Warner’s work on this transfer, as the movie looks excellent in all respects, especially the rich Technicolor hues. I saw very little in terms of color errors, as the shades look bright and vibrant throughout, simply beautiful at times. The print is in good condition also, with minimal marks and other wear signs, while flesh tone remain natural at all times. No complaints on the contrast front either, as black levels seem well balanced and detail never suffers in the least. All in all, a superb transfer from Warner that allows the film’s visuals to shine.
Audio: How does it sound?
I don’t think the audio here will become anyone’s new showcase track, but given the material involved, it is a solid overall treatment. Although time has done some damage, the materials remain in good condition and no serious issues were found. The sound effects come through loud and clear, while the musical score is a little thin, but acceptable. No troubles with dialogue either, all the vocals are clean, crisp, and always at the proper volume. This disc also includes a French language track, as well as subtitles in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes a four minute reel of home movies shot by Ford, some talent files, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
