The Second Film in John Ford's Calvary Trilogy

John Wayne is an acquired taste, certainly. His acting style, his macho image, and even the Western genre he predominately works in can be seen as strikes against him. For me, I've grown used to him after seeing him in a number of works. I've learned that Wayne is certainly a strong presence. And I've also learned that any picture he's done with John Ford is bound to be better than a Wayne film without him.

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon is the second in Ford's calvary trilogy, following Fort Apache and preceding Rio Grande. All three films star Wayne, (although Apache also starred Henry Fonda) and all deal with life in the U.S. Calvary during the Old West. I've seen the first two films, and they both have similar plot lines, although the results vary slightly.

John Wayne is a calvary officer who is on his last week before retirement. He is asked to perform one last duty as he is to move the troop from one locale to another, while, at the same time, being aware of the numerous Indian tribes who are warring against many different calvary troops. Along the way, we also get a number of side stories, from a fellow officer (played by Victor McLagen) who takes a fancy to the drink, and also a romantic triangle involving two troops and the niece of Wayne's commanding officer.

During the course of the film, Wayne is forced by his commanding officer to take his wife and niece to another part of the country. Wayne feels that this will slow his mission down, and it does, as the troop manages to get attacked a few times by different Native groups. Wayne then makes it his hope that he can end his career by ensuring at least some peace before he's unable to do anything more about the situation.

Overall, I don't believe that this movie has the power of Fort Apache. In that film, much of the power came from Henry Fonda's performance as a proud, uptight captain who tries for one last shot at glory. She Wore a Yellow Ribbon also deals with a guy who has one last chance for glory, but this is the lighter version. Fort Apache had tragedy and pathos, and while this movie has its share of that, it is mostly positive and humourous, and it also ensures that John Wayne makes it to the credits unscathed. This film also contains an overabundance of John Ford's patented low, slapstick comedy, although only once does it get truly ridiculous, when Victor McLagen gets into a brawl with a bunch of men. This scene looks like slapstick from a silent picture, and is pretty bad. Brawls occur in other Ford films, but this time..... Ford has gone too far!!!!

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