Royal Film Performance Series: That Forsyte Woman (1949)

This poster proudly heralds the film as "THE CHOICE for the Royal Film Performance."

The fourth Royal Film Performance, which took place at the Odeon Cinema in Marble Arch, London on November 17, 1949, was attended by the King, Queen, and the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret (Elizabeth had missed the last two events due to her wedding in 1947 and the birth of Prince Charles in 1948. The following day she would leave to join Philip in Malta, where he was stationed).

Shown this year was the American film, That Forsyte Woman (released in the UK as The Forsyte Saga) starring Greer Garson and Errol Flynn. It was based on the first book of the the popular series by John Galsworthy.

Errol Flynn shared stories about That Forsyte Woman in his autobiography My Wicked, Wicked Ways:

I worked hard for this role in That Forsyte Woman. Now I had the opportunity to show maybe that I could do something else. And it was a joy and a delight to have Greer playing opposite of me. I think that that picture is one of the few worth-while vehicles in which I played (256).

The picture was "...a great success and landed us a command performance in England."

Janet Leigh recalls in her autobiography There Really Was a Hollywood meeting Flynn for the first time: 

I actually gasped. He was as beautiful as I could possibly have imagined, and as charming, and as lovable, and as naughty. When I looked at him, I saw Robin Hood and Captain Blood and Essex, and I remembered the nights I had gone home from the theatre and dreamed of him. He was such a gentleman—except when he played his practical jokes (84).

The evening, like in previous years, was a great success and attended by, aside from the Royals, thirty-one movie stars and a crowd 10,000 strong. 

The London Times reported: 

After the white lights and the cheerful din outside, the waiting auditorium was decorously dim until their Majesties appeared, when floodlights in the proscenium wall suddenly illuminated the front of the balcony, the company rose and clapped, and the band played the National Anthem. It was an affair that delighted the audience, and would have seemed heaven to the eager and fascinating throng outside. It was announced that some £30,000 had been raised for the trade charity.

According to A Rose For Mrs. Miniver: The Life of Greer Garson, the "screening was followed by an elaborate live performance by a stellar array of MGM and British celebrities, including Jean Simmons, Richard Attenborough, Moira Lister, Sir Ralph Richardson, Jack Hulbert, Ann Sothern, George Murphy, Michael Wilding, Gregory Peck, and John Mills. Greer appeared with Walter Wanger in a comic version of The Miniver Story'' (231).

The "throng" that appeared outside the theatre to see the Royals and the stars numbered about 10,000, according to this news article in The Daily News:

The article notes that Greer Garson wore "a dress of heavy 

silver satin embroidered at the bodice with pearl and diamond drops.

CLICK HERE to see a three minute video of the stars and Royals arriving. I'm obsessed with Margaret Lockwood's glittering ensemble (insert heart eyes)!

AND HERE is a fifteen minute video. I love the glimpse of the program and outside of the theatre at the beginning of the video! It has nice, long looks at the stars as they arrive. You can see Greer's gown well starting at the 5:14 mark. 

Here are some photos from The Illustrated London News.

The Stars Remember

For Greer Garson, who had recently married Texan cattleman, wildcatter, and lawyer Buddy Fogelson and was in England filming The Miniver Story, the premiere was:

...the most rewarding one she had ever attended. Indeed, it was one of the proudest moments of her career, for the picture was to be honored as a Command Performance... Besides the king and queen, a great number of celebrities from British and American theater and motion pictures would be present. Her escort was Errol Flynn, who had arrived from location work in India for MGM's production of Rudyard Kipling's Kim (A Rose for Mrs. Miniver, 230).

Stars who attended were given a sterling silver commemorative coin with an engraving of the King and Queen on the front and personalized with their name on the back. Here is Rosalind Russell's coin. 

Rosalind Russell recalled her unique encounter with the Queen in her 1977 autobiography Life is a Banquet (173-175):

In 1949 I was summoned to a command performance before King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (now the Queen Mother of England). It wasn't too long after the war, and things were still very grim in Great Britain. ... I wore a metal scull cap [you can see it at the 2:40 mark in the fifteen minute video linked above]. Hundreds of years earlier, a Viking queen had worn that cap to be married in. ... It was light as a feather, and there were little Viking wings on the sides, over each ear, and a split in the back for a bridal veil to come through, and a little chain. It was enchanting. 

