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Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Arthur Kennedy, Regis Toomey, Charles Grapewin ... see more see more... , Stanley Ridges , Gene Lockhart , Anthony Quinn , Walter Hampden , John Litel , Joe Sawyer , Frank Wilcox , Selmar Jackson , Minor Watson , Sydney Greenstreet , Hattie McDaniel , Eddie Acuff , Tod Andrews , Irving Bacon , Walter S. Baldwin , Roy Barcroft , Hobart Bosworth , Virginia Brissac , Walter Brooke , Lane Chandler , Spencer Charters , George Pat Collins , Joseph Crehan , Wade Crosby , Steven Darrell , Joe Devlin , George Eldredge , Martin Faust , Frank Ferguson , William Forrest , Dick French , G.P. Huntley , Sol (Saul) Gorss , John Hamilton , Carl Harbaugh , Weldon Heyburn , Herbert Heywood , Russell Hicks , Max Hoffman Jr. , William Hopper , Edward Keane , Fred Kelsey , Joseph King , Paul Kruger , Harry Lewis , Vera Lewis , Arthur Loft , Ian MacDonald , Frank Mayo , Sam McDaniel , Patrick McVey , Jack Mower , Anna Q. Nilsson , Frank Orth , Eddie Parker , Eleanor Parker , Bob Perry , Aileen Pringle , George H. Reed , Renie Riano , Addison Richards , John Ridgely , Virginia Sale , James Seay , Hugh Sothern , Harry Strang , Ray Teal , Minerva Urecal , Dick Wessel , Gig Young , Francis Ford , Victor Zimmerman , Charley Grapewin , George P. Huntley Jr. , Joseph Sawyer

Though history is distorted almost beyond recognition in Warner Bros.' They Died With Their Boots On, audiences in 1941 ate it up like cotton candy. In the gospel according to Warners, General George ... read more read more...Armstrong Custer (Errol Flynn) is neither an arrogant fool nor a rabid Indian hater. Instead, he is a flamboyant but brilliant cavalry officer, who during the Civil War defies his superiors' orders and becomes a hero as a result. After a period of forced retirement in the postwar years, Custer is put in charge of the 7th Cavalry in the Dakota Territory. Here he whips this ragtag group into spit-and-polish shape, and also does his best to extend a neighborly hand to the local Indian tribes. Custer even goes so far as to promise Chief Crazy Horse (Anthony Quinn) that the white man will never set foot in the sacred Black Hills. Alas, Custer is betrayed by greedy gold prospectors, whipped into a frenzy by scheming (and fictional) land speculator Ned Sharp (Arthur Kennedy). Forced by circumstances to do battle against Crazy Horse to prevent tribal retaliation, Custer and his command ride towards a rendezvous with destiny at the Little Big Horn on June 25, 1876. Though some of the historical inaccuracies in the film are real howlers, blame cannot be laid solely at the feet of Warner Bros.; the Custer legend had previously been perpetrated by the general's loyal widow Elizabeth Bacon (played herein by Olivia de Havilland), then eagerly elaborated upon by Eastern news journalists and dime novels. This film represented the final screen pairing of Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland, a fact that lends poignancy to their classic parting scene. Though an extremely long film, They Died With Their Boots On is never dull, especially during the spectacular Custer's Last Stand finale. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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26% want to see it

2,966 ratings

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82% liked it

11 critics

Unrated, 2 hr. 21 min.

Directed by: Raoul Walsh

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DVD Release Date: April 19, 2005

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Flixster Reviews (138)

  • moonrivers
    April 22, 2012
    moonrivers
    History (as specious as that is) records that U.S. President Ullysses S.Grant publically disparaged the tactics of George Armstrong Custer after the Little Big Horn and that, in reply, his wife, Elizabeth, devoted the rest of her life defending her husband. The truth is buried a... read moret the site, but Warner Bros., with Raoul Walsh at the directing helm, sides with Mrs. Custer's version of events. No matter the truth here still is exciting, stirring entertainment, and the last pairing also of the Flynn/DeHavilland team-up, one of the screen's best romantic couples.
  • SirPant
    September 23, 2009
    SirPant
    I love this classic war film, even if it is a little inaccurate. At least they didn't totally rewrite history like most Disney/Mel Gibson films!
  • jjnxn
    October 29, 2008
    jjnxn
    Historical hogwash, Errol is dashing and Olivia looks lovely but that's not enough for the overlong running time
  • kenstachnik
    January 31, 2008
    kenstachnik
    Really interesting film based (loosely) on the life of George Armstrong Custer. It's certainly guilty of a little hero worship, but a whole lot of fun.

    Trivia Tidbit: Flynn and DeHavilland's last film together.
  • JasonDennis91786
    May 29, 2012
    JasonDennis91786
    This is a solidly written if anachronistic studio film of the golden age. It's never dull, the acting is good (Havilland is one of my favorite old actresses), and there are several great scenes of dialogue and a few touches of comedy. It looks at Custer in a very humane way, trea... read moreting him as a highly noble person. I'm sure he was at least somewhat noble, though certain historical records indicate he was not very bright. If this movie was made today, I'm pretty sure Custer would be treated as an imbecile. They probably would have made him a domineering, idiotic, morally bankrupt alcoholic or something. Today's movies tend to tear historical figures down, especially if they are white men, but this one does not do so. The dated-ness of the film is completely stand-able and even modern viewers who usually hate oldies will probably enjoy it. The negatives of the film are the historical inaccuracies, most of which you will be able to guess as you watch the movie and don't really detract much from the real point of the film, and the clearly rushed and poorly done battle scene at the end. Sadly because that battle scene is the climax it does do damage to one's perception of the film. This might be my favorite Flynn picture, though I have not seen them all.
  • jam233
    September 6, 2009
    jam233
    The best of the Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn pairings, after the Adventures of Robin Hood of course. Great supporting cast, rousing, fun, romantic, action...it has it all. Flynn is, of course dashing and great. A classic.
  • mtoothman
    February 28, 2007
    mtoothman
    Errol Flynn, Olivis DeHaviland--the Custer myth in full array. It didn't happen that way, but so what?

View All They Died with Their Boots On Reviews

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz
June 22, 2011
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

A rousing Western. Full Review

Michael E. Grost
July 17, 2009
Michael E. Grost, Classic Film and Television

Powerful, if heavily fictionalized, Western, with dynamic direction by Raoul Walsh. Full Review

Christopher Null
May 5, 2005
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com

suffers from being too long and meandering too much into the minutiae of Custer's love life Full Review

Nick Schager
April 25, 2005
Nick Schager, Slant Magazine

Endures as one of the finest Flynn-de Havilland collaborations. Full Review

Steve Crum
November 1, 2004
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan

Glorified Custer, sure, but Flynn is spectacular.

Ken Hanke
November 20, 2003
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Well-made, but specious.

June 2, 2008
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

August 8, 2006
New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Dave Kehr
January 1, 2000
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

Click to read the article Full Review

Thomas Delapa
October 21, 2005
Thomas Delapa, Boulder Weekly

No review available.

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They Died with Their Boots On Trivia

  • ***They Died With Their Boots On is About What***  Answer »
  • "They Died With Their Boots On" gives a (largely fictional) account of the exploits of George Armstrong Custer. Who played Custer's enemy, Crazy Horse?  Answer »
  • What famous general was "They Died With Their Boots On" about?   Answer »
  • What famous general was "They Died With Their Boots On" about?   Answer »
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