Overview
A legendary general's life unfolds amidst the chaos of war and romance.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- exhilarated
- melodramatic
- patriotic
- classic movie night
- western double feature
What critics said
Critics broadly find the film exciting and melodramatic, with Errol Flynn giving a strong performance despite substantial historical inaccuracies and excessive length.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Custer is presented as a charming defender of justice and friend of Native Americans despite the film's acknowledged historical fictionalization.
The story follows Custer from West Point through the Civil War, postwar command, marriage, and Little Bighorn as a streamlined rise-and-fall arc.
Cavalry charges and the climactic Little Bighorn battle provide the film's major action set pieces.
Elizabeth Bacon is not only Custer's bride but also helps secure his return to military command after the Civil War.
Films like They Died with Their Boots On, and why
Dodge City
classic Hollywood western spectacle, charismatic male protagonist, romantic melodrama, and mythologized frontier history
The Charge of the Light Brigade
Errol Flynn-led historical adventure with sweeping action, romance, and a larger-than-life military hero
Fort Apache
romanticized cavalry warfare, frontier conflict, and grand-scale classic studio filmmaking
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
biographical historical drama centered on a charismatic but flawed military figure and national mythmaking
Movie Details
- Director
- Raoul Walsh
- Release Date
- 1941-11-20
- Runtime
- 140 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (126)
Cast
- Errol Flynn
- Olivia de Havilland
- Arthur Kennedy
- Charley Grapewin
- Gene Lockhart
- Anthony Quinn
- Stanley Ridges
- John Litel
- Walter Hampden
- Sydney Greenstreet
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is They Died with Their Boots On about?
- A flamboyant cavalry officer rises through war and frontier politics while love and legend propel him toward a doomed final command.
- What is They Died with Their Boots On like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of They Died with Their Boots On as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is They Died with Their Boots On violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in They Died with Their Boots On as moderate.
- What did critics think of They Died with Their Boots On?
- Critics broadly find the film exciting and melodramatic, with Errol Flynn giving a strong performance despite substantial historical inaccuracies and excessive length.
- Which films are like They Died with Their Boots On?
- Films with a similar feel include Dodge City, The Charge of the Light Brigade, Fort Apache, and The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp.
- How long is They Died with Their Boots On?
- They Died with Their Boots On runs 140 minutes.
- Where can I watch They Died with Their Boots On?
- In United States, They Died with Their Boots On is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
