The historical aspects may be a little off, but Errol Flynn was a great choice to play George Armstrong Custer in this Warner Bros. classic.It's a western that almost approaches an epic scale with battle scenes ranging from the Civil War to the Indian Wars in the west years later. Flynn is again perfectly teamed with Olivia DeHavilland along with a great supporting cast that includes Sidney Greenstreet and Anthony Quinn as Crazy Horse.Contrary to a lot of people's understanding of the mindset of that era, this film gave great respect to the Indian tribes and in no way casts them as the villains. Nor were they really cast as victims either, as they controlled the battlefield at the end. Despite the historical lapses, there's no Hollywood ending for the 7th Cavalry in this one, folks.This film was a huge hit for Warner Brothers, and it stands up as one of Errol Flynn's greatest.

Anything with Errol Flynn should get a decent rating because at the minimum you get his charm and laid back way for a couple of hours. Hey, its always a nice way to pass the time and watch a subject matter come alive on screen. Here, we visit the Wild West but not before we get a taste of Custer's start-up life, love and a few experiences. From there, we are treated to entertaining events that has us rooting for the star and we follow him with interest right to the end. Hollywood did take liberties with the subject matter but that's what they do. For history and details as well as facts, Hollywood might not be the best source. Enjoy shots of the West, cities, buildings, Indians, Forts and all the neat Western type stuff while you munch on a sandwich with a tasty drink. BTW, if you like onions with your meal, this movie is for you with appropriate scenes.

This is a strange movie, when you keep in mind that it was made as we were gearing up to go to war - again.It glorifies a rebel who won glory by constantly flying in the face of army orders, someone who won battles because he refused to follow orders, and knew better than the top brass.It presents the Battle of the Little Big Horn as the result of greed and corruption by army suppliers and former army top brass.Others will tell you that this movie has little basis in historical fact. That's true. Who cares? This was not made as a BBC documentary.But what was this movie trying to say in 1941, as the government poured millions of dollars into building up our army? Was this movie an indictment of army failure?

Interesting portrayal of George Armstrong Custer and culminating in an exciting mise-en-scene of the famous battle , Little Big Horn , being his last stand . The film centers about general Custer (Errol Flynn) and wife (Olivia De Havilland), though takes liberties with historical facts . George Armstrong Custer's career begins when is graduated in the known Military Academy of West Point and after that, he intervened in American Civil War where detaches in battle of Gettysburg . General Sheridan (John Litel) and Lt. Gen. Winfield Scott (Sydney Greenstreet) assign him the command a regiment at Fort Abraham Lincoln . In 1869 Custer and his 7th Cavalry carried out the massacre of River Washita where one hundred Indians and their chief Black Kettle were murdered (though these events don't appear in screen) . Officers will help him to face off Indians with the warring chiefs Dull Knife ,Sitting Bull, and Crazy Horse (Anthony Quinn) and their tribes Sioux , Cheyenne, the Awpahla and the Munikhanja until the final battle of Little Big Horn (1876) recreated Hollywood style where was exterminated with his entire command . The actual deeds were the followings : The reality happened in December 1873 when the Commissioner of Indian Affairs directed all Sioux bands to enter reservations by the end of January 1876 or be declared hostile . Many bands of Sioux did not meet this deadline and were attacked by US troops . Crazy Horse and his Oglala people moved north to join forces with Sitting Bull , by the spring of 1876 some 3000 Teton Sioux and Northern Cheyenne warriors had assembled at Sitting Bull's camp in the valley of the Little Big Horn in Montana. On 25 June 1876 Crazy Horse and other war chiefs led the allied warriors against General Custer and his seventh Cavalry, Custer and all the man under his direct command were killed . This victory , however , brought relentless retaliation from the army and Sioux were scattered .This rousing as well as thrilling movie well produced by Hal B. Wallis blends good action scenes , shootouts , adventures , humor , magnificently staged battles and it's quite amusing because happens many deeds and is fast moving and for that reason is neither boring , nor dreary , but entertaining . George Armstrong Custer's complex characterization with an unusual point of view is well performed by Errol Flynn who does a nice embodiment of this Western hero . Errol interpretation as a hippie-type , long-haired guy is top notch ; he is an obstinate , valiant General fighting Indians and red tape with equal dash . Sensational duo protagonist , Errol Flynn-Olivia de Havilland ; this was the eighth and their final film pairing . The exciting final confrontation between Custer army and Indians is spellbound and breathtaking . 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 . However , a total of three men were killed during the cavalry charge scene. In the montage of battle scenes which show the Seventh Cavalry taming the frontier when they operated out of Fort Lincoln are several shots of them which will be repeated during the Little Big Horn battle. The film obtained a big success thanks to important budget , enjoyable acting , fast-pace and spectacular sets . Bert Glennon's cinematography is glowing and fascinating ; being photographed in black and white , the battle scenarios are overwhelming , this is the best of the film . Splendidly staged battles with obligatory cast of hundreds is realized by a lot of art directors . Sensitive as well as spectacular musical score by maestro Max Steiner , including the famous song ¨Garry Owen¨ . Masterfully realized by Raoul Walsh , it remains one of the screen's more majestic epic Westerns . The motion picture will appeal to biopic enthusiasts and Western buffs.Other adaptations about this historic character culminating in thrilling battle of Little Big Horn are the followings : ¨Santa Fe trail¨ by Michael Curtiz with Ronald Reagan as Custer ; ¨Sitting Bull¨ by Sidney Salkow with Dale Roberston , J.Carrol Naish , and Douglas Kennedy as Custer , ¨Great massacre Sioux¨ by Sidney Salkow with Philip Carey as Custer and Iron Eyes Cody as Crazy Horse ; Custer of the West¨ by Robert Siodmak with Robert Shaw , Mary Ure , Ty Hardin and Robert Ryan , ¨Little Big Man¨ by Arthur Penn with Richard Mulligan as Custer ; ¨Son of the morning star¨ TV miniseries by Mike Robe with Rossana Arquette and Gary Cole as Colonel Custer .