 The Avalcade of America sponsored by DuPont presents Errol Flynn in a radio adaptation of Warner Bros. latest motion picture they died with their boots on. Good evening ladies and gentlemen this is Clayton Collier. Tonight by special arrangement with Warner Bros. studios we bring you Errol Flynn in scenes from his new motion picture they died with their boots on. A picture co-starring Olivia de Havilland which will be released soon throughout the country. This imaginative screen treatment of a great American soldier General George Armstrong Custer with its vivid theme of undying heroism is presented by the Avalcade of America tonight as DuPont stars Errol Flynn in his latest colorful screen role General George Custer in they died with their boots on. Monroe, Michigan a middling town in the middle of the country. It is the year 1866 at breakfast in a middling household sits a demobilized soldier of middling rank. He is talking with his wife. You look well darling. Trip did you good. Thank you General Custer. Captain Custer now Libby you're forgetting. Aren't you going to ask me about Chicago Captain. No I'm waiting for you to tell me. Well I dropped in on Uncle Phil Sheridan for just a moment. Oh how's the old general. Thinking of you as always George and he sent you a present. Well that was nice of the old gentleman. Here it is General. Thank you my dear. The watch and chain to Major General George Armstrong Custer from his old Michigan Brigade. They haven't forgotten me after all Libby silly how could they after all it was you who made heroes of them at Gettysburg. But they were great boys great days to Libby. You do miss your soldiering don't you George. No I'm happy enough. There are thousands of regiments darling but there's only one you spoken very gallantly sir. You want to look at your mail now darling. Yes guess I'll get it over with the general's morning mail. Oh what's that one there that looks terribly official. Yes the empty they are the more official they look. Dear Captain Custer at the suggestion of the Secretary of War I am Libby. What Libby I'm on the active list again Lieutenant Colonel to command a regiment of cavalry in the West. It says they passed up 50 senior officers including Lieutenant Generals to give me the job. Oh darling I'm so glad for you. It's pretty wild country though the railroad doesn't go that far. Go partway by wagon and Libby do you mind very much mine. This is the first time I've seen you really happy for years darling action action at last I. Libby that trip to Chicago you didn't arrange this whole thing through your uncle Phil Sheridan did you George. How can you see such a thing. Well I know but well maybe somebody in Washington remembered Gettysburg you couldn't forget Gettysburg in three years could you. Nobody could of course not darling nobody could. Here you are folks this here's Fort Abe Lincoln Fort Lincoln but where's the sentry where's the God. That's them over there on the porch of shop saloon guess they don't know who you are. If you hadn't told me I wouldn't have taken them for Cameron look go and bring that Lieutenant over here will you. Yes sir looks like I'll have to leave you for a few minutes Libby it's all right dear I can. Lieutenant Robert sir sorry you find us in such bad order Sir Lieutenant would you mind telling me why there's no God out to meet me. Why are the men in that saloon instead of patrolling the wagon trail the sewer on the warpath Sir our orders ought to pull up here. Well the fort's not here to protect the regiment Roberts the regiment's here to protect the wagon trains going west. I know Sir but you see how it is since Mr. Sharp opened his post here shop who is the shop I thought he just ran the saloon. He sells liquor to the regiment and rifles to the Indians I see well we'll put a stop to that right now Lieutenant come along with me will you I want you to introduce me to this Mr. Sharp yes sir he's over there now. You see sir where most of us newly mustered in haven't had any commanding officers yet so I see. Here's the place sir we're going Lieutenant yes sir after you sir. Thank you. Man this is your new commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer. I tell you it couldn't be Custer. Who's in charge here is my place custom shops my name well I'll see you later sharp Lieutenant yes sir put those two troopers there under arrest charge them with not being able to hold their liquor they're supposed to be cavalrymen yes sir. Now that Mr. Sharp I want this bar close right now you can't close this bar Custer this place was licensed by the secretary of war. Lieutenant yes sir turn out a section with side arms close this place up this boss illegal business boys you know your rights no one can tell you how to spend your pay can they wait a minute man. I have to admit to you that Mr. Sharp is quite right there's no legal reason why this bar should be closed none whatsoever. But if I find it open starting one minute from now Mr. Sharp is going to get the surprise of his life because I'm going to throw him through that big plate glass mirror behind his bar right Custer you win this time. All right as you were men now look I want you to understand I'm not doing this because I'm a blue nose maybe it's tough on me to go without a drink to maybe it's tougher but this regiment has a job to do we're responsible for one hundred thousand square miles of territory and until we can honestly say that we're in shape to tackle that job you won't catch me taking a drink either I'm not asking you to do anything I'm not willing to do myself. All right men and that's the way it's