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Broken Arrow

Broken Arrow

Western · Drama · Romance · 1950

Indian scout Tom Jeffords is sent out to stem the war between the American settlers and Apaches in the late 1870s Arizona. He learns that the Indians kill only to protect themselves, or out of retaliation for white atrocities.

Movie details

Broken Arrow

“The most powerful weapon is courage...”

1950 Western · Drama · Romance 1h 33m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.7 / 10

Community rating

Indian scout Tom Jeffords is sent out to stem the war between the American settlers and Apaches in the late 1870s Arizona. He learns that the Indians kill only to protect themselves, or out of retaliation for white atrocities.

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 Broken Arrow?

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.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Delmer Daves

Written by

Albert Maltz

James Stewart

James Stewart

Tom Jeffords

Jeff Chandler

Jeff Chandler

Cochise

Debra Paget

Debra Paget

Sonseeahray

Basil Ruysdael

Basil Ruysdael

Gen. Oliver Howard

Will Geer

Will Geer

Ben Slade

Joyce Mackenzie

Joyce Mackenzie

Terry

Arthur Hunnicutt

Arthur Hunnicutt

Milt Duffield

Court is in session

Put Broken Arrow on trial.

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

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Adrenaline Seeker

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.