That was an excellent one.

A lot of fun.

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

Watching it is like watching the spectacle of a class clown at their best: you laugh at their jokes, instigate their defiance, and "ooooh" when they get in trouble.

News of General Custer's historic defeat at the Battle of the Little Bighorn has swept across the west and there is a feeling that another such victory for the Native Americans could set back US settlement of the West. One place to hear the news is Fort Starke where Captain Nathan Brittles is only six days from retirement. He is given an order to go out on patrol to deal with a combined Indian force that has left the reservation. He is also to escort the wife and niece, Olivia, of the commanding officer to the stage coach so they can return east. Things are further complicated by two young lieutenants both having feelings for Olivia.This classic western is a good example of the genre even if it does seem dated in some ways. John Wayne does a fine job as the Captain approaching the end of his career and Joanne Dru is likable as the spirited Olivia; it is not difficult to see what lieutenants Cohill and Pennell see in her. Some humour is provided by Victor McLaglen who plays Sergeant, Quincannon… although sometimes the character becomes more of a caricature of a drunken Irishman and the bar room brawl where several soldiers try to arrest him is just embarrassing. Monument Valley provides a great backdrop for the story. The finale was a pleasant surprise; I was expecting the 'savage' Indians would be gunned down by the 'heroic' US Cavalry but the Cavalry prevents an attack on their fort without any further deaths. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to fans of the genre; it may show its age but it is still a classic.

SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON is a 1940s western (in colour!) from famed director John Ford, set in the immediate aftermath of the Custer massacre and once again featuring soldiers in a plot in which they fight back against murderous Native Americans. As is usual for a Ford film, the main star is John Wayne, but there's a surprise in store here for the fans: Wayne is playing something OTHER than his usual character! Wayne fans well know that the star was famed for playing essentially the same character over and over again during his long career - that consistency is what we love about him, after all - but here he plays an old-timer and is pretty much unrecognisable in the role, aside from his voice.The film is solid enough viewing for western fans, featuring some great visuals and an ensemble cast of familiar faces who acquit themselves well with the material. The story rarely flags and builds to a thoroughly exciting denouement which doesn't disappoint. I could have done without all of the love triangle stuff but even that doesn't detract from the experience too much.

. . . or the sketchy Production Notes, there are TWO items to view on the 2002 Warner\Turner DVD release for SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON--the 1949 feature film itself, and something labeled JOHN FORD HOME MOVIES (which does NOT seem to have its own page on this site). Perhaps you've picked up this disc for a quarter at a yard sale, and you're wondering WHICH of these items to watch. I will try to help you out. SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON is almost 104 minutes long, but JOHN FORD HOME MOVIES is barely four minutes in duration, so if time's an issue for you, why not save yourself 100 minutes by watching the latter? RIBBON has a plot and HOME doesn't, so HOME might be best if you're too sleepy to follow a long and involved story. HOME has scenes with an airplane and a yacht, while RIBBON features horses and buggies, so if you want something more up-to-date, you cannot go wrong with HOME. I must admit that HOME MOVIES consists mostly of John Ford and John Wayne boozing and smoking, as an overworked (and unheard) mariachi band struggles in the background, which is why it merits a rating of "Five" at best.

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon is a wonderful, first-class film overall. Because there are so many good things about it, I never felt bored. In regards to the pace, I had no problem with it, same with the length. Also, I actually think in general the scenes with the Indians and the romantic subplot worked, there have been westerns when they haven't, or one of them anyhow, but while they weren't the best parts of the story they didn't distract too much either. In fact my only real problem was Victor McLaglen, the Irish whimsy occasionally got a tad too much.She Wore a Yellow Ribbon has a huge amount to like. There is the beautiful cinematography that perfectly captured the magnificent Monument Valley locations. There is the stirring and quite majestic score, that brings drama, intensity, the like to any scene it appears in. There is John Ford's superb direction, the compelling story and nice dialogue. And there is also John Wayne's marvellous central performance and the fine cast that support him especially Harry Carey Jnr and the lovely Joannna Dru. In conclusion, a great film and a great calvary western. 9/10 Bethany Cox