going to be in this regiment. At ease gentlemen sit down will you what I have to say won't take so very long so we might as well be comfortable. Gentlemen as officers I'm proud of your work on maneuvers today I don't think I've ever seen a finer looking regiment but I want to tell you this a regiment is something more than just six hundred fighting men in a few days time we march to the west against crazy horse and his sue raiders a thousand of the best light cavalryman on the face of the earth some of us will die but the regiment will live on because a regiment has an immortal soul of its own now if we can believe that gentlemen we'll have the kind of pride from which which men will endure anything and if necessary die with their boots on there was a war and a leader of men against them called by his people crazy horse and there was proud fighting across the clean sweep of the plains and a peace at last a proud and honorable peace Long hair my people so come to make peace with you I have heard my brother's words and I give my brother my word and the guarantee of the white father the shrine of your people's gods the black hills will never again be violated by white men so long as the peace be kept my fighters will protect your land and may your people dwell there forever in peace crazy horse you have my word ah custer we meet again welcome back to Fort Lincoln well what brings you to the curtain mr. tape business custer business officially I am the new government commissioner in these parts oh I heard there was a new commissioner but I but you never dreamed to be me did you custer well let's let bygones be bygones I'm not one to hold a grudge right we'll shake on that good uh what kind of a treaty is this that you put through with a sue I hold some stock in a railroad there was mighty anxious to get a right away through the black hills there you well I hold some stock in a regiment that's mighty anxious to keep its word mr. tape ah well uh I'm sure we can work it out custer fine by the way sir I've arranged a little review of my regiment starts in just a moment perhaps you'd like to take their salute would you I'm honored custer fine let's step outside after you sir thank you you've met all my officers I believe yes well you mean to say you're staging a review without officers oh yes that's because I want you to see what soldiers can do by themselves mr. tape when they've got something to believe in oh well this should be interesting signal them to start will you uh lieutenant roberts yes sir here they come now sir good there's the forward rank now mr. tape I want you to watch the discipline of these horsemen when they parade past us but they good heavens custer the forward man of the column and look at him look at him quite well he must be sick roberts what's wrong there rest of my nose sir signal him to fall out they're coming right on sir on the gallop they don't see me your whole precious 7th cavalry regiment is drunk custer what's the meaning of this I don't know tape but I'm going to find out come out from behind that bar shop I said come out from behind that bar now custer I reopened this far in the authority commissioned a tape bricks were free to the men in honor of his visit free worthy well here's one bottle they won't get and here's another and another and another what do you're destroying private property these glasses they're private property too are these custer stop it I'm just beginning now listen custer that's nice brandy there good stuff isn't it and that nice big mirror back at the bar custer here's some for you tape this bar was open on my authority if your men are drunken sats that's your responsibility not Mr. Sharps sats you call my men sats why you cheap bootlicking politician let me go help custer custer let him go this is the commission commissioner or not I'm going to give him this you'll be court-martialed for this custer you'll be court-martialed in Washington in Washington you are listening to they died with their boots on starring Errol Flynn as general George Armstrong custer in a radio presentation of his new Warner Brothers motion picture on the cavalcade of America sponsored by Dupont maker of better things for better living through chemistry as our show continues general custer played by Errol Flynn stripped of his rank for striking a government representative sits beside his wife on a train bound for Washington 15 minutes well Libby nearly there yes nearly there Mr. Custer there are some reporters outside this I don't want to see them they seem very anxious to see you sir just as you say Mr. Custer is there anything you'd like me to get your dear some cigars no thank you darling oh you might get me a newspaper would you oh no wait there's a boy now hey there boy yes sir have you got a Chicago or Washington paper there a record hell just in half an hour ago all about the big gold strike in the black hills gold in the black hill bigger than California they say thank you sir Libby listen to this the stampede started when an Indian squaw attended a nugget of gold for supplies in the western railroad land and trading company in Fort Lincoln thousands of people from Chicago and for Cindy alone thousands of people why that's what Mrs. tapes said what tapes wife when did she say that the day you came back to the fort after the treaty had been signed she advised me to buy stock and shops company because thousands of people would be coming to the black hills I thought she was joking because under the treaty of course Libby do you realize what this means why they knew all about this gold rice before it happened it means it's a