They Died With Their Boots On (1941) - Star of the month... Olivia de Havilland

They Died With Their Boots On is a 1941 western directed by Raoul Walsh, and starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland in their eighth and last film together. The supporting cast features Arthur Kennedy, Sydney Greenstreet, Charley Grapewin, Gene Lockhart, Anthony Quinn, John Litel, Regis Toomey and Hattie McDaniel.

Hattie McDaniel with Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland

The film tells the historically inaccurate story of George Armstrong Cutler (played by Flynn), beginning with his time spent at West Point Military Academy, meeting and wooing his future wife, Elizabeth Bacon (played by de Havilland), his time in the American Civil War and the Battle of Little Big Horn against native Americans of the Black Hills of Dakota.


Although the film is not a comedy, the first half is staged as a comedy, with lots of humour and laughs. The second half of the film is much darker and dramatic. This can be seen as representative of the maturity of George Cutler.  As he misbehaves immaturely at West Point, the film is comic; when he goes off to war and becomes an inspiring leader, the film becoems more serious.

Did you know...

• This film is sometimes shown on TV in a computer coloured version
• The film was originally meant to be directed by Michael Curtiz, however Errol Flynn had enough of his direction after their previous film 'Dive Bomber'
• Two extras were killed during the filming of Cutler's Last Stand - one untrained rider, George Murphy, died in a fall from a horse; and another Jack Budlong, fell of a horse and was wounded by a prop sword
• The song "Garryowen" played throughout the film was a real favourite song of the real George Cutler
• This was the last of eight films Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn starred together - although they would both later appear in the musical film 'Thank Your Lucky Stars', they did not appear together

Closing remarks

When I first heard this film was a war/western and runs almost 2.5 hours, I was expecting it to be very slow and a little boring. However I was pleasantly surprised to find 'They Died With Their Boots On' a very enjoyable spectator experience.  Playing the first half of the film as a comedy gives the relief the story needs before the war climax picks up. As always, Olivia de Havilland is lovely as Mrs. Cutler and the film features one of Max Steiner's best musical scores. Another actress I would like to mention is the great Hattie McDaniel, who steals every scene she's in as the Bacon's maid.

Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943) - Star of the month... Olivia de Havilland

"The battle is on but the fortress will hold... they're either too young or too old" - Bette Davis (in 'Thank Your Lucky Stars')


'Thank Your Lucky Stars' is a 1943 star studded musical comedy directed by David Butler and starring Eddie Cantor, Joan Leslie, Dennis Morgan, S.Z. Sakall and Edward Everett Horton. It features a Cavalcade of Warner Bros. guest stars including Bette Davis, Errol Flynn, Humphrey Bogart, Olivia de Havilland, Ida Lupino, John Garfield, Hattie McDaniel, Ann Sheridan, Dinah Shore and Alexis Smith.


The film was made by Warner Bros. as a World War II fundraiser, with all the stars donating their salaries to the Hollywood Canteen. The Hollywood Canteen was a club which operated from 1942-1945 offering free food, dancing and entertainment to servicemen and women. It was founded by Bette Davis and John Garfield, and many Hollywood stars donated their time volunteering there.


Theatre producers Farnsworth (played Horton) and Dr Schlenna (played by Sakall) are trying to secure Dinah Shore (playing herself) in an all-star musical they are staging. The issue they face is Eddie Cantor (also as himself), who is contracted to appear with Shore. Meanwhile aspiring singer Tommy Randolph (played by Morgan) and his songwriting girlfriend Pat Dixon (played by Leslie), are also trying to get into the show without much luck. Randolph and Dixon use their cab-driver friend Joe Simpson, who is a dead ringer for Eddie Cantor (also played by Cantor) to get in on the action.












S.Z. Sakall


Joan Leslie


Edward Everett Horton

Musical highlights

Song - "They're Either too Young or Too Old" - Bette Davis

Song - "The Dreamer" - Olivia de Havilland, Ida Lupino and George Tobias

Song - "Love Isn't Born (It's Made)" - Ann Sheridan

Song - "That's What You Jolly Well Get" - Errol Flynn

Song - "Blues In The Night" - John Garfield

Did you know...

• Each of the guest stars were paid $50,000 to appear in the film, with all their salaries were donated to the Hollywood Canteen - salaries and ticket sales raised over $2,000,000 for the canteen
• This was the film debut of Dinah Shore and Spike Jones & his City Slickers

Award nominations

• Academy Award nomination - Best Original Song ("They're Either Too Young Or Too Old")

Closing remarks

This is possibly as good as Warner Bros got when it came to musicals in the 1940s.  I have great respect and admiration for the non-musical stars, such as Bette Davis, Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn, who without a lot of musical talent who give singing and dancing (and really aren't that bad). 


S.Z. Sakall and Edward Everett Horton are fantastic as the theatre producers - in fact, I think Sakall is fantastic in every film I have seen him in. I also like Joan Leslie a lot - in my opinion she is one of the most underrated actresses from the 1940s. Although I'm not a big fan of Eddie Cantor, I must admit he is very funny in this film.


Whenever I watch this film I can't help but wonder if Doris Day had played the role of Dinah Shore had the film been made five years later.