Product Description: This is the story of general custer from the time he enters west point military academy through the american civil war & finally to his death at little big horn. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 04/19/2005 Starring: Errol Flynn Olivia De Haviland Run time: 140 minutes Rating: Nr
Amazon.com essential video: Bert Glennon, who shot Stagecoach and seven other John Ford classics, has given this Raoul Walsh biopic of George Armstrong Custer a burnished glow--an evocative interplay of raw sunlight and elegiac shadow like no other vintage Warner Bros. Western. Glennon's artistry and Walsh's trademark gusto sustain enthusiasm even as the screenplay beggars belief. The flamboyant Custer (Errol Flynn), rushed into Civil War service straight from West Point, did get promoted overnight to general and establish a spectacular record for "ride to the guns" leadership. However, Custer as defender of Indians' rights--to the point of willing his own Last Stand so he could accuse corrupt Indian Commissioners from the grave--is historical rewrite of such sweeping chutzpah as to shame DeMille. Flynn and Olivia de Havilland make an even more appealing couple than usual, and the big supporting cast is unflaggingly energetic above and beyond the call of duty. --Richard T. Jameson
Flynn GREAT as Custer I read the reviews on here some derailing the history depicted while praising the movie and some reviews which are downright biased against Custer -- but after watching this movie all I came away with is that is now one of my all time favorite films. If there are parts that are not true you want them to be. If Custer really wasn't like Errol Flynn you want him to be. It was 2 hours and 20 minutes and I was mesmerized the whole time. A Great movie that has inspired me to read more about the history.
It DOES get some of the history I'm a big fan of all history, world and U.S. history. Of course, I've always heard that General Custer was one of our major "Indian fighters", and that he was ruthless in his pursuit of their defeat. Now, for those who are interested, look up the new issue of Amerian History magazine (Jan 08 I think) and it has a cover story on General Custer. They discuss this film in great detail, pointing out what was wrong, what was right, and what was made up. It turns out that yes, Custer WAS a supporter of the Indians! I was amazed, but not suprised. Another historical inaccuracy put to rest.
Flynn and de Havilland's final bow A great film and required viewing for fans of perhaps the greatest Hollywood duo. Yes, the history is all wrong, but watch as Flynn (at his best) takes Custer from a prankster West Point plebe to a brave and focused military leader. de Havilland's acting is, again, superb. Both the entrance scene and the one where she eats onions to impress Custer show her great comic timing. The chemistry between de Havilland and Flynn is jarring here, as each must have known -at some level- this was to be their final pairing on screen. Flynn's climb to her balcony and their embrace is reminiscient of their love scene in "Robin Hood." Watch how de Havilland and Flynn look at each other during the train ride scene. The Custer-Libby farewell is almost painful to watch. The intimacy of that scene makes me think I should not be watching such a private moment. As de Havilland's "Libby" places his belt around Flynn's "Custer's" waist, he looks at her with such longing and sadness. Flynn as Custer delivers on of Hollywood's greatest lines to de Havilland's Libby: "Walking through life with you, ma'am, has been a very gracious thing." This is more than acting, as this pair brings their film and personal relationship full circle. The haunting love theme written by Max Steiner underscores the passion of Libby and George Custer.
Onions & Tea Leaves? I love our country and the excellent military establishments that has come along way to being more disciplined than back in Custers' days of skull-dabbery and malicious exploits!
"You can take glory with you"! Sounds like a very accurate portrayal of another false one that will cause confusion and trickery like this, Son of the Morning character seen in Gen. George A. Custer.
Good intentions are the surest road to hell and a lot of people were blinded by his deception.
Ignore the Historical Flaws: Solid Drama When filmmakers decide to take actual events to place them on the screen, they face the difficult decision of to what extant they will tinker with the truth to score some dramatic points. In the case of THEY DIED WITH THEIR BOOTS ON, the producers totally abandoned any semblance of truth to present a vision of the life and death of General George Armstrong Custer that was then fully resonant with the burgeoning militarism of 1941 Hollywood. I know that it is difficult for current moviegoers to possibly envision an artistic elite that supports and glorifies traditional American values, but back in pre-Pearl Harbor days, political correctness meant flag waving, not flag burning. What Hollywood wanted was a flashy dashing hero who could be both charming and heroic at the same time. In Errol Flynn, America could see a distorted version of the egotistical and megalomaniacal glory hunter that Custer truly was, but Flynn's interpretation played down that part of him and emphasized an altruistic side that is so breathtaking in its centrality to Custer's film persona, that movie audiences could see in Flynn-Custer a hearkening back to the frontier hero that America was to need to buttress itself for the looming war. Director Raoul Walsh essentially films a vastly entertaining war cartoon that allows Flynn to pair with Olivia DeHavilland to maintain a love interest that forms the background for the many action scenes. And what action scenes there are. Flynn is seen attacking Confederate positions in cavalry charges with more than a little tongue in cheek. But in the second half, the mood and tempo change when Flynn takes his militancy out west to fight Indians. The smiling Flynn of the Civil War becomes the serious Flynn of the Far West. As Custer, Flynn is prepared to sacrifice his entire 7th Cavalry to save the greater body of troops of his commander, General Terry. The climactic massacre at the Battle of the Little Big Horn shows a more megalomaniacal side to Custer than what Director Walsh probably intended. In the hours preceeding the battle, Flynn's facial expression and voice well indicate a man who is stoically resigned to die merely for a higher cause. When the film's villain, played by Arthur Kennedy, asks him why he is doing this, Custer replies: "For glory or to hell. It depends on your perspective." My perspective was that Custer chose both at the same time. It is this odd pairing of wildly divergent viewpoints that make this gross distortion of history an entertaining film--even if I had to wonder whether Custer cared a hoot about the 198 troopers under his command.
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