Fort Apache

John Wayne and Henry Fonda are iconic actors, and you have a tendency to know what sort of characters to expect from them. "Fort Apache" is a good movie, but what makes it really interesting to watch is that both Wayne and Fonda are cast a little bit against type in this. That's a bit jarring, and it forces you to watch, because you don't know exactly what to expect from them as the movie goes on. For a western that has surprisingly little action (the requisite "cowboys and Indians scene comes only in the last half hour) the performances from these two alone make this worth watching.

Fort Apache is a lonely US army outpost in the years after the Civil War. Nothing much happens there, and it's not a particularly prestigious assignment. The officers and men are comfortable and unchallenged under the command of Wayne's Captain York. Things change when Fonda's Col. Thursday shows up to assume command. Thursday is a bitter character. He thinks he's better than Fort Apache, and he resents being assigned to the command. You get the impression that he was a well regarded Union officer in the Civil War who just got overlooked in peacetime. But he's an officer, and Fort Apache is his assignment and he's determined to make it the best outfit in the US Army. No more comfortable outpost. The men wear proper uniforms, they drill, they train. Thursday's awkward in the command. Fort Apache is a close knit post, and he just doesn't fit in. His interactions with the soldiers and other officers are stiff and formal. Wayne's relaxed York and Fonda's by the book Thursday make this an interesting character study more than a western for the most part.

For all his attention to detail, though, Thursday has a basic problem: he yearns for glory, and he's not especially competent. Given the chance he orders his men to attack a group of Apaches returning from Mexico who've been promised by York that they could negotiate. But Thursday wants to beat them in battle and make his name, over York's protests. Not surprisingly, the end result is not unlike Custer's Last Stand.

This is a character study, and the characters are strong. It's not only Wayne and Fonda. There are other good performances in this as well. I was quite taken with the very pretty 20 year old Shirley Temple as Thursday's daughter. Interestingly, her love interest in the movie is played by John Agar, her real life husband at the time. Ward Bond was also very good as Sgt. Maj. O' Rourke. The battle scenes are restricted to the last half hour or so, and they serve primarily to show Thursday making blunders and rejecting the advice of those who know the Apache better than he does. The last scene of the movie is the classic example of a manufactured hero. Killed by the Apache after his own incompetence doomed him, Thursday is turned into a gallant national hero. York assumes command of Fort Apache, but the portrait of Thursday hangs over him. Those we recognize as heroes aren't always the real heroes apparently.

It's a well done movie. If you're expecting a traditional cowboy and Indian shoot out, you won't find it here. BUt it has a few humorous moments, and if you're looking for a solid, character driven western featuring two very good actors, Fort Apache will definitely satisfy. (7/10)

First entry in trilogy cavalry including glorification of military life , familiar drama , love and sentimental nostalgia with interesting character studio of a varied assortment of individuals . This is the initial outing in John Ford's trilogy cavalry continuing ¨ She wore a yellow ribbon¨ and ¨Rio Grande ¨ based on stories by James Warner Bellah . It's a first-rate Western masterfully directed by the great John Ford . This is a great Western drama, John Ford's lusty realization and a real classic . Commandant Owen ( Henry Fonda ) is a new and rigid Colonel who arrives along with his young daughter (Shirley Temple) in a fort nearly to Mexican frontier. Owen decides to do a name for himself by beginning a war with the Apaches Chiricaguas and Mezcaleros led by Cochise , against the advice of his two experienced captains ( John Wayne , George O'Brien ). Then the commandant of the far outpost - who has a difficult relationship to his underlings - leads a dangerous campaign against the Indians .

This classic picture ranks as one of the best of John Ford's work. It contains Ford's usual themes as familiar feeling , a little bit of enjoyable humor, a community decided to build the civilization on a virgin territory , friendship and and sense of comradeship among people . Furthermore , ample shots on cloudy and nebulous skies , prairies and mountains filmed at Monument Valley and Professor Valley. Interesting screenplay portraying in depth characters and brooding events with interesting issues running beneath script surface is written by Frank S. Nugent based on a story by James Warner Bellah , booth of whom are John Ford's habitual . Spectacular scenes when the Apaches Indian-Chiricagua and Mezcaleros-spontaneously attack the unit in its last stand .