fraud the whole thing conductor bring those reporters in but Mr. Custer you just never mind what I said bring them in there's not much time George you seem so excited what is it you'll hear in a moment darling well Mr. Custer I'm glad you changed your mind Mr. Custer we'd like to get the story about your trouble out west but what about the spell of tape what's your rivals at west point now wait a minute gentlemen I tell you the whole story sit down be quiet and listen thank you sir all set sir let it go gentlemen I accuse Mr. Tape the government representative in the Dakota territory of a deliberate and traitorous conspiracy to violate the treaty of the United States with the Sioux Indians Mr. Custer do you mean to say that please don't interrupt me sir I'll tell you all you want to know and more you may quote me here throughout I accuse not only Mr. Tape but also against the United States isn't that going a little far Mr. Custer well I'll go further these men are thieves and murderers as well if you want to be quoted on that write down every word of it I can prove that Mr. Tape knew of this fake gold rush before it even happened that he and Mr. Sharp invented it that they cold bloodedly plotted to sacrifice the lives of innocent citizens how's that Mr. Custer because when those settlers go into the black hills looking for gold they'll violate my treaty with the Indians they'll be slaughtered to the last man as I will furthermore I intend to take this to President Grant himself I intend to fight these criminal politicians and parasites to the last ditch and gentlemen if I had known when I was first cashier what I know now I'd have hanged every single one of them from those gate posts of Fort Lincoln I'm sorry Mr. Custer but the President will not see you but I tell you thousands of people are going to lose their lives I'm sorry Mr. Custer wait where are you going get out of my way but you can't you can't go in there General Grant what in thunder do you mean storming into my office like this may I remind you Mr. Custer that I am the President of the United States I'm not interested in the President of the United States I'm interested in a certain soldier named Ulysses S. Grant all right what is it I want my regiment back Grant you'll get nothing from me but a court marshal to the devil with a court marshal I want my regiment back maybe you'll tell me why I should give it to you yes I'll tell you because you know how a man feels when he's broken I'm left behind a regiment that's marching out to fight you know Grant because you had a taste of it yourself once remember how about it Grant well what are you waiting for go back and get your blasted regiment and do what you want with it men beg to report sir the regiment's ready for action sir right yes sir I uh General Custer sir what is it Robert I've been meaning to ask you ever since you got back to Fort Lincoln and the what do you honestly think our chances are of coming back from the little big horn well I why do you ask that even my wife have been married very long and I thought well if there's not much hope of our getting back well Robert's were were 600 men against the combined strength of every Indian fighting man in this territory they're fighting to defend their last sanctuary the black hills and I don't blame them but it's them or us and I'm afraid it's going to be us in other words we haven't a ghost of a chance of coming back alive from the little big horn that's what I thought sir thank you sir oh uh Robert's yes sir I don't think I'll tell your wife if I were you it will be easier for her that way however it turns out perhaps you're right thank you sir right you can mount the columns now if you like I won't be long yes sir we'll be waiting sir oh come in my dear I'm just trying to soften up these old jack boots stiffen up a bit since the last time I was in them they might have done a better job polishing them up well I doubt a crazy horse will notice George I here's your cartridge bill thank you my dear now then anything I've forgotten few glasses yes compass got it your watch watch oh here it is you know Libby they ought to make you a quarter master general every time I go into the field I'm the best equipped man in the regiment oh oh look what I've done what is it well your your little miniature it's broken I'll be able to take this with me it'll be the first time you've ever gone on a campaign without this miniature yes well there isn't any time to fix it and I can't shake any chances on it's being lost I'm afraid it doesn't look much like me anymore why it does you haven't changed though I'm sure you're the only soldier in history who ever became a general about letting his belt out oh oh you wait until we've finished up here Washington staff job for two years and I'll be as fat as any old general and twice as pompous we'll grow old and fat together it'll be wonderful together and people will say don't tell me that life out in Dakota was such a hardship the Custer's grew fat and happy on it you have been happy here haven't you Libby don't I look happy well let me see now my orders I put them in that drawer I'll get them hey what's this what oh that that's my diary my life with General Custer I didn't know you kept your diary oh it wouldn't interest you dear just silly things that seem important to a woman May 16th 1876 tomorrow my husband leaves and I cannot but feel that my last happy days are ended a premonition of disaster such as I have never known is weighing upon me I try to shut it into my heart but it is almost unbearable I pray God I be not asked to walk on alone I probably wrote