SmugKitZine Tied for the best movie I have ever seen

Marketic It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

Payno I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Sarita Rafferty There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

John austin 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.

James Burd The history in this film is just horrible. Other reviewers and the 'Goofs' section contain a decent list of them, so I won't recount them here. The fact is, this film pretends to be a portrayal of George Custer, and that simply can't be ignored.The thing is, I like history. A *lot*. So the many, many, many historical inaccuracies in the film are a constant distraction. I simply cannot ignore or excuse them. This totally ruins the film for me, hence my score of two stars. From Custer's entrance to West Point, to his fake promotion, to his respect and empathy for the Indians ... it's all made up and fake. If they had simply made up all the names (of people and battles), then it might have been an enjoyable film. But as it was ... nope.

Dan Franzen (dfranzen70) 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.

denis888 Well, well, such grand black and white 2-hour long movies could only appear in the 30-50'. Now, it will be virtually impossible to imagine such a crazy medley of motley genres and often unimaginably incoherent episodes. This head-cutting array of pure comedy, farce, tragedy, love story, drama, war film, and who-knows-what-not is sometimes puzzling and dazzling. Errol Flynne is excellent here, he was made right for this movie, with his arrogant air, big grin, flashy style, wild morale, unhinged behavior and tear-jerking sentimentality. Generally, the film is Not the accurate history document, as sometimes it borders on the brink of purely slapstick comedy of The Marx Bothers. The Civil War here is at least sketchy and jotted, the whole post-war period is at best blurred and slurred. The heroic demise? Custer's Last Stand? Well, typical sped-up cavalry run, chaotic battle, unrealistic deaths and falling. The Indians are pure barbarians here, only great mighty Anthony Quinn is a great Must See. generally, strange and not tragic death scene. It goes, and yes, it goes. That is all. The conclusion? Nice. Not perfect