At a rehearsal for the command performance, I asked an equerry if it would be suitable to wear something on one's head when meeting the King and Queen. "Of course," he said. "When women are presented at Court, they wear the feathers, the three plumes."

I couldn't wait for the big evening. It came. I dressed, adjusted my silver helmet, told myself, "This'll kill the people," went onstage and launched into one of the Cockney songs Cary Grant had taught me. 

Later, being presented to the Queen, I curtsied, and she smiled sweetly. "Where did you learn that song?"

I told her about Cary's coaching.

"It's a long time since I heard that," she said, "and you sang it very amusingly.

We actors were being presented in alphabetical order, so Walter Pidgeon had gone before me [actually Ralph Richardson was between them], and Jean Simmons was to come after me. As the Queen started toward Jean Simmons, King George approached and I went into another curtsey. All of a sudden the Queen was back, gesturing to me. I came up out of a half crouch, leaving the King standing there. "Yes, ma'am?" I said. 

"Excuse me," said the Queen, "but what is that wonderful thing you have on your head?"

I never think of that moment without delight. It was like "Where did you buy the hat?" or "Is that diamond necklace real?"; it was such a marvelous, feminine thing.  

The chapter was titled: "A Queen May Look at a Cap." Watching the video footage (11:20), it doesn't seem to appear to happen just as Russell described, but it's a marvelous story!

It looks like Russell may have worn her helmet to a charity auction as well. 

I came across this picture in the September 1949 issue of Photoplay. 

George Murphy recalled in a 1988 interview (recounted in Tap! The Greatest Tap Dance Stars and Their Stories, 1900-1955 by Rusty E. Frank):

In the 1940s, I was part of a royal command performance in London. I was kind of the leader of the group. There was Ann Sothern, Errol Flynn, two or three others. In any event, I was the first one on the stage. And I looked down as I came down the stairs; they had carpeted the stage! I said, "Your Majesty. I’ve had some success as a Soft Shoe dancer. But they’ve carpeted the stage. So with your Majesty’s permission, you will see the softest Soft Shoe dance that’s ever been done.” And they had the big BBC orchestra, forty men in the pit. I doubt they could hear any taps. But I could have danced all night.

THE CINEMA Nov. 16, 1949 British Film Magazine | eBay 

Sources:

Flynn, Errol. My Wicked, Wicked Ways. Rowman & Littlefield. 1959.

Frank, Rusty E.  Tap! The Greatest Tap Dance Stars and Their Stories, 1900-1955. De Capo Press. 1990. 

Leigh, Janet. There Really was a Hollywood. Doubleday & Company. 1984. 

Troyan, Michael. A Rose For Mrs. Miniver: The Life of Greer Garson. The University Press of Kentucky. 1999. 

Russell, Rosalind & Chase, Chris. Life is a Banquet. Random House. 1977.

The 2nd Annual Olivia de Havilland Blogathon + Errol Flynn Day 3

Today is the third day of our blogathon in honor of Olivia and Errol. Day 1 and 2 were fantastic so I can't wait to see what's in store for today!

 The Posts:

Realweedgiemidget Reviews shares her guilty pleasure The Swarm (1978).

Old Hollywood Films covers the film that started it all, Captain Blood (1935).

Movies Meet Their Match reviews the beloved classic The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938).

Pre-Blogathon Post | Day 1 | Day 2

I would like to thank Crystal who graciously agreed to co-host this event with me again this year and to all the dedicated bloggers who participated in celebrating Dame Olivia de Havilland's 101st birthday and her friend and co-star Errol Flynn. See you again next year - same time, same place!

The 2nd Annual Olivia de Havilland Blogathon + Errol Flynn Day 2

Yesterday started off great and it is continuing today with more great posts from around the blogosphere.

