They Died with Their Boots On (1941)

They Died with Their Boots On is a biopic about the famed General Custer, but if you're wondering how one battle can fill out an entire movie, you're in for a treat. The vast majority of the movie is about his early life. Turns out, Custer was a little scoundrel in his West Point days, holding the record of lowest grades and most broken rules and punishments. In-between losing his temper, disobeying his superiors, and picking fights with everyone, he also falls in love with Olivia de Havilland-in case you hadn't guessed, Errol Flynn plays Custer. I have no idea how historically accurate this movie is, but there are little details that, if true, are very funny. Errol has a penchant for eating raw onions, and while Olivia hates the very smell of them, when he comes calling, she joins him in an appetizer, suffering for true love. Speaking of suffering, Olivia's maid is played by Hattie McDaniel, and it's pretty amusing to watch their scenes together. Two years earlier they were in Gone with the Wind together, and Hattie beat Olivia out of an Oscar she very much felt she should have won. In They Died with Their Boots On, Olivia looks at Hattie like she absolutely hates her! I wonder why she couldn't just cover her real feelings and act nice when the camera was rolling.Errol Flynn is wonderful, as always, owning the screen with his magnetic, strong, vibrant, masculine presence. He's a born hero, as proved by his many famous film roles, and it's no effort to convincingly play a larger-than-life figure like General Custer. If you like Errol, or Errol and Olivia together, rent this epic for your next movie night. It's a very well done classic, and while some of the interactions and battle scenes with the Native Americans-keep an eye out for a very young Anthony Quinn-will be a little upsetting, it's still a good quality film with high production values. Plus there's quite a large supporting cast, including Arthur Kennedy, Gene Lockhart, Sydney Greenstreet, and Regis Toomey.

The historical aspects may be a little off, but Errol Flynn was a great choice to play George Armstrong Custer in this Warner Bros. classic.It's a western that almost approaches an epic scale with battle scenes ranging from the Civil War to the Indian Wars in the west years later. Flynn is again perfectly teamed with Olivia DeHavilland along with a great supporting cast that includes Sidney Greenstreet and Anthony Quinn as Crazy Horse.Contrary to a lot of people's understanding of the mindset of that era, this film gave great respect to the Indian tribes and in no way casts them as the villains. Nor were they really cast as victims either, as they controlled the battlefield at the end. Despite the historical lapses, there's no Hollywood ending for the 7th Cavalry in this one, folks.This film was a huge hit for Warner Brothers, and it stands up as one of Errol Flynn's greatest.

Don't go watching 'They Died With Their Boots On' expecting historical inaccuracy, history is cast to the wind and will make historians' heads ache taking note of them. While very much fictionalised on the most part, and Custer is written in an idealised way, 'They Died With Their Boots On' succeeds with flying colours as a film on its own merits.More development on Arthur Kennedy's villain, written in somewhat of a one-note way, wouldn't have gone amiss and occasionally the wittier/more humorous parts are slightly out of place. However, 'They Died With Their Boots On' is impeccably made, with cinematography that's beautiful on the eyes and stirring in atmosphere and the production and costumes are handsome in design. Max Steiner's music score is rich in lushness, rousing, full of pathos and really stirs the emotions, very distinctive Steiner.Raoul Walsh, in his first collaboration with leading actor Errol Flynn, does a great job directing, while much of the script is intelligently done with humour, emotion, romance and thought adeptly balanced. The story, regardless of its inaccuracies (though one should note that 'They Died With Their Boots On' is hardly the one inaccurate film out there and many other films distort facts even more so and more blatantly and don't even have the distinction of being good films to compensate having even more problems than just inaccuracy), is exciting and moving, especially in a magnificently staged ending.The battle scenes rouse and affect, and the romance is charming and poignant. Errol Flynn sheds his swashbuckling image in a more mature characterisation and gives one of his better performances (in one of his best films along with 'The Adventures of Robin Hood' and 'The Sea Hawk', hold 'Captain Blood' in high regard too) in a commanding, gallant and dramatically engaged performance. Olivia DeHavilland, a frequent leading lady in her last of her eight collaborations, is radiant and poignant.Of the supporting cast, a sympathetic and noble Anthony Quinn, a slimy Arthur Kennedy and authoritative Sidney Greenstreet are the standouts.In summary, despite the inaccuracies 'They Died With Their Boots On' is in many ways a great film. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Recently I saw Errol Flynn's classic They Died with Their Boots On, a highly fictionalized (and romanticized) account of Custer's Last Stand. How inaccurate was it? I'm not entirely sure, but I don't think all of the soldiers died with their boots on.The story follows George Armstrong Custer (Flynn, but of course) from his arrival at West Point to his inevitable fall at Little Big Horn. Custer's portrayed as an excellent horseman and swordsman but also the very worst cadet to come out of West Point, a man who somehow fails upward in his Army career. He has his very own archenemy in the person of Ned Sharp (Arthur Kennedy), who tries to stymie Custer at every turn. The brass doesn't like him, but when war breaks out, off to Washington he goes.Funny thing about that war – aka The War Between the States, or the War against Yankee Aggression – there's an interesting scene at West Point where the announcement of war has been made to the cadets and officers. Then those present who oppose the Union are actually given the choice to withdraw. Now, I don't profess to be an expert in the war, but…if those officers and soldiers are specifically saying they're willing to take up arms against the government, why wouldn't they be arrested on the spot? The Army sure was lenient back then.Custer blusters (ha!) his way into a meeting and friendship with General Winfield Scott (Sydney Greenstreet), who gets the young lieutenant his own regiment. Custer then distinguishes himself in battle by essentially charging into a fray rather than retreating. This somehow works, thus making everyone feel better about promoting him.Now, this being a big-budget movie, there is of course a love interest for Custer, in the person of Elizabeth Bacon, played by Olivia de Havilland. Elizabeth is in the movie essentially to help move the plot along (Custer stands her up when he has to rush off to Washington as ordered, but rest easy, they reconcile quickly). Her father (Gene Lockhart) serves as a snooty foil, at least until Custer makes general. But hey, Flynn and de Havilland have their trademark terrific chemistry, and this was their final film together, so that works.The battle scenes are well staged and exciting to watch, even as we know their outcome. Despite all of the goofs – factual and otherwise – that plague this film, it's still an enjoyable Flynn vehicle, and he's very good in it.