VHS : She Wore A Yellow Ribbon [1950]

Rating: - One of the Best
Another reviewer might not be so critical of the "sentimentalisation of male violence" if a redskin (oops - I mean native American) war party was kicking in his cabin door, murdering and scalping his siblings or kidnapping his children. It is a luxury for those safe in their cosy armchairs to criticise the military zeitgeist - a luxury that they might not enjoy if professional soldiers were not so prepared to risk everything to engage in the horrors of the "male violence" they so abhor. John Ford's film is a classic depiction of the 'old army', the old cavalry of the plains and the diverse characters of the professional soldiers who served in it, bound together by duty, honour and their shared hardships. It is a glamourised evocation of the past, an iconography of cavalry warfare in a time of different values, a western fairy tale. Put the grim shroud of PC and politicised history aside to enjoy it as such and wonder where those values have gone.

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Rating: - one for the ages
John Ford can be taken to task for his sentimentalization of male violence (usually involving Victor McLaglen thumping people), and for his representation of native Americans (forever the "Other"), but he also abides as one of cinema's greatest visual poets - a master of deep composition, and of kinetic marvels - has anyone ever filmed horses at full gallop so wonderfully well? Only Kurosawa, Ford's sole rival in portraying lyrical action. This film is full of beauty and excitment and has some stirring music too; the use of a voice-over dates it a little, and it doesn't quite have a clean finish, but the visuals are awesome, and John Wayne is superb. If you love cinema, you'll surely love this.

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Rating: - A great classic western.
Centring on the events surrounding the retirement of Captain Nathan Brittles (John Wayne).Within the fort the vaeious relationships provide A perfect balance of quiet drama and light hearted humour. Rebellious Indians outside the fort give worthwhile action drama. Add to this the spectacular scenery of Monument Valley and you could not ask for more. First released in 1949 is proof of it's durability as a classic.