There are many famous pairings in Hollywood history:Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, and Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor come to mind. One pair that is often overlooked is Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland. These two iconic stars, were paired in several films. They Died With Their Boots On, is a movie which shows their screen chemistry at its best. This film doesn’t require Errol Flynn to rescue Olivia de Havilland. She plays Libbie Custer, the strong willed, wife of Col. George Custer, the tragic central figure of this loosely biographical film. Errol Flynn is suited to play the lead of Custer, who, when the movie was released, was still the martyred hero to many.
George Custer arrives at West point, with the delusion that you can get anything just because you think you can. His bubble is burst, when he is set up by an upper class man, Ned Sharp, (Arthur Kennedy). Kennedy’s character becomes Custer’s nemesis throughout the movie. Despite Custer’s cavalier attitude, and his low standing in the class, he still is able to graduate. He becomes a field general due to an administrative error. He justifies his promotion with his military skill and bravery. The battle scenes are expertly done by directorial icon, Raoul Walsh. During leave, Custer meets and falls in love with Libbie. Their courtship has comic relief, due to a misunderstanding with his future father in-law, Samuel Bacon, Esq. He is played by the excellent character actor, Gene Lockhart. After the war is over, Custer is demoted, and Flynn shows his character’s irritability and his longing for command. This part also shows Libbie’s love and devotion, when she is able to get her beloved husband a command. She is also aware that she must, as a military wife, give up her current life as a socialite, as well as her beautiful home.
The Custer’s settle into military life, with George Custer taking command of the 7th Cavalry, at Fort Abraham Lincoln. While there, he runs into Ned Sharp. Sharp and his father wanted Custer to lend his name to their shady business, before being sent west, and Custer refused. Another Sharp family business, is selling liquor at a military outpost. Custer shuts this down, after his troops are drunk during a military review. Custer, in a confrontation with an agent of the government, over the forced shutdown, hits the agent. This incident, gets Custer recalled, pending a court martial. He has also gotten into a bigger mess, by criticizing President Grant’s Indian policies. Although Custer was battling the Indians, the hostilities had settled, before he was recalled. In typical Hollywood style, the angry but humble Col. Custer, bursts into the president’s office, requesting reinstatement. Grant is appalled, but Custer appeals to him as an officer, lost without his command. This goes to Grant’s core as an officer, and he gives Custer back his command. The colonel goes back to Fort Abraham Lincoln. The situation has gotten out of hand, and Custer and his men must march against Crazy Horse, (Anthony Quinn) and his warriors. It is before leaving, that Errol Flynn’s character, delivers a very tender and loving farewell to his beloved wife Libbie. This scene is a great example of what a perfect pairing Flynn and de Havilland were, in this film. It is after this tearful farewell, that Custer does one last thing. He kidnaps Ned Sharp, who was back to selling liquor. He sets him free and gives him a choice; walk back to the fort, or face Crazy horse and his warriors, with the 7th Cavalry. Sharp chooses to fight with Custer, the only real choice he has. The inevitable date with destiny happens, and Raoul Walsh paints a picture of glorious death. The character actor, Charley Grapewin, who plays Custer’s sidekick, California, dies in dramatic fashion. He laments that he’ll never get to the place that gave him his nickname. Ned Sharp dies telling Custer that he, {Custer}, was right about glory lasting forever. Custer is the last to die, in dramatic fashion, killing warriors with his saber, after he runs out of bullets, and then being killed. After the tragic news, Libbie talks about her husband, and the images of Custer and his men are shown.
They Died With Their Boot On, like many Hollywood film biographies, does play fast and loose with the facts. It is, despite this, one of Errol Flynn’s best movies. It showcases his acting ability. It also makes film fans realize the directing skills of Raoul Walsh. This film combines elements of previous Flynn movies and puts it into a very flawed, and very misunderstood historical figure. It also does to a lesser degree, show why this tragedy happened. This movie should be viewed for what it is; a very good movie, starring a film icon, playing a tragic figure.