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She Wore a Yellow Ribbon

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon

Drama · Western · 1949

On the eve of retirement, Captain Nathan Brittles takes out a last patrol to stop an impending massive Indian attack. Encumbered by women who must be evacuated, Brittles finds his mission imperiled.

Movie details

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon

“John Ford's new and finest picture of the fighting cavalry!”

1949 Drama · Western 1h 44m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.9 / 10

Community rating

On the eve of retirement, Captain Nathan Brittles takes out a last patrol to stop an impending massive Indian attack. Encumbered by women who must be evacuated, Brittles finds his mission imperiled.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over She Wore a Yellow Ribbon?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

Hombre

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The Horse Soldiers

The Horse Soldiers

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Stagecoach

Stagecoach

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A group of people traveling on a stagecoach find their journey complicated by the threat of Geronimo, and learn something about each other in the process.

High Noon

High Noon

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Will Kane, the sheriff of a small town in New Mexico, learns a notorious outlaw he put in jail has been freed, and will be arriving on the noon train. Knowing the outlaw and his gang are coming to kill him, Kane is determined to stand his ground, so he attempts to gather a posse from among the local townspeople.

Open Range

Open Range

Western · 2003

A former gunslinger is forced to take up arms again when he and his cattle crew are threatened by a corrupt lawman.

Yellow Sky

Yellow Sky

Western · 1948

In 1867, a gang robs a bank and flees into the desert. Out of water, the outlaws encounter a ghost town called Yellow Sky and its only residents, a hostile young woman and her grandfather.

Fort Apache

Fort Apache

Western · 1948

Owen Thursday sees his new posting to the desolate Fort Apache as a chance to claim the military honour which he believes is rightfully his. Arrogant, obsessed with military form and ultimately self-destructive, he attempts to destroy the Apache chief Cochise after luring him across the border from Mexico, against the advice of his subordinates.

Ulzana's Raid

Ulzana's Raid

Western · 1972

After fierce war chief Ulzana and a small war party jump the reservation bent on murder and terror, an inexperienced young lieutenant is assigned to track him down.

Day of the Outlaw

Day of the Outlaw

Western · 1959

Blaise Starrett is a rancher at odds with homesteaders when outlaws hold up the small town. The outlaws are held in check only by their notorious leader, but he is diagnosed with a fatal wound and the town is a powder keg waiting to blow.

Warlock

Warlock

Western · 1959

A band of murderous cowboys has imposed a reign of terror on the town of Warlock. With the sheriff humiliatingly run out of town, the residents hire the services of Clay Blaisedell as de facto town marshal. He arrives along with his friend, Tom Morgan, and sets about restoring law and order on his own terms whilst also overseeing the establishment of a gambling house and saloon.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

John Ford

Written by

James Warner Bellah · Laurence Stallings · Frank S. Nugent

John Wayne

John Wayne

Capt. Nathan Cutting Brittles

Joanne Dru

Joanne Dru

Olivia Dandridge

John Agar

John Agar

Lt. Flint Cohill

Ben Johnson

Ben Johnson

Sgt. Tyree

Harry Carey Jr.

Harry Carey Jr.

2nd Lt. Ross Pennell

Victor McLaglen

Victor McLaglen

First Sergeant Quincannon

Mildred Natwick

Mildred Natwick

Abby Allshard

Court is in session

Put She Wore a Yellow Ribbon on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.