This excellent film featuring a magnificent performance by whole casting . Awesome John Wayne in a larger-than-life character . Enticing and intimate Shirley Temple , Irene Rich , Anna Lee in sensible roles with sensational performances . Excellent co-starring cast , introducing John Agar - subsequently remembered as the lieutenant in 'she wore a yellow ribbon' , here his first main role . Good cinematography by William H. Clothier and Archie Stout reflecting splendidly marvelous outdoors from mythical Monument Valley , a place that Ford was often to revisit and he befriends Indians tribes . Emotive and vivid score by Richard Hageman based on traditional music ; it contains a wonderful song that is sung on some touching scenes among sweet glances of John Agar and Shirley Temple . In the movie appears all habitual Ford's friends as War Bond , Dick Foran ,Jack Pennick , Hank Worden , Grant Withers , Jack Pennick , Guy Keebe, Pedro Armendariz and , of course , the great Victor McLagen as grumpy sergeant in charge of training the new recruits . The movie is stunningly produced by Merian C Cooper - Argosy Pictures Production- and magnificently filmed by Ford with direction assistant by Cliff Lyons . Avoid a horrible version shown in computer-colored . Rating : Very good, better than average.

An American Western; A story about an arrogant and stubborn Civil War hero Lieutenant Colonel Owen Thursday who arrives in Arizona to assume command of the Fort Apache outpost and clashes with level-headed Captain Kirby York. This is the first of three remarkable films director John Ford made about the United States Cavalry fighting Apache, Sioux, and Cheyenne. This film deals with topics such as leadership, responsibility, heroism, and legend, and one of the first films to present a more authentic and sympathetic view of Native Americans. It is characterised by a superb example of military academy officer stiffness and a martinet approach to soldiering; there is further interest is in his meeting a more organic Western community at the isolated outpost. The character, Lt. Col. Owen Thursday, was inspired by General George Armstrong Custer and his ill-fated stand at Little Big Horn. Immaculate and painstaking detail was given to the story's period and setting. Henry Fonda and John Wayne gave the drama vigour. Ford's direction achieved broad scope, employing a non-linear narrative using digressions from the main storyline to help produce the atmosphere of a military outpost, making the main theme about moral ambiguity in warfare powerful.

This film captures all the magic found in classic Hollywood westerns, but it isn't just a western. This film is a war picture too. It also, has action, adventure, romance, a tiny bit of dancing and a little bit of comedy thrown in too. It bases itself off of historical source materials and situations, that took place around 1870. It has those classic ingredients that made it a popular sensation when it was first released in theaters in 1948. But, what makes this film different from all of those other films of its kind, was the sweeping camera-style of John Ford.

When you watch this film, it tends to give you the visuals needed, to prove to you, that this movie is way ahead of its time. Ford's use of his actors, his framing of the shots, his utilization of the terrain, as well as, the cloud patterns in the sky, along with excellent experience with black and white film, all make his films pop more than most of his other fellow filmmakers of the time. What's even crazier is he can get this effect out, even with standard 4:3 cameras. We need to remember, this was a pre-widescreen film and because of Ford's excellent compositions, you forget that it is in standard screen size.

This is an interesting casting job for Henry Fonda, who plays Lieutenant Colonel Owen Thursday, who through politics, is sent to a barren location in dangerous Apache territory, to take command of Fort Apache, a few years after the Civil War ended. It is a disrespectful demotion for him, so naturally he is a little bit sour about the whole thing, which translates to arrogance, when he has to deal with his new soldiers he has at his command. In his attempt to retrieve his glory days, he negatively rubs up against his subordinates, most notably, Captain Kirby York (John Wayne). York's experience and knowledge of the Apache Indians, their leader Cochise (Miguel Inclan), the surrounding area of the Apache territory and the rugged Arizona landscape, collides with Thursday's need to succeed.

At the same time, Thursday's daughter, Philadelphia (Shirley Temple), is stirring up things as well, falling in love with a young soldier, 2nd Lieutenant Michael Shannon O'Rourke (John Agar in his first film), which totally brings the stuffy arrogance out of Thursday. His disapproval is felt quite heavily in the plot and coming from the screen. Fonda gives a great, convincing performance, as the disgruntled Thursday, who needs to solve the problem with the Apaches, as well as, coming to terms with his daughter's future. He expels the arrogance and impudence from the screen, but also shows us his honorable, professional, polite side, that comes from the roots of his successes during the war.

