Product Details

• Actors: James Stewart, Jeff Chandler, Debra Paget, Basil Ruysdael, Will Geer
• Directors: Delmer Daves
• Writers: Albert Maltz, Elliott Arnold, Michael Blankfort
• Producers: Julian Blaustein
• Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• VHS Release Date: January 1, 1998
• Run Time: 93 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301798600
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,044 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Delmer Daves's movie about ex–army scout Tom Jeffords's one-man peace mission to the Apaches, and the diplomatic partnership he formed with Cochise, has a child's-storybook clarity to it. That applies to not only its lovely Technicolor compositions but also its scenario, characterizations, and still-arresting mix of violence and delicacy. Broken Arrow wasn't the first Western to express sympathy for the Indian side in the frontier wars (Devil's Doorway came out earlier in 1950 and filed a more scathing brief on the Indians' behalf), but it was Daves's picture that had a decisive impact on popular consciousness and effectively amended the ground rules of the genre. James Stewart's Jeffords may be less compelling than the troubled Westerners the star would soon be playing for Anthony Mann, but there's real tenderness and vulnerability in the performance. Jeff Chandler scored a supporting-actor Oscar^® nomination for leavening the dignity of Cochise with sly humor. --Richard T. Jameson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Paying a High Price for Peace!, December 5, 2006

By	Maximiliano F Yofre "Maxi" (Buenos Aires, Argentina) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Broken Arrow [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I've seen "Broken Arrow" (1950) when I was just a kid. The power of the images of this film remained in the back of my mind. In the near past a collection of the best Far West movies was edited in Argentina. This was the first title I run to buy. I wasn't disappointed with what I found.

It is one of the first films, if not the first, to show common human traits in both Native Americans and Pioneer Americans. Both are shown alternatively as brave, cruel, ruthless, honorable, truthful, and wicked. It shows a true kaleidoscopic round of basic human attitudes.

James Stewart impersonates Tom Jeffords (1832-1914) a historical character, known for opening the postal trail thru Apache's territory. This story is shown in the movie, with the logical and expected changes that a commercial product implies.
Nevertheless it depicts the relationship of trust developed between Cochise (1805-1874) the great Apache leader, fleshed outstandingly by Jeff Chandler, and Jeffords. They represent the best of two different worlds and work together to give peace a chance (as Lennon said). Peace is not an easy goal to reach; both of them had to pay a high price in order to obtain it.

A very young and beautiful Debra Paget, playing the role of Morningstar, contributes to give the romantic accent to the film.
There is enough action for the epic lovers, a very good photography in Technicolor and a solid script to backup the story.
One more thing, the Apache characters are, mostly, performed by Native American actors, contributing to make the story more credible.

I think this movie deserves, in justice, to be called a classic. Enjoy it!!!.
Reviewed by Max Yofre.

65 of 72 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Classic Western That Deserves DVD Release!, January 29, 2004

By A Customer

This is really intended for Amazon--please convey to whomever that a market exists--we're all waiting for the remastered DVD!!!

If you agree, please cast your vote here!!!

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Realistic Western from the 50's!, June 7, 2007

By	G. Martin "soixantaine" (Glendale, Ca.) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Broken Arrow (DVD)

This really is a terrific Western! The story you probably know by now, what you may not know is the great DVD tranfer, great color, and great Sedona Ariz. filming locations!
Jimmy Stewart starting doing westerns in 1950 with Winchester 73', a black and white film and a classic. Broken Arrow was his second entry and 5 more followed in the 1950's. But none were to top Broken Arrow. Or Winchester 73'!

Not only is the story very solid, fiction based on real events and people, but all the actors casting is flawless! Will Geer, an emotionally hurt settler, Debra Paget at 17 looking like a Indian instead of a young startlet, and Jeff Chandler as Cochise in a very believable good performance. Mabye his best!

And make sure to check out Jay Silverheels in the role of Geronimo, a top notch performance and I think biggest speaking part of anything he'd ever been in, including the Lone Ranger series. When he defies Cochise to follow the peace trail, his emotion is so powerful that it jumps off the screen. A truly great moment in the film. I had to replay that scene many times because I liked it so much!

I'm proud to place this among my Western Collection of DVDs!