that or something like it every time you left me of course of course I know I often feel the same way myself when will you come back this time oh five weeks six at the most see that'll be say June the 25th I'll make an entry on that day too my husband returned today goodbye George goodbye General Custer goodbye some seven weeks later after what was to go down in history is one of the tragic battles of all time Custer's last stand the War Department of the United States made a simple entry in its records it is the life history of a soldier Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer born December 5th 1839 preveted Major General April 15th 1865 killed in action June 25th 1876 thank you Errol Flynn we sincerely hope that your new motion picture they died with their boots on enjoys the success it so well merits when it's released and shown throughout the country ladies and gentlemen in a few moments our star will return to the microphone but first we have some interesting information for you the American Indians who called salt white magic named it better than they knew because salt, the white crystals you use so casually at your dinner table almost without being aware of them are crystals of creation itself crystals from which the chemist makes things as far apart as the gleaming surface of a motor bearing and the marvelous fluid that cools a modern refrigerator to the chemist salt is sodium chloride melted by a high amperage electric current it is literally pulled apart electrically to yield sodium a silvery metal sodium and chlorine a greenish yellow gas both sodium and chlorine are elementary building blocks from which an almost infinite number of more elaborate compounds can be made sodium goes into the manufacture of dyes like indigo combined with oxygen sodium yields sodium peroxide the bleach that leaves your towels permanently white sodium is a component of sodium proborate an important ingredient of many modern denofrises sodium enters into sodium cyanide the source material for an effective fumigating gas that destroys vermin this same sodium cyanide as a molten bath gives automobile gears and other parts a surface almost diamond hard and your gold-plated jewelry the silver-plated knives and forks those too and a wide variety of familiar metal articles are plated with the help of cyanides manufactured by Dupont from salt the other chemical half of salt is the green gas, chlorine chlorine bleaches paper and textiles the chemists who watch over your municipal water supply use it to purify your drinking water other chemicals called chlorinated hydrocarbons are of great service to industry virtually every piece of metal that goes into an airplane for example must get degreased in the course of inspection and assembly that is it must be washed chemically clean of oil films the plane parts are cleaned perfectly in the wink of an eye via chlorinated hydrocarbon degreasing bath other chlorine compounds like freon safe refrigerants are used in household and commercial refrigerating units and in air conditioning systems carbon tetrachloride made again from chlorine charges the fire extinguisher that safeguards life and property and other chlorinated hydrocarbons remove the caffeine from coffee and extract the oil from soybeans sparkling white crystals of ordinary salt to the chemists are veritable seeds in organic seeds true from which an infinite variety of compounds for our modern society may be grown in the state of Michigan alone the United States has enough salt to supply the entire world for 200 million years to come and there's more besides thanks to modern research this common salt has become an inexhaustible source from which the DuPont chemist derives many of the better things for better living through chemistry and now we'd like you to meet my friend thank you Clayton it's been a busy week for me of course finishing the picture in Hollywood and then flying on to New York for this radio version but it's been a real pleasure working with you here on Cavalcade I was present last week at a private showing of they died with their boots on and I can sincerely say that Warner Brothers Studio did an extraordinary job I wasn't just watching it I was living it especially the exciting battle well it was a tough job Clayton I'm glad you liked it but I don't think I'll ever forget shooting that battle scene you know I used to get a little nervous working with those Indians you see they were real Sue from the Dakota Reservation the actual descendants of the Braves who fought the original battle and I kept remembering I was dressed like General Custis I just had my fingers crossed hoping they'd remember I was just kidding but seriously Clayton I hope tonight's Cavalcade has given your listeners an impression of what to expect when they see the new picture it's been lots of fun and before I go may I say thank you to the Cavalcade players and I'm sure John Bennett will enjoy working on Cavalcade just as much as I have I understand she's your star next week oh yes there all she is we have a great story for John Bennett next week it's dark young colorful and romantic novel of the old south so read the rose Paramount made it into a wonderful movie don't forget next week the Cavalcade of America stars John Bennett in a radio version of Stark Young's great romantic story of America's Southland so read the rose on tonight's program the orchestra and the original musical score were under the direction of Don Burry on the Cavalcade of America your announcer is Clayton Collier sending best wishes from Dupont the Red Network of the National Broadcasting Company