Fort Apache (1948)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Graham J

  
  The greatest of the "Cavalry" trilogy. Packed with great social commentary and amazing performances by Fonda, Wayne and Ward Bond. Fonda's final scene is one of the most powerful I've seen.

• Conner R

  
  The first part in John Ford's Cavalry Trilogy and it's a complete epic. It's hard to find any mistakes, potholes or dull spots; probably because they don't exist. This is a wonderful story with great characters, messages, and overall outlook concerning the west.… More
  The first part in John Ford's Cavalry Trilogy and it's a complete epic. It's hard to find any mistakes, potholes or dull spots; probably because they don't exist. This is a wonderful story with great characters, messages, and overall outlook concerning the west. Henry Fonda went against his usual personality and plays quite a flawed man, sick with a case of too much pride. John Wayne plays a supporting role in this, but his character is so important to the plot that he completely overshadows everyone else. He might have a fraction of some of the others lines, but he's there when it means something.

• Cassandra M

  
  I know that many consider Red River or The Searchers to be Wayne's greatest cowboy movies, but for me, you can't get better than Fort Apache. It is the first of John Ford and John Wayne's cavalry trilogy and is the best of the lot. I think the most interesting thing… More
  I know that many consider Red River or The Searchers to be Wayne's greatest cowboy movies, but for me, you can't get better than Fort Apache. It is the first of John Ford and John Wayne's cavalry trilogy and is the best of the lot. I think the most interesting thing about the film is its rather sympathetic view of the American Indians--they were shown as being decent and 3-dimensional and Wayne repeatedly stressed the importance of our country keeping its word of honor to them as well. In fact, it was very funny seeing Wayne portraying the voice of reason while Henry Fonda was more of a martinet and could have cared less about honor and truth. Along the way, these two great actors are supported by old familiars like Victor McLaglen and Ward Bond, as well as Shirley Temple and her then husband, John Agar. Despite criticism leveled towards Agar by the media over the years (and to a lesser extent, to the adult Temple), I think they did just fine in their roles and made a positive contribution to the movie. And finally, the action and cinematography is tops. It's hard to imagine a more beautiful black and white film or one where so much care and effort was given to make a great film.

• xGary X

  
  One of John Ford's classic tales of the US cavalry, Fort Apache flies in the face of the established stereotypical western and portrays Cochise as an intelligent and honourable man acting for the good of his people. Henry Fonda who we are far more used to playing heroic,… More
  One of John Ford's classic tales of the US cavalry, Fort Apache flies in the face of the established stereotypical western and portrays Cochise as an intelligent and honourable man acting for the good of his people. Henry Fonda who we are far more used to playing heroic, sympathetic roles is the cavalry officer ordered to bring him back to the reservation whose arrogance and lack of understanding of or respect for the Apache leads to disaster. For the first half of the film, I thought "Fort Squaredance" would be a far more appropriate name as it is a full hour before an Apache is to be seen. These horse soldiers seem to spend much more time drinking and dancing than riding and fighting! The opening of the film is typical of Ford's dewy eyed romanticism of the old west featuring the usual mix of likable, hard drinking rabble-rousing soldiers, slapstick comedy and naive romanticism set to epic western landscapes. Things get far more interesting as the Indian nation reveals itself and Ford pulls no punches showing the folly of the US government's handling of the situation. John Wayne was always best when working with Ford and this is one of his best roles and Fonda's casting against type works really well. It's a shame the build up is so long winded because when it finally gets going it's brilliant. If you can stomach an hour of old fashioned romantic comedy, the climax is well worth the effort.

• Ken S

  
  Henry Fonda squares off against the Duke in this dark take on the cavalry mythos. It's interesting that this film flies in the face of Ford's infamous quote "print the legend." While it does embrace that this story became a classic tale of bravery, it reveals… More
  Henry Fonda squares off against the Duke in this dark take on the cavalry mythos. It's interesting that this film flies in the face of Ford's infamous quote "print the legend." While it does embrace that this story became a classic tale of bravery, it reveals that the "hero" behind it was a narcissistic glory hungry fool

