A masterpiece of mood and heroism, this second film in director John Ford’s famous cavalry trilogy (the others are Fort Apache and Rio Grande) features one of the most moving portrayals of John Wayne as a cavalry officer in his final week of duty on the frontier. Wearing makeup that ages him by 20 years, he embodies the role of a wily veteran who knows the pain of war and vows to make his final mission a peaceful one. The ritual of outpost life, the vastness of battle, the patrol’s advance under threatening skies: She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, an Oscar winner* for its color camerawork, paints an unforgettable portrait of honor, duty and courage in the finest traditions of the cavalry.
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Video quality
Warner Archive provided She wore a yellow ribbon with a gorgeous 1080p 1.37:1 master transfer when it was released in 2016, based on a new scan of the Technicolor negative. Even earlier in their HD production, Warner Archive has always hit the jackpot with Technicolor elements. The film highlights some dazzling colors in the costumes and the sprawling desert landscapes that jump off the screen. When you have a color in the title of your film, it’s necessary to deliver spot-on hues, and this transfer delivers the right alignment of the YCM elements.
From the first moments, you’re treated to a wealth of detail and clarity. This is largely due to the preservation of natural film grain, which enhances the image beyond your wildest dreams. Winton C. Hoch’s cinematography preserves the film’s intended look. Highlights remain solid throughout the running time, and black levels are deep and stable. The film is essentially pristine, with no significant damage or smudges. Compression artifacts, banding, and other such issues are absent from this transfer. Warner Archive is one of the best labels for fans of classic cinema.
Audio quality
The Blu-Ray includes a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio split mono track that is high pitched and free of unwanted anomalies. Dialogue and ambient sounds blend with Richard Hageman’s effective score. Dialogue is heard clearly without any elements overpowering the dialogue. The more dynamic moments are handled well, adding a bit of tension to the track. The music is one of the notable elements of this feature, and the score holds up with great fidelity even in the upper registers. The track shows no serious signs of age-related wear such as hiss, dropouts or crackles. Warner Archive has provided a disc that can hold its own with the best. Optional English (SDH), French, Spanish (Castellano) and Spanish (Latino) subtitles are included for the feature film.
Special features
- Private videos of John Ford: A four-minute selection of spontaneous shots of Ford during his location scouting in Mexico.
- Trailer: A two-and-a-half minute trailer is available here.
Final thoughts
She wore a yellow ribbon is a great collaboration between the long-time dynamic duo of John Wayne and John Ford. The film isn’t overly ambitious, but it benefits from the low-key narrative by delivering more character-driven moments that make it stand out in a sea of imitators. John Wayne does a good job in a more than capable ensemble that has no weak spots. Whether you’re a Western newbie or an aficionado, this is a wonderful viewing experience for all. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray that has an excellent A/V presentation, but doesn’t offer many special features. This copy is a fine addition to your collection. Recommended
She wore a yellow ribbon can be purchased directly via FilmZyng or through various other online retailers.
Note: The images shown in this review do not reflect the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Archive provided a copy of this CD free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
