Broken Arrow (1950)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Delmer Daves

Writers (WGA):

Elliott Arnold (novel)
Albert Maltz (screenplay) (front Michael Blankfort)
(more)

Release Date:

August 1950 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Western

Tagline:

Of this motion picture the screen can be proud... Today... Tomorrow... A generation from now...

Plot:

Tom Jeffords tries to make peace between settlers and Apaches.

Plot Keywords:

Melancholy | Shot In The Back | 1870s | Mail | Arizona

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

James Stewart	...	Tom Jeffords
Jeff Chandler	...	Cochise
Debra Paget	...	Sonseeahray ('Morningstar')
Basil Ruysdael	...	Gen. Oliver 'The Christian General' Howard
Will Geer	...	Ben Slade, Rancher
Joyce Mackenzie	...	Terry, Scatfly Proprietress (as Joyce MacKenzie)
Arthur Hunnicutt	...	Milt Duffield, Mail Superintendent
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Adler	...	Lonergan, Stage Driver (uncredited)
Trevor Bardette	...	Stage Passenger (uncredited)
Chris Willow Bird	...	Nochalo, Wedding Officiant (uncredited)
Raymond Bramley	...	Col. Bernall (at wagon train ambush) (uncredited)
Argentina Brunetti	...	Nalikadeya, Cochise's Wife (uncredited)
Harry Carter	...	Miner (uncredited)
Iron Eyes Cody	...	Teese, Court Jester (uncredited)
J.W. Cody	...	Pionsenay, Chosen Warrior (uncredited)
Heinie Conklin	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Dolores Christine Cypert	...	American Indian / Redbird (uncredited)
Aubrey Lee Dale	...	Indian (uncredited)
John Doucette	...	Mule driver (survivor of wagon train ambush) (uncredited)
Robert Foster Dover	...	Machogee, Boy Healed by Jeffords (uncredited)
Nacho Galindo	...	Barber (uncredited)
Robert Griffin	...	John Lowrie (Betting on the Mail) (uncredited)
Mickey Kuhn	...	Bob Slade (Ben's Son) (uncredited)
Jack Lee	...	Boucher (uncredited)
John Marston	...	Maury, Stage Passenger (uncredited)
Frank McGrath	...	Barfly (uncredited)
Edwin Rand	...	Sergeant (uncredited)
Jay Silverheels	...	Geronimo (uncredited)
Charles Soldani	...	Skinyea, Chosen Warrior (uncredited)
Richard Van Opel	...	Bernall's Adjutant (uncredited)
John War Eagle	...	Nahilzay, Rejected Suitor (uncredited)
Billy Wilkerson	...	Juan, Teacher-Guide (uncredited)
Bud Wolfe	...	Man saying '...or a Blasted Liar' (uncredited)

Directed by
Delmer Daves

Writing credits (WGA)
Elliott Arnold		(novel "Blood Brother")
Albert Maltz		(screenplay) (front Michael Blankfort)
Michael Blankfort		(front for Albert Maltz)

Produced by
Julian Blaustein	....	producer

Original Music by
Hugo Friedhofer

Cinematography by
Ernest Palmer		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
J. Watson Webb Jr.

Art Direction by
Albert Hogsett
Lyle R. Wheeler		(as Lyle Wheeler)

Set Decoration by
Thomas Little
Fred J. Rode

Costume Design by
René Hubert		(as Rene Hubert)

Makeup Department
Ben Nye	....	makeup artist
Stephanie Garland	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Stanley Goldsmith	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jasper Blystone	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Bernard Freericks	....	sound
Harry M. Leonard	....	sound

Special Effects by
Fred Sersen	....	special photographic effects

Stunts
Ted Mapes	....	stunt double: James Stewart (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Curt Fetters	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Al St. Hilaire	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Charles Le Maire	....	wardrobe director
Sam Benson	....	wardrobe (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Leonard Doss	....	color consultant: Technicolor

Music Department
Alfred Newman	....	musical director
Edward B. Powell	....	orchestrator (as Edward Powell)

Other crew
Marvin Weldon	....	script supervisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (presents) (as Twentieth Century-Fox)

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1950) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1961) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1953) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (VHS)
• Centfox (1951) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Comet Video (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Koch Media (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Nothing's New Video (2005) (USA) (VHS)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (DVD)
• atlas Film (1966) (West Germany) (theatrical)

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Norway:A (1957) | Australia:G (DVD rating) | Australia:PG (TV rating) | Germany:12 | UK:PG | Finland:K-12 | USA:Approved (certificate #13926)

Filming Locations:

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Screenwriter Albert Maltz did not receive a credit when the film was released because he was blacklisted. Instead, the script was credited to Michael Blankfort.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[opening narration]
Tom Jeffords: This is the story of a land, of the people who lived on it in the year 1870, and of a man whose name was Cochise. He was an Indian - leader of the Chiricahua Apache tribe. I was involved in the story and what I have to tell happened exactly as you'll see it - the only change will be that when the Apaches speak, they will speak in our language. What took place is part of the history of Arizona and it began for me here where you see me riding.

Movie Connections:

Featured in 100 Years of the Hollywood Western (1994) (TV)

Arrow Hits Target

In this underrated Western, Stewart is an ex-scout who tries to make peace between the Apaches and the white settlers in 1870s Arizona. For some reason this film's reputation has taken a hit over the years, but it is quite enjoyable. Stewart made several Westerns in the 1950s, starting with this and "Winchester 73" in 1950. Although the latter film is more highly regarded today, this film is actually better crafted, boasting fine cinematography and score. Chandler gives perhaps the best performance of his career as the noble Apache chief who is willing to make peace. Paget (looking like Britney Spears!) plays Stewart's love interest.