'Broken Arrow' (1950)
Director - Delmer Daves
Starring - James Stewart, Jeff Chandler, Debra Paget
Success - Grossed $3.5 million. Nominated for 3 Academy Awards and winner of a Golden Globe for 'Best Film Promoting International Understanding'.
The film follows Indian scout Tom Jeffords (James Stewart). Sent out to stem the war between the Whites and Apaches in the late 1870s, he learns through an uncomfortably close encounter with the tribe, that the Indians kill only to protect themselves, or out of retaliation for white atrocities. Befriending the wise Apache leader Cochise (Jeff Chandler), Jeffords ensures safe passage for white mail-carriers through Indian territory. As he becomes closer to them, Jeffords falls in love with and weds a pretty Apache girl named Sonseeahray (Debra Paget). After a deceitful ploy by a group of whites, a fight ensues and she is killed. Jeffords wants to avenge his bride's death at the hands of white renegades, but it is the so-called "savage" Cochise who advises him not to, in order to maintain peace with the near-by town.
This particular film was especially important due to its portrayal of the Native Americans. Instead of the expected violent representations that preceded them before World War II, 'Broken Arrow' was one of the first post-war Westerns to portray them in a balanced, almost sympathetic way. It too subverts the usual interpretation that whites are the eternal good, instead portraying them as good and bad. It showed a tolerance and racial equality not previously seen often, if at all in the genre, going on to influence later Westerns and representing the slow shift in American attitudes to their native brethren. The relationship between Jeffords and Cochise is one of respect with a hint of admiration, well executed by the actors, whilst the love-story between the former and Sonseeahray is sincere and personal, if a little overacted. This aspect links to the mythic representations of the west, an ideal America in the eyes of the director, looking to negate any damaging assumptions and stereotypes of Native Americans. However, the Natives in the film aren't actually played by Natives, but rather white actors. This doesn't largely affect the film in any major way, as the characters are still developed well, but it perhaps would've made more of an impact on the audience to get the message of equality across.
Whilst this is a positive aspect of the film, as far as westerns go, it isn't the most memorable or well made ever. Exaggerated dialogue, some shaky acting and what feels to like an over all nervousness when dealing with what was then a ground breaking subject from spoiling the movie slightly. That doesn't mean that 'Broken Arrow' is bad, because it is entertaining with a good storyline and some nice touches, like the relationship between Jeffords and Cochise, but in comparison to some westerns it feels a little too restrained and controlled. It's as if it has gone through more than one legal reading to ensure nothing is offensive or insensitive. This creates an unnatural and over-acted feel to the supposedly emotional scenes, because the script is perhaps watered down.
Many of the classic tropes of the genre are apparent, and 'Broken Arrow' makes good use of them whilst also slightly subverting them. The obvious one as mentioned being the use of Native Americans and their representation. Another main trope visible is the idea of a white male character joining a group of natives, and essentially saving them after learning their ways, protecting from other whites. This character clearly being Jeffords, and to add to it he falls in love with one of them. He acts as the hero to those people and the audience too, appealing to a larger cross-section of society. The trope continues as his lady lover dies and a quest for vengeance begins, however this part is tweaked as Jeffords is advised not to pursue this by Cochise.
Whilst this is a positive aspect of the film, as far as westerns go, it isn't the most memorable or well made ever. Exaggerated dialogue, some shaky acting and what feels to like an over all nervousness when dealing with what was then a ground breaking subject from spoiling the movie slightly. That doesn't mean that 'Broken Arrow' is bad, because it is entertaining with a good storyline and some nice touches, like the relationship between Jeffords and Cochise, but in comparison to some westerns it feels a little too restrained and controlled. It's as if it has gone through more than one legal reading to ensure nothing is offensive or insensitive. This creates an unnatural and over-acted feel to the supposedly emotional scenes, because the script is perhaps watered down.
Many of the classic tropes of the genre are apparent, and 'Broken Arrow' makes good use of them whilst also slightly subverting them. The obvious one as mentioned being the use of Native Americans and their representation. Another main trope visible is the idea of a white male character joining a group of natives, and essentially saving them after learning their ways, protecting from other whites. This character clearly being Jeffords, and to add to it he falls in love with one of them. He acts as the hero to those people and the audience too, appealing to a larger cross-section of society. The trope continues as his lady lover dies and a quest for vengeance begins, however this part is tweaked as Jeffords is advised not to pursue this by Cochise.
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