“Fort Apache” (1948) directed by John Ford, starring John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Shirley Temple & Pedro Armendáriz / Z-View
Fort Apache (1948)
Director: John Ford
Screenplay: Frank S. Nugent based on Massacre by James Warner Bellah
Stars: John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Shirley Temple, Pedro Armendáriz, Ward Bond, Victor McLaglen, Anna Lee, Dick Foran, Guy Kibbee, Movita, Mary Gordon, John Agar, Hank Worden, Ben Johnson and Grant Withers.
Tagline: John Ford’s Masterpiece of the Frontier!
The Plot…
Lieutenant Colonel Owen Thursday (Fonda) has been assigned the command of Fort Apache, a remote post located deep on the frontier. Thursday sees this as an insult. He feels he was on track for greater things. Thursday is arrogant, overbearing and sees himself as a class above the men he commands. He thinks even less of Native Americans.
Arriving at Fort Apache at the same time as Lieutenant Colonel Owen Thursday is his daughter, Philadelphia (Temple) and West Point graduate Lieutenant Michael O’Rourke (Agar). Michael’s father, Sergeant Major Michael O’Rourke (Bond) also serves at Fort Apache.
From the moment he arrives, Lieutenant Colonel Thursday puts himself at odds with the well liked Captain York (Wayne) and Sergeant O’Rourke. The friction intensifies when Cochise stirs unrest among the Apache. Captain York explains the government’s Indian Agent, Silas Meacham has been shorting the tribe’s food allocations. Meacham has also been providing the Apache with cheap whiskey and repeating rifles. Thursday downplays this.
Colonel Thursday intends to round up the Apache or kill them if they refuse to return to the reservation. Captain York warns that the Apache outnumber the local soldiers four to one. Thursday ignores York. He sees an opportunity to enhance his reputation.
This will not end well.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Shirley Temple and John Agar’s characters fall in love. The two were a married couple in real life.
Actor/stuntman Ben Johnson appears in the film, as a stuntman for Henry Fonda.
Fort Apache’s culminating battle is loosely based on Custer’s Last Stand and how Custer’s mistakes were downplayed to create a legendary hero.
Fort Apache (1948) rates 4 of 5 stars.