Le Sergent noir

I first caught the tail end of this John Ford masterpiece on AMC during Black History month, and couldn't wait for it to pop up on the schedule again so I could see the whole thing. I couldn't believe I had never heard of this film before, and after I did some research and discovered how reviewers in 1960 had dismissed it, I understood why. They went expecting To Kill A Mockingbird and got Breaker Morant instead. Ford was WAY ahead of his time with this one. Woody Strode, who plays the title character, helped break the color barrier in professional football years before Jackie Robinson did so in baseball. And he broke some huge barriers in this film, too. Every young black man -- heck, every young American male today -- should be required to watch this film. As Strode later said, Ford and script writers "put classic words in my mouth." Words that would be echoed three years later by Dr. Martin Luther King in his immortal "I Have A Dream" speech at the Lincoln memorial.

One of two late career atonement projects, the other being "Cheyenne Autumn", from John Ford to make up for racism toward African and Native Americans in his earlier films. Of the two this is clearly the superior. It is crisply paced, as opposed to the too rambling and drawn out "Autumn", and darker as well since it introduces, on top of racial prejudice, the evil of sexual perversion, definitely uncharted territory for a film maker whose attitude toward women was protective and gallant to a fault. So it's interesting to see how Ford deals with this uncomfortable material which he does, in my opinion, fairly forthrightly, and without too much histrionics.

My criticism of this film is, like its pace, crisp: Too little Woody Strode, too much Jeffrey Hunter, and WAY too much Billie Burke (as in "go back to that Victor Fleming movie you wandered in from"). Give it a B.

Excellent and landmark Western with a complex structure by means of flashback , being one of the best Ford films . It deals with a respected black cavalry Sergeant Brax Rutledge (Woody Strode) who saves a damsel in distress (Constance Towers) who is besieged by Indians . Later on , he stands court-martial for raping and killing a white woman and murdering her father , his superior commanding officer . As Rutledge on trial for rape and murder , as a tribunal presided by a good judge (Willis Bouchey) , there he is defended by a lieutenant lawyer (Jeffrey Hunter as defense attorney) and accused by a stiff prosecutor (Carleton Young) .

The tale of a court-martial told in flash-back , about a black cavalry officer on trail , well handled by master filmmaker Ford . Interesting and thought-provoking screenplay written by Willis Goldbeck , being based on James Warner Bellah novel , titled ¨Captain Buffalo¨ . This was a true landmark cavalry western , as it marked a strange occasion when a film from a major studio , Warner Brothers , depicted an African-American player as the central heroic figure . While the movie's stance on tackling racism is laudable , here there are lots of courtroom settings that proved to be claustrophobic . The courtroom is deliberately oppressed but does make the picture somewhat static ; however it includes an intriguing and twisted result to the end . Top-notch acting by Woody Strode , giving a moving performance as a heroic , yet human figure who refuses to be beaten by circumstances . Here Strode has his first main role , being usually a nice secondary actor . Support cast is frankly awesome , such as : Juano Hernandez , Willis Bouchey , Carleton Young , Rafer Johnson , final film of Billie Burke and Mae Marsh ; many of them are Ford's ordinaries .

Colorful and evocative cinematography by Bert Glennon filmed in Monument Valley , Arizona , of course . Stirring and thrilling musical score by Howard Jackson , including wonderful songs by Jay Livingstone . The motion picture was well directed by the master of the unspoken emotion , John Ford , who carries out a detailed look at covert and over racism ; however , John has to rely on long speeches to get his points across . Ford puts on the highest pedestal of human honor to an African-American , which by that time when the film was made , it resulted to be a heroism . It proved the false accusations against John Ford as a racist director . Along with his cavalry trilogy : ¨They wore yellow ribbons¨, ¨Rio Grande¨ , ¨Fort Apache¨ , and ¨Stagecoach¨, ¨Searchers¨, ¨The man who shot Liberty Valance¨, this ¨Sergeant Rutledge¨ turned to to be one of the best Westerns .

When I was scannning the reviews of this excellent movie, I found one comment that really flipped me out... REMAKE A JOHN FORD CLASSIC like Sergeant Rutledge????? Good Lord, what are you thinking. I am basically opposed to most remakes anyway,but this film in particular has stood the test of time just fine.... As another reviewer said,it is NOT a typical John Ford film,but it has to be one of his best. Woody Strode,one of the most under rated black actors of his generation is superb as in the title role. I would have to do some research to see how many films he did for Ford..in this film he is amazing. Jeffrey Hunter as defense attorney Tom Cantrell also turns in an excellent performance,caught between the proverbial rock and hard place when he is 'forced' to defend Rutledge. Constance Towers as Hunter's conscience, the school teacher, Mary is also quite good. Comic relief is provided by Billie Burke(Glinda the good) as the commanding general's wife,who cannot understand why she cant sit in the front row.

I have drawn a complete blank as to the actor who plays the prosecutor at Rutledge's courtmartial, but he is also very good... shades of Hamilton Burger. As much as I respect Denzel Washington as an actor ,I can't imagine him agreeing to remake this excellent film.... as for Ben Affleck as Cantrell, NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS. As I said in a previous review, if it ain't broke,don't fix it.....Bearing in mind that Ford, Hunter and Strode are all gone, it just wouldnt be right.

It was alright for Mr. Lincoln to say we was free. But that ain't so! Not yet! Maybe some day, but not yet!

John Ford's Sergeant Rutledge tells the story of a black man, 1st Sgt. Braxton Rutledge, a Buffalo Soldier of the 9th U.S. Cavalry who was up before a court-martial for the rape and murder of a white girl, Major Dabney's daughter, Lucy.

Taking place in the court room the story is told in flashback as Rutledge's (Woody Strode) troop officer, and defence council, Lt. Tom Cantrell (Jeffrey Hunter) attempts to piece together the evidence. From the outset Ford is on biting form as the case is being tried in a biased and corruptible court, we as the viewers are left in no doubt that Rutledge could be at the mercy of obnoxious white racists. It's one of the many things that makes the film a bold and at times angry picture. This was after all two years before the critically acclaimed To Kill A Mockingbird, thus making it one of the flag bearers for early acknowledgement of race relations in America.

As the sharp narrative moves forward, cloaked in visual excellence with Bert Glennon this time being Ford's cinematographer of choice, the film always keeps us guessing as to the outcome. We really can never be sure, such is the stench of racism that hangs heavy, a stench that is counter pointed by Woody Strode's wonderful and powerful performance as the on trial man. Also in fine physical shape at 46, Strode serves notice to just what a fine and important actor he was in relation to Black Americans in Hollywood. Hunter is handsome and strong in vocal delivery as the council in the middle of a real tricky trial, and Constance Towers as Mary Beecher is the glue binding them, and the story, all together.

It's a first rate picture from Ford, one that is largely (and wrongly) forgotten when talk of his oeuvre comes around. Still awaiting a DVD release in the UK, it's evident that it still remains hidden from many a prospective new viewer. This needs correcting because it's bold, beautiful and important cinema from a master director, who, as always, had much to say. 9/10