Chatverock Takes itself way too seriously

StyleSk8r At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Anoushka Slater While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Staci Frederick Blistering performances.

utgard14 A possibly well-meaning examination of a tragic part of US history that is turned into a pretentious bore of a film. This is little more than a lecture disguised as a movie. It goes on way too long with not much to show for it. John Ford, one of the all-time greats, commits the rookie director's mistake of thinking that solemn subject matter and excessive length automatically equal 'epic.' They do not. It's a film with more than a few stars but very few of them (such as Edward G. Robinson) get anything to do. Ultimately it's Richard Widmark's show and he grits his teeth through the whole thing, spitting out every line to further emphasize how disgusted he is with all the injustice. Unfortunately, the result of such a performance is it makes the audience (or me, at least) want to root against him.The most bizarre thing about this is the Jimmy Stewart part. After an interminably long and preachy first hour and half about the plight of the Cheyenne and the conflict with the white man, the movie abruptly shifts direction and turns into a comedy with Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday, played by Stewart and Arthur Kennedy. This lasts fifteen or twenty minutes before the film returns to the main story. What the hell was that even about?!? It's really not an enjoyable experience. White guilt movies aren't among my favorites but there have been some intelligent, thought-provoking ones that didn't put me to sleep or have me rolling my eyes. This is just an overlong sententious bore with a wasted cast, made by a director past his prime. Avoid unless you're a Ford completist or you're young and still in that "I just heard about all this bad stuff that happened a really long time ago and I'm angry about it" phase.

williwaw John Ford who was Irish to the core was also the greatest director of American Western movies.Warner Bros gave John Ford a big budget and released this film in the Roadshow format such were the promises and expectations for this film.Ford collected part of the John Ford stock company such as James Steart and Patrick Wayne ( son of John Wayne) along with beautiful Dolores Del Rio, and rugged Richard Widmark in a rousing western. Carroll Baker an excellent actress is the female star. As with all John Ford western's the cinematography is brilliant and kudos to John Ford and William Clothier for the sweeping shots of the West.This is an exciting film beautifully filmed by a man called The Rembrandt of the Western

NewEnglandPat Mari Sandoz' sympathetic account of the flight of the Northern Cheyennes from Oklahoma's Indian Territory to their historical homeland in Wyoming is the basis of John Ford's final western adventure. The usual emotional mistreatment of the Indians, with broken promises, lies, the disrespect shown to their chiefs, indifference to the tribe's well-being, lack of proper nourishment and education by their white custodians sets in motion their northward trek. The Cheyenne migration comes to the attention of the War Department in Washington with orders to stop the Indians and return them to their reservation. The film has several hit-and-run skirmishes, with the fighting prowess of the Cheyennes keeping the pursuing soldiers at bay. Richard Widmark, a cavalry officer and Carroll Baker, a Quaker who wants to educate the Cheyenne children, are sympathetic towards the Indians' plight, in stark contrast to Karl Malden's Russian martinet who imprisons the Indians at Fort Robinson and vows to send them back to the arid Oklahoma territory. The film's measured and deliberate pace is in keeping with the plodding progress of the tribe's move north. The Dodge City sequence, which features a comical poker game, is a pointless twenty minute detour from the film's narrative and adds nothing to the plot. The wide-screen cameras of William Clothier capture the beautiful scenery of Monument Valley, director Ford's favorite shooting location. Gilbert Roland, Ricardo Montalban and Dolores del Rio are excellent in various Cheyenne roles.

classicsoncall On September 9, 1878, the Cheyenne, led by warrior chiefs Little Wolf and Dull Knife began a 1500 mile trek from the Oklahoma Territory north to their original homeland in Montana. "Cheyenne Autumn" tells that story in all of it's desperation and futility, a chapter of American history that remains all but unknown today. The picture, directed by John Ford is often epic in it's sweep, and the film is at it's best when the native Cheyenne are front and center during their heroic struggle. The all star cast is outdone only by the gorgeous cinematography, and for a picture coming in at two and a half hours, I found the grandeur of the open West to be an excellent tonic against what could have been a boring ride under different circumstances.However there was that out of place interlude with Jimmy Stewart and Arthur Kennedy as Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday during the Dodge City intermission. You had to wonder what director John Ford was thinking when he went for the almost camp proceedings in an otherwise serious picture. In another film, the sequence would have been a blast, particularly the scene when Wyatt recalls that yes indeed, he 'did know her in Wichita'. Still, the whole thing made me appreciate Hugh O'Brian and Myron Healey even more.I was intrigued by the scene when Chief Tall Tree (Victor Jory) passed the sacred bundle to Little Wolf (Ricardo Montalban) instead of Dull Knife (Gilbert Roland). It became apparent why some time later when the tribe split apart under their separate chiefs, with Little Wolf maintaining the resolve to continue the journey instead of capitulating to surrender. When Little Wolf defends his dignity at the expense of Red Shirt (Sal Mineo) toward the end of the picture, it was one of those defining moments that spoke to the honor and integrity that a warrior chief would have aspired to. You know, I was curious about something. How was it that during the first battle with the Cheyenne after crossing the river, Major Braden (George O'Brien) places Captain Archer (Richard Widmark) under arrest, but Archer then assumes command after Braden is killed - where was the rule book on that one? Thinking about it, a journey of fifteen hundred miles on foot and horseback sounds awful daunting, and the picture really didn't seem to offer a perspective on how long it actually took, except for the change of seasons intimated by the winter snow scene. The actual journey took one hundred ninety seven days, the thought of which doesn't really begin to sink in as you watch the picture from the comfort of your living room couch. Picture that effort as a six month journey on foot against hostile terrain and enemy soldiers, and it makes you appreciate just what a people will do to maintain their honor and freedom.