true they died boots on gives highly fictionalized account george armstrong custers errol flynn life career remarkable one especially regard battle little big horn given  movie tries portray usamerican cavalryman native american leader chief crazy horse anthony quinn favorable light im almost tempted say little big man unqualified anticuster stance seems unbalanced comparison further one mislead title picture movie battle little big horn movie shows unreliable west point cadet famed civil war hero indian fighter and last least husbandbr br the movie begins custers time west point military academy recalcitrance insubordinate behavior lead frequent demerits punitive military exercise meets future wife elizabeth bacon olivia de havilland who like custer himself native monroe michigan custer intends court her outbreak civil war calls away custers legendary bravery shown sequence battle scenes greatest devoted engagement legendary southern cavalry general jeb stuart battle gettysburg leave travels monroe courts elizabeth promises hand matrimony immediately war custer elizabeth bacon marriedbr br with civil war over custer demoted get real command go painstakingly slow process promotion small professional american army starts drink wife intervenes behalf former generalinchief winfield scott custer given command us th cavalry trains elite unit neither custer crazy horse desirous battle greedy businessmen corrupt politicians decide build railroad indian lands clear violation earlier treaties custer explicitly acknowledges justice crazy horses cause rides battle duty soldier exposing conspiracy moneyed interests letter writes eve battlebr br they died boots on though short historical accuracy good war movies westerns s got custer crazy horse played major actors neither indians southern confederacy denigrated courtship scenes beautiful livvy de havilland charming minus thats cant give picture full  undercurrent racism portrayal african american servants elizabeths servant callie stereotypical overweight goodnatured superstitious black mammybr br it also interesting movie find fault either custer crazy horse greed railroad companies pressuring washington politicians semicriminal methods breaking assurances given native americans couple years later insinuation american entrepreneurs could even think anything remotely questionable would probably taken hint film makers communist sympathizersbr br needless say they died boots on omits fact custers overly aggressive tactics often bordered foolhardy greatly overstates importance engagement stuart mention lack reconnaissance prior battle little big horn nevertheless custer seen war hero contemporaries spectacular exploits point battles brandy station gettysburg trevilian station others though feats arms decisive civil war they died boots on suggestsbr br in event they died boots on wellmade war movie western elements three outstanding performers flynn quinn de havilland offers notredflag view native americans well negative one big money seen major hollywood productions decades come would deserve  racist minstrelization african americans