<P> The film shows Custer leading his troops in a saber charge on an Indian party, in the course of which they are surrounded and Custer, being the last man alive, is killed . In reality, the men had boxed their sabers and sent them to the rear before the battle; site evidence, along with some Indian accounts, indicates that Custer may have been among the first to die . He is also shown during the battle with his trademark long hair when, in reality, he had cut it short just prior to the Little Bighorn campaign . </P> <P> Crazy Horse, played by Anthony Quinn, is the only individualized Indian appearing in scenes and represents the "Red Man", whose lifestyle is coming to an end . Quinn is one of the few actors of indigenous American descent in the film . Only 16 of the extras used were Sioux Indians . The rest of the Native American warriors were mostly portrayed by Filipino extras . </P> <P> The film score was composed by Max Steiner . He adapted George Armstrong Custer's favorite song, "Garryowen", for use in the score . Custer knew the song while he was still at West Point, where he is said to have performed it in a talent show . In the film Custer hears the song being played on a piano by former English soldier, now a U.S. Army officer, Lt.' Queen's Own' Butler, who claims its origin is Australian . This connection is apocryphal . It is actually a traditional Irish drinking song, much beloved by the cavalry for its galloping rhythm. The best movie of the period in The Fighting 69th, the famous New York regiment . This was also a film with James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, (George Brent and many other Irish actors . Jeffrey Lynn portrayed Joyce Kilmer, the poet and soul of the 69th . Warner Brothers recycled some of the music from the film and variations of it can be heard in Silver River and Rocky Mountain, both starring Errol Flynn, and The Searchers starring John Wayne . </P> <P> They Died with Their Boots On grossed $2.55 million for Warner Bros. Pictures in 1941, making it the studio's second biggest hit of the year . It made the studio a profit of $1.5 million . </P>

Song from they died with their boots on