<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> 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>
song from they died with their boots on
song from they died with their boots on
Garryowen
Garryowen