“This is the story of a land, of the people who lived on it in the year 1870, and of a man whose name was Cochise. He was an Indian - leader of the Chiricahua Apache tribe. I was involved in the story and what I have to tell happened exactly as you'll see it - the only change will be that when the Apaches speak, they will speak in our language.”
The opening lines of dialogue—spoken in voiceover by Jimmy Stewart as Jeffords—lay the foundation for the purpose and intent of the film. Broken Arrow is intended to set itself apart from the conventions of the western film genre by treating its “Indians” with the respect accorded its white characters. For the first time in a major theatrical release during the sound era, Native Americans are not portrayed as mere savages with little to no actual humanity or worth. The major Apache characters speak in unbroken English because it is situated here in the opening that they are really speaking their own language and just this small decorative change has the effect of making them seem more human and less like some “other” than in the films which preceded it.
“It is good to understand the ways of others.”
The theme of the film is put here in a nutshell. The plot revolves around the efforts of Jeffords to establish a peace between the whites and the Apaches. The narrative—based on actual historical fact—sends Jeffords deep into the impenetrable fortress that is the stronghold of the leader of the Apaches, Cochise. This is preceded by a month-long effort by Jeffords to learn the language of the Apache. The film’s theme becomes clear: only by making the effort to understand foreign cultures can peace ever be achieved.
“But we're bringing civilization here. Clothes, carpets, hats, boots, medicine. Why I got a wagonload of whiskey waiting in the east. I could sell that if it wasn't for Cochise.”
The screenplay of Broken Arrow was credited to Michael Blankfort who was really just a “front” for Albert Maltz. Maltz was one of the Hollywood Ten, infamously blacklisted for refusing to name names when called to testify before the House Committee on Un-American Activities. Maltz managed to work in a little of his political ideology into the film by subtly revealing what white America always means when it justifies invading or occupying land belonging to another with the suggesting that it is helping them to become “civilized.” What they really mean—then and now—is they are opening up new markets to sell products to.
“Now I am ashamed to be a Chiricahua. I will take the name Mexican enemies have given me. The whites will learn it. And you will learn it. From now on, I am Geronimo.”
Cochise in the film is played by a blonde white actor from Brooklyn. Geronimo is played by Jay Silverheels, a descendent of the Mohawk tribe famous for playing Tonto on the Lone Ranger TV series. This real-life differentiation resonates in the movie as Cochise desires to make peace with America while the character who will adopt the name Geronimo turns radical in his desires to never make peace and continue the good fight against their oppressors.