The Posts:

Musings Of A Classic Film Addict shows how a great film can be made even if the stars aren't happy with their roles in Dodge City (1939).

Pure Entertainment Preservation Society discovers Olivia for the first time in The Strawberry Blonde (1941).

 

The Stop Button looks at the downside of The Adventures Of Robin Hood (1938).

 

Life With Books & Movies writes about the emotional To Each His Own (1946).

 

The Dream Book Blog takes a look at the psychological side of The Heiress (1949).

"Are you talking about me?"

 

Critica Retro writes about the under-seen comedy It’s Love I’m After (1937).

 

Sat In Your Lap compares It’s Love I’m After (1937) to another famous screwball film.

 

Sat In Your Lap also shares the under-seen and touching Gentleman Jim (1942).

 

Pre-Blogathon Post | Day 1 | Day 3

The 2nd Annual Olivia de Havilland Blogathon + Errol Flynn Day 1

The first day of The 2nd Annual Olivia de Havilland Blogathon + Errol Flynn is finally here! I can't wait to read all of the post on two of my favorite actors.

The Posts:

I start the day off with My Journey with Olivia.

I think he's hiding something...

Love Letters to Old Hollywood writes about the incredible pairing of Errol Flynn and Barbara Stanwyck in the NON-swashbuckler Cry Wolf (1947).

Hamlette's Soliloquy tells the story of Errol and Olivia on the Santa Fe Trail (1940).

Taking Up Room looks at Olivia's most famous role in Gone With the Wind (1939).

I'd imagine this is a factor...

Maddy Loves Her Classic Movies discusses why she loves the Errol/Olivia pairing in Dodge City (1939) the best.

The Wonderful World of Cinema shares her Top Ten Olivia de Havilland Movies.

I also shared some interesting articles in my pre-Blogathon post yesterday.

Pre-Blogathon Post | Day 2 | Day 3

My Journey with Olivia

My favorite photo of Olivia

Everyone's journey with Olivia de Havilland starts somewhere. For most it's her role as Melanie in Gone With the Wind (1939). Mine began when I was little. My dad was watching The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) on the old square tv. It was the scene where Robin Hood visits Maid Marion in her castle room. I wasn't much on the guy at the time - I've never been a fan of long hair on men - but Maid Marion, with her shining brown eyes, long thick braids, and shimmering blue dress definitely left a mark on me. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen and I wished I looked just like her.

In the years following (and pre-internet at my house), I wondered what version of Robin Hood my dad had been watching and who that lady was who played Maid Marion so well (even better than the fox Maid Marion in my favorite Disney film).

Fast-forward to the year 2012. I was watching You've Got Mail on dvd for the first time (after seeing it countless times on television - though usually it was just the ending). After it was over, and with "Over the Rainbow" still playing in my head, I checked out the special features. One of them was titled "You've Got Chemistry" and it introduced me to many on-screen couples I would soon come to know and love. I already knew and loved Mickey and Judy (and of course Hanks and Ryan from the feature film). New-to-me couples included Bogie and Bacall, Powell and Loy, and lastly Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn. As I watched clips from their eight films together, scenes from their most famous pairing in The Adventures of Robin Hood let me know that I had finally found my childhood Maid Marion.

Over the next year I acquainted myself Powell and Loy as Nick and Nora and the sizzling on-screen love affair between Bogie and Bacall. Then, in 2014 we finally got Turner Classic Movies and I recalled that last couple I had yet to delve in to.

April 5, 2014 - I watched They Died with Their Boots on (1941), my first Flynn/de Havilland film and their last pairing. They were instantly a new favorite (and last year's post for the blogathon as well as the subject for one of my Cinema Wedding Gown posts). Three days later I watched The Adventures of Robin Hood in it's entirety for the first time, in all its Technicolor splendor. It far exceeded my expectations. Rather than feel dated, it leapt off the screen, as fresh and vibrant as if it had been filmed the day before. Olivia de Havilland was everything that Maid Marion should be: beautiful, smart, strong-minded, principled, courageous, and did I forget to mention gorgeous?