There also are a number of other classic Hollywood actors, who do their part, to make this film the critical success it has enjoyed for the last 75 years. Names like, Ward Bond, Dick Foran and Grant Withers, just to name a few. If you are looking for a textbook John Ford movie, especially one in 4:3, this is the one to see. Hopefully, you are pleasantly tricked up too, when you realize, that this film isn't widescreen too, just like I was. It looks that good.

8.6 (B+ MyGrade) = 8 IMDB.

I think that a list of John Wayne's five best pictures has to include Fort Apache. It's the first and best of the cavalry trilogy that he did with John Ford. Oddly enough he has less screen time here than in the other two, due to the fact that he was co-starring with another big Hollywood name in Henry Fonda.

It's first and foremost the story of a clash between two men who see the United States Army in very different terms. Fonda is a former general who's seen glory in the Civil War, but has been shunted aside. He wants to get back on top in the worst way. He's exiled to Fort Apache in the Arizona territory while the big headlines concerning the Indian wars are going to the campaign against the plains Indians which was true enough.

Wayne has also seen some glory in the Civil War. But he's a professional soldier and just wants to live long enough to retire. In fact Ward Bond who is the sergeant major at the post has also dropped down in rank, he was a major in the Civil War and a Medal of Honor winner. This was a common occurrence at the end of the Civil War. During the war, promotions came swiftly because of battlefield service. Something called a brevet rank was instituted a kind of temporary promotion. You could be a brevet brigadier general and have an actual rank of something like major. After the Civil War as the U.S. Army shrunk to its pre-war size, soldier reverted to previous ranks. This was something John Ford was keenly aware of when he made Fort Apache.

Ford's stock company was never better. Even minor bit parts are woven nicely into the whole story. And his photography of Monument Valley, it's beauty and vastness was never better even when he used color. Look at the scenes with John Agar and Shirley Temple riding and with Wayne and Pedro Armendariz on their way to parley with Cochise. Really great cinematography.

Ford had a couple of inside comments in the film. In a scene where Henry Fonda is getting an incomplete message from the post telegrapher, the telegrapher who might have strolled in from a Cagney-O'Brien film informs his commander that the message was interrupted "in the middle of the last woid." With both Irish and southern recruits in Fort Apache, a Brooklynese telegrapher would not have been out of place.

George O'Brien and Anna Lee, play Sam and Emily Collingwood who both knew Henry Fonda's Owen Thursday way back in the day. It's hinted that O'Brien had a drinking problem and that's why he's at Fort Apache, but he's looking for a transfer out. It comes as the regiment is moving out against Cochise.

Charles Collingwood was the second in command to Admiral Nelson at Trafalgar. Nelson became a British hero martyr, historians know about Charles Collingwood. When newspapermen at the end of Fort Apache remark about men like "Collingworth"not being remembered, it was John Ford making a statement about the worth of all the men who contribute their lives to defend their nations not just the leader heroes.

That remark by the way is the stage for one of John Wayne's finest acted scenes in his career. A soliloquy photographed through a cabin window about the life of the professional soldier, the camaraderie, the toughness, the bravery required of these men and how they deliver for their nation.

In a later film John Ford uses the line that in the west "when the legend becomes fact, print the legend." Henry Fonda's quest for martial glory was a blunder, but his story for the sake and tradition of his regiment is whitewashed and he becomes an inspiration.

Of course some of the lowbrow comedy that one expects from John Ford is here aplenty with the four drinking sergeants and their efforts to make soldiers out of the recruits. Led by Victor McLaglen, the quartet rounds out with Dick Foran, Jack Pennick, and Pedro Armendariz. See how they dispose of the contraband they are charged with destroying and its consequences.

Fort Apache also takes the side of the Indian here. Cochise played by an impassive Miguel Inclan is a figure of strength and dignity. Later on Jeff Chandler in another film brought speech to the dignity and that role launched his career. Cochise is the only true major figure in the film. He bedeviled the U.S. Cavalry for over a decade in Arizona Territory with guerrilla tactics Mao Tse Tung would have envied.

Fort Apache is a grand ensemble film and you will not be bored for one second in watching it.