Overview
A soldier's quest for peace amidst a backdrop of conflict and misunderstanding.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- earnest
- humanist
- romantic
- classic western night
- historical film marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly admired the film's honorable humanist revision of anti-Indian western conventions and colorful production, while finding its characterization and execution overly patronizing or melodramatic.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The story explicitly overturns settler stereotypes through Jeffords's relationship with Cochise and the Apache community.
Tom Jeffords learns Apache customs and language, then enters Cochise's stronghold to negotiate peace.
Jeffords's bond with Sonseeahray develops alongside his effort to establish trust between settlers and Apaches.
Contemporary criticism specifically praised the film as richly colorful, while its western setting foregrounds open frontier spaces.
Films like Broken Arrow, and why
Dances with Wolves
revisionist western treatment of indigenous-settler conflict and cross-cultural understanding
The Searchers
classic western romance shaped by frontier violence, cultural encounter, and moral revisionism
Cheyenne Autumn
humanist western centered on reconciliation amid entrenched frontier hostility
Movie Details
- Director
- Delmer Daves
- Release Date
- 1950-07-21
- Runtime
- 93 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (229)
Cast
- James Stewart
- Jeff Chandler
- Debra Paget
- Basil Ruysdael
- Will Geer
- Joyce Mackenzie
- Arthur Hunnicutt
- Robert Adler
- Trevor Bardette
- Chris Willow Bird
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 Broken Arrow about?
- A former soldier risks his life to broker peace between settlers and Cochise's Apaches while finding love across a bitter cultural divide.
- What is Broken Arrow like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Broken Arrow as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Broken Arrow violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Broken Arrow as moderate.
- What did critics think of Broken Arrow?
- Critics broadly admired the film's honorable humanist revision of anti-Indian western conventions and colorful production, while finding its characterization and execution overly patronizing or melodramatic.
- Which films are like Broken Arrow?
- Films with a similar feel include Dances with Wolves, The Searchers, and Cheyenne Autumn.
- How long is Broken Arrow?
- Broken Arrow runs 93 minutes.
- Where can I watch Broken Arrow?
- In United States, Broken Arrow is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