The next film I watched with one of these newly discovered stars was The Sea Hawk (1940) starring Errol Flynn and, in the lead female role, Brenda Marshall. If I could remake any classic film, I would remake this one with Olivia in the lead (and a more substantially part of course). Olivia never needed the hero, rather, he needed her.

After that was The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939) with Errol Flynn, Bette Davis, and in a tiny part, Olivia. It pained me when Errol and Olivia didn't end up together. It just didn't feel right, like something was terribly wrong in the world! It was the same with The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936), which aired on TCM a few days later.

In between those two films, I saw my first Olivia film without Errol, My Love Came Back (1940). And while it seemed wrong for her to love someone other than Flynn, it instantly became a favorite. Olivia, being the fantastic actress that she is, is very convincing as a violinist. Not to mention she can get a man to ask her to dance all the while acting like she's not interested but will oblige him anyway.

Other Olivia films that year included Hard to Get (1938), Gold is Where You Find It (1938), Wings of the Navy (1939), The Dark Mirror (1946) - another favorite where Olivia plays twins, Princess O'Rourke (1943) - a BIG favorite, Dodge City (1939) and Santa Fe Trail (1940) - both with Flynn, The Male Animal (1942), and In This Our Life (1942).

The year 2015 brought me The Ambassador's Daughter (1956), The Irish in Us (1935), Alibi Ike (1935), Government Girl (1943), The Strawberry Blonde (1941), Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943) - a cameo appearance, and Captain Blood (1935) - her first with Flynn.

Last year started off with her Oscar-winning performance in The Heiress (1949), Gone With the Wind (1939) for the first time in its entirety, and My Cousin Rachel (1952) - three powerful performances.

I was therefore extremely excited when Olivia was named the Star of the Month for July on TCM, especially since I was hosting a blogathon in celebration of her 100 years here on earth. Her birthday being on the first of the month couldn't have been more ideal as, while reading all of the posts, I was able to decide which films I HAD to watch. As it turned out, I wanted to watch every one of them.

The order in which her films were shown, and in which I watched them, somewhat mirrored her career, beginning with period pictures and comedies then serious dramas. I was able to watch Raffles (1939), Call it a Day (1937), The Great Garrick (1937), It's Love I'm After (1937), Devotion (1943/1946), To Each His Own (1946), Hold Back the Dawn (1941), Light in the Piazza (1962), and Libel (1951). I saved Four's a Crowd (1938) - the only Errol/Olivia film I hadn't yet seen - for as long as possible.

There are still several I have yet to see (I didn't have room on the dvr last year to record all of the great films they showed. In fact, I had to make a list of the ones I could get from the library). I finally watched Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964) this year after finishing Feud: Bette and Joan. I will definitely be recording Anthony Adverse (1936) next Saturday and hope to actually get around to checking out some others from the library. I also need to make a new Top Ten List of her films, as I've seen so many more great Olivia movies since I originally published it.

The fact that Olivia is still with us and turned 101 today is a gift indeed to the Classic Movie Fan. I hear her goal is 110 and I plan on hosting a blogathon every year to celebrate her amazing body of work and her continued impact on people's lives.

This post is for the blogathon I am co-hosting with In the Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood. Here's hopefully to many more blogathons.

I just love these photos of Olivia from 2015 ♥♥♥

The Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn Blogathon Starts Tomorrow!

The Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn Blogathon starts tomorrow! I can not wait to celebrate Olivia's 101st birthday tomorrow and the life and career of her frequent co-star Errol Flynn.

Just come across this blogathon and want to join? Jump on in! You have until Monday to share your post! Have an old post (of a film or topic that's not been claimed) that you'd like to share? I'll add it to the bottom of the daily posts

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

Here's a few news articles on our beloved Olivia (and Errol) that have been published recently:

Olivia de Havilland sues FX over unauthorized use of her identity in 'Feud: Bette and Joan'

Olivia de Havilland on Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, and 'Feud'

Olivia de Havilland on becoming the oldest person to be named 'Dame'

Olivia de Havilland reflects on experience as Cannes Festival's first female jury president in 1965

The incredible story of how Olivia de Havilland introduced Grace Kelly to Prince Rainier of Monaco

Errol Flynn Biopic in the works (screenplay written by Flynn's grandson, Luke)

Is anyone planning on seeing the new My Cousin Rachel when it comes out next week? Below is the 1952 trailer with Olivia and the new trailer with Rachel Weisz.

