Radio review - Lux – "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" (1951) ****

Excellent adaptation which really captures the flavour of the film. It’s helped by the fact that John Wayne narrates in first person, highly effective in radio. The whole story just seems to work – passing of time, emergence of new generation, the fact that the heroes are trying to stop war, etc. Some of the flaws have been trimmed (the excessive scenes of people saying farewell to Wayne, and the Irish drunk scenes) and Wayne gives a strong performance. Mel Ferrer plays the John Agar role and 50s sci fi fave Mala Powers steps in for Joanne Dru – so the support cast is better! (Of course a lot of the action is handed by the Ben Johnson character.)