John Ford’s great classic, “Heroic Charge” is also famous for one scene that arose out of the tension between the director and his director.
In 1876, General Custer was defeated at Little Big Horn by a confederation of Indian tribes led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. At Fort Stark, Utah, Captain Brittles is about to retire. He must complete one last mission: follow the castle commander’s wife and niece to the nearest coaching inn. But the Indians are on the warpath…
The second part of the cavalry trilogy created by John Ford, after the massacre of Fort Apache (1948) and before the Rio Grande (1950), the heroic charge is also a great classic of the master, which John Wayne carries on his head. its shape. With a production budget of $1.6 million, A heroic charge Then there was one of the most expensive Westerns ever made, lovingly shot in the lush scenery of Monument Valley, filmed by Ford like no one else.
The French title still remains strange. In any case, it is very, very far from the original version of its original meaning: He wore a yellow ribbon. This is a reference to a beautiful military tradition that inspired a famous song: When a loved one went on a mission, his wife kept a yellow ribbon tied in his hair until he returned; As is the case with the character Olivia Dandridge in the film, played by Joan Drew.
Tension behind the scenes
The film is also famous for one of its sequences; A scene where a violent storm erupts, resulting from a misunderstanding, not to mention an argument, between Ford and his chief cameraman, Wynton Hotch. As the cavalry troop marched through the desert, a real storm appeared on the horizon.
After that, Hotch started packing the cameras to protect them from the rain. An end to the no-go from Ford, who on the contrary wanted to continue shooting despite the threat. His director of photography then pointed out that not only was the natural light no longer sufficient, but the equipment logically risked rain and electrocuting the team. Ford didn’t budge, which angered Hoch. We have to keep shooting even if the cast and crew are soaked.
Hotch would write his complaint about this incident to John Ford a little laterSociety of American Cinematographers, of which he was a member, which unites Hollywood cinematographers. And not just any: to be a member, you have to be invited and known in the film industry.
A controversial legend
Actor Harry Carrey Jr., who plays Lt. Flint Cohill in the film, was present at the scene and disputes this account in his autobiography. Company of Heroes: My Life as an Actor in John Ford’s Stock Company. According to him, Ford finished filming that day when he noticed that the sky was getting more and more dangerous. He then asked Hotch if they could take advantage of this unique opportunity with the lights out.
“It’s awfully dark, Jack. But I shot. I just can’t promise you anything.” What Ford replied: “Winnie, get the camera ready and let’s go. If it doesn’t work, it’ll be my problem!” – Winnie replied: “Good Jack!”
The real tension or discussion was finally fueled by the legend, the fact that Wynton Hotch won an Oscar for his work on this film; The second of three he would receive during his career.
Source: allocine
Emily Jhon is a product and service reviewer at Gossipify, known for her honest evaluations and thorough analysis. With a background in marketing and consumer research, she offers valuable insights to readers. She has been writing for Gossipify for several years and has a degree in Marketing and Consumer Research from the University of Oxford.