Here's a list of upcoming Olivia and Errol films being shown on TCM:

July 8 - Anthony Adverse (1936) - Olivia de Havilland & Fredric March
July 12 - Too Much, Too Soon (1958) - Errol Flynn as John Barrymore
July 15 - Escape Me Never (1947) - Errol Flynn & Ida Lupino, Gig Young, Eleanor Parker
July 27 - The Sisters (1938) - Errol Flynn & Bette Davis
August 7 - Never Say Goodbye (1946) - Errol Flynn & Eleanor Parker, S.Z. Sakall
August 26 - The Strawberry Blonde (1941) - Olivia de Havilland & James Cagney, Rita Hayworth
September 3 - The Snake Pit (1948) - Olivia de Havilland
September 9 - Santa Fe Trail (1940) - Errol Flynn & Olivia de Havilland
September 15 - The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) - Errol Flynn & Olivia de Havilland

ANNOUNCING The Second Annual Olivia de Havilland Blogathon + Errol Flynn!!!

Crystal from In the Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood and I are excited to announce that the Olivia de Havilland Blogathon is back! And this time we've added Errol Flynn!!

Last year we hosted the Olivia de Havilland Centenary Blogathon in honor of Miss de Havilland's 100th birthday. As she is still with us, and since last years was so successful, we've decided to bring it back. Errol Flynn, Olivia's most famous co-star, celebrates his birthday June 20 so we decided to add him to this annual event (he would be 108).

The blogathon will run from July 1st to July 3 with a wrap-up day on the 4th.

Here are the rules:

1. Choose any film or topic pertaining to either or both Olivia or Errol. Up to TWO Duplicates of their films is allowed, so if you see that only one blogger is writing about, say, The Adventures of Robin Hood, you are free to write about it also. Also, feel free to write more than one post! There's a lot of films and interesting topics between these two stars!

2. Once you have made your selection(s), leave a comment below or over on Crystal's blog. Please be sure to include the name and link to your blog (so I don't have to look it up). I'd also appreciate it if you choose a film to please include the year of it's release.

3. Please be sure to acknowledge both hosts in your post with a link back, as there's nothing more frustrating than putting in a bunch of work planning and making banners only to not be mentioned. This has happened to me several times.

4. Lastly, grab a banner and spread the word! We had over 40 participants last year. Let's see if we can top it in honor of these two iconic and beloved stars!

ROSTER:

Phyllis Loves Classic Movies: My Journey with Olivia

*In the Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood: Olivia de Havilland and Bette Davis

The Dream Book Blog: The Heiress (1949)

Musings of a Classic Film Addict: Dodge City (1939)

Maddy Loves Her Classic Films: Dodge City (1939)

Love Letters to Old Hollywood: Cry Wolf (1947)

*Charlene’s (Mostly) Classic Movie Reviews: The Snake Pit (1948)

Realweegiemidget Reviews: The Swarm (1978)

*Pop Culture Reverie: Light in the Piazza (1962)

Old Hollywood Films: Captain Blood (1935)

Life with Books and Movies: To Each His Own (1946)

Movies Meet Their Match: The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)

Hamlette's Soliloquey: Santa Fe Trail (1940)

Critica Retro: It's Love I'm After (1937)

Taking Up Room: Gone With the Wind (1939)

Sat In Your Lap: It’s Love I’m After (1937) & Gentleman Jim (1942)

The Stop Button: The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)

The Wonderful World of Cinema: Top Ten Olivia de Havilland Movies

They Died with Their Boots on (1942)

I took a while deciding what film to write about for the Olivia de Havilland Centenary Blogathon. I love so many of her films and wish I could write about all of them. I wrote about one of them last month for the Royalty in Film Blogathon - Princess O'Rourke.

After waiting and seeing what everyone else was covering, and seeing that no one was covering (by itself) They Died with Their Boots on (1942), the first Errol Flynn/Olivia de Havilland movie I saw (I saw part of The Adventures of Robin Hood when I was young but all I remembered from it was the balcony kissing scene and that Maid Marion was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen), I decided to go with it.

They Died with Their Boots on is the last film Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland made together, out of a total of eight beginning in 1936. Because of this, there is an added poignancy to the film that otherwise would not be there.

One of America's Immortals! Custer's last stand...and the story of his life...his love and his death-defying courage!

A somewhat loose biopic of General George Armstrong Custer, the film follows Custer (Flynn) from his early days at West Point up to the infamous Custer's Last Stand (1857-1876). Like all biopics, the film is long, especially for 1940s standards, running a total of 139 min. But with such a great cast, including supporting actors Hattie McDaniel, Sydney Greenstreet, Anthony Quinn, John Litel, Gene Lockhart, and Regis Toomey the film doesn't feel long.

The film also features a beautiful score by Max Steiner and is directed by the great Raoul Walsh (138 directing credits including several Flynn and de Havilland films, High Sierra (1940), and Battle Cry (1955). Hal B. Wallis produced the film and his brother-in-law, Wally Kline, wrote the screenplay, along with Aeneas MacKenzie. Kline also contributed to Hard to Get (1938) starring de Havilland and Dick Powell and a few other films. MacKenzie has a slightly larger resume, including The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939), a couple John Wayne films, and The Ten Commandments (1956).

The film opens on Custer's first day at West Point. His entrance (above) says a lot about him. His reason for joining the army? That's where the glory is! One sees far more statues of soldiers than of civilians.

A year before his graduation, the Civil War breaks out. However, because of Custer' record - he has the lowest marks and the highest demerits in the history of the Academy - he is not allowed to graduate early with the rest of his class... at first. While the heads of the school are deciding who else to graduate early, Custer meets a very important young lady.

Custer first meets Libby while doing a punishment tour for his latest "escapade." Libby is looking for Col. Sheridan's office and asks Custer where it is. Since he is not allowed to speak, he ignores her and keeps walking.

I've never been so outrageously treated in all my life!

Once he is allowed to speak though, he explains the situation and she is, of course, smitten with his charm and good looks.

Custer: Do you think if I were to come strolling past your house around nine o'clock at night you might be just sitting around on the veranda?

Libby: Life is full of surprises.

Custer: And if I did find you sitting on the porch perhaps you and I could go for a walk together.

Libby: [laughs] We seem to have been walking together ever since we met.

Custer: Well, I can't imagine, ma'am - if I may say so - any pleasanter journey, ma'am, than walking through life with you beside me, ma'am.

Even when he doesn't show up for that walk, Libby has definite plans for him. To her father, who is upset that the young man his daughter was waiting for didn't show up and threatens to report him:

Libby: You musn't talk about him like that!

Mr. Bacon: Why not?

Libby: Because he's the man I'm going to marry! 

The reason Custer didn't show up is because it was finally decided to graduate him, as he is their best swordsman and he is the kind of man that inspires loyalty in his men, and he must leave for Washington immediately. He has to overcome the spiteful actions (or inactions) of some enemies from West Point, but he eventually gets assigned to the 2nd U.S. Cavalry, just as he wanted. He is just in time to fight in the Battle of Bull Run, at Manassas (which I've been to). He disobeys orders to retreat and wins the battle, getting wounded in the process and receiving a medal for it (as well as a letter of introduction to Mr. Bacon).

Custer is a favorite of the nurses ;)

After Custer leaves the hospital, he heads straight to Monroe and the Bacon residence. On the way there he stops at a saloon and inadvertently meets Mr. Bacon, who is there to collect the rent, who insults him. Custer calls him a "fat little pip-squeak" among other things.

Libby, meanwhile, who has been waiting for Custer's return, is in the act of having her maid (Hattie McDaniel) read her tea leaves. It works, and Custer appears on the doorstep. Libby is excited to finally see him again but acts a little cold, at least, for a few minutes.

And I'm not really angry. I just thought I should pretend to be.

After hearing his explanation, she says wisely, "And a train won't wait, but a woman will."

When her father comes home, he discovers who he daughter's sweetheart is and kicks Custer out of the house. Custer sneaks back after dark and meets Libby on her balcony. Unfortunately he already has orders to rejoin his regiment, but not before he proposes marriage. However, he wants to become a General first, that way her father will be proud of him.

As luck, or fate, would have it, he is mistakenly made a Brigadier General of the Michigan Calvary Brigade, by none other then his enemy, the Adjutant General. By the time they realize their mistake, Custer is already leading him men in charge after charge against the enemy, contrary to the orders to go the other way. After winning the battle, and saving the war, Custer becomes a hero and returns to Monroe with a hero's welcome, including the welcome of Mr. Bacon. Custer and Libby marry that same day, with Col. Sheridan as best man.

After the wedding however, not all is rosy. Custer is frustrated at his inactivity, and living off of his wife's estate. Libby visits his old friend, General Scott (Greenstreet), to ask that her husband be put back into active service.

The next day Custer gets the letter that says he is assigned to a regiment at Fort Lincoln, where he will protect 100,000 square miles of territory from the Indians. He is overjoyed to be put in command once again. De Havilland as Libby is wonderful in this scene, as she eagerly awaits her husbands reaction to his appointment, which she got for him, and her enthusiasm for him, even though she knows this means she will have to leave her genteel life behind. She thinks only of her husband.

On their way to their new home, they are attacked by Indians, led by none other than Crazy Horse himself (Anthony Quinn).  Custer has him arrested and thrown in the guardhouse, from which he quickly escapes.

The Fort is in terrible disarray, with the soldiers drinking and rifles being sold to the Indians. He soon turns it into one of the finest regiments in the United States.

It doesn't take long for Custer's enemies to strike again. They fix it so that the treaty with the Indians, one protecting the Black Hills, is broken. Custer fights back and gets sent to Washington to be court marshaled. He talks President Grant into pushing back the date and reinstating his command.

The best and most touching scene of the entire film is when Custer says goodbye to Libby for the last time. He knows he won't come back and she knows it.

 

Walking through life with you, ma'am, has been a very gracious thing.

He then goes off to fight what became known as the Battle of Little Big Horn. The day: June 25, 1876 (140 years ago). You can watch the battle below.

To Hell or to Glory. It depends on ones point of view.

 

They Died with Their Boots on will air on TCM on the 8th at 9:45pm ET and again on the 27th at 4pm.

 

Trivia:

Because of new union laws, producers were forced to use regular screen extras without stunt experience. In the opening days of shooting 80 were injured and 3 were killed. The filming of the "Last Stand" sequence from this movie involved some 200 horsemen charging around in pretend battle and was so dangerous that one day during filming Anthony Quinn, who played Crazy Horse, arranged as a gag for a hearse to show up at the filming location.

Jim Thorpe, famous Native American athlete, was an extra in the film and had an off-camera fight with Flynn. He knocked Flynn out with one punch.

Another athlete, Louis Zamperini, Olympic athlete and subject of Unbroken (2014), was an extra in this film just before being drafted into the United States Armed Forces during World War II.

Libby Bacon Custer died in 1933, just eight years before this film was made. 

When shown on Swedish TV in the mid 90s there was an additional scene between the scene where Custer, California Joe and Lt. Butler leaves Custer's tent on the night before the final battle and when Custer subsequently frees Sharpe at the wagon where he is held "kidnapped". It contained two shots, first an Indian banging a drum, then a shot of Crazy Horse, on a hill overlooking the Indian camp, addressing the spirits. The scene is missing in present DVD copies.

 

If you want to learn more about the real General Custer, the Landmark book Custer's Last Stand by Quentin Reynolds is very good and an easy read. However, it barely mentions Libby.

If you want to read about the historical inaccuracies of the film, click here.

You can watch a lecture on Custer and this film here. I haven't had a chance to watch it.

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Wrap-up

Happy Birthday, Olivia ♥

 

Olivia's 25th birthday