• Matthew Y

  
  I don't get why John Wayne gets top billing here. This is Henry Fonda's movie from start to finish. His portrayal of the 'by the book' and 'my way or the highway' Lt. Col. Owen Thursday is a frustratingly engaging performance. His frictions with his… More
  I don't get why John Wayne gets top billing here. This is Henry Fonda's movie from start to finish. His portrayal of the 'by the book' and 'my way or the highway' Lt. Col. Owen Thursday is a frustratingly engaging performance. His frictions with his daughter and his men are reminiscent of a future Humphrey Bogart performance as Lt. Queeg in The Caine Mutiny. The film also has an ending that almost mirrors another John Ford classic The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance where after Thursdays demise Wayne's character gives him the hero sendoff instead of telling the journalists the way things really went down. Fairly deserving of it's 'classic' billing.

• Jeffrey M

  
  Made in 1948, Fort Apache is way ahead of its' time in a number of ways, namely its' complex themes. Henry Fonda is terrific, and the rest of the cast shines as well. My only significant criticism comes as a result of not enough of The Duke. A lesson Ford would later learn… More
  Made in 1948, Fort Apache is way ahead of its' time in a number of ways, namely its' complex themes. Henry Fonda is terrific, and the rest of the cast shines as well. My only significant criticism comes as a result of not enough of The Duke. A lesson Ford would later learn from.

• Jonny C

  
  Another great John Ford Western. Fort Apache tells the story of a bitter colonel who gets assigned to a remote fort after a brilliant war record. Director Ford's portrayal of the actual story shines the light on Colonel Thursday as a glory hunting fool, rather than a heroic war… More
  Another great John Ford Western. Fort Apache tells the story of a bitter colonel who gets assigned to a remote fort after a brilliant war record. Director Ford's portrayal of the actual story shines the light on Colonel Thursday as a glory hunting fool, rather than a heroic war hero. I loved the performances from The Duke and Fonda, who are given able support from an adult Shirley Temple, and then husband John Ager. I also thought the cinematography was first-class, and I enjoyed the authentic dialogue. Fort Apache is a definite must see for all Western fans.

• Andre T

  
  1948 western film directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne and Henry Fonda. The film was the first of the director's "cavalry trilogy" and was followed by She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949) and Rio Grande (1950), both starring Wayne. The story, which screenwriter… More
  1948 western film directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne and Henry Fonda. The film was the first of the director's "cavalry trilogy" and was followed by She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949) and Rio Grande (1950), both starring Wayne. The story, which screenwriter James Warner Bellah based loosely on George Armstrong Custer and the Battle of Little Bighorn, as well as the Fetterman Massacre of 1866, was one of the first to present an authentic and sympathetic view of the Native Americans involved in the battle (Apache in the film, Sioux in the real battles). The film was awarded the Best Director and Best Cinematography awards by the Locarno International Film Festival of Locarno, Switzerland. After the American Civil War, highly-respected veteran Captain Kirby York (John Wayne) is expected to replace the outgoing commander at Fort Apache, an isolated U.S. cavalry post. York had commanded his own regiment during the Civil War and was well-qualified to assume permanent command. To the surprise and disappointment of the company, command of the regiment was given to Lieutenant Colonel Owen Thursday (Henry Fonda). Thursday, a West Point graduate, was a general during the Civil War. Despite his Civil War combat record, Lieutenant Colonel Thursday lacks experience with the Indians he is expected to oversee, and is an arrogant and egocentric officer. Great cinematography and some good dialogues, but a little dated.

• cody f

  
  Great Ford western with Fonda as a by the book Colonel in the frontier clashing with experienced Indian fighter Wayne. Great performances shot in beautiful black and white with a fantastic ending.

• MJS M

  
  John Ford was a brilliant director, his location shooting and compositions were amazing, he?s simply one of the most influential filmmakers of all time, however, he had a lot of political beliefs that I don?t agree with. This is one of his most ideologically strange works as it feels… More
  John Ford was a brilliant director, his location shooting and compositions were amazing, he?s simply one of the most influential filmmakers of all time, however, he had a lot of political beliefs that I don?t agree with. This is one of his most ideologically strange works as it feels like a great anti-war story made by a pro-war filmmaker. The film tells the story of a frontier cavalry fort and culminates with a Custer-like coronal foolishly leading his troops to their death. This should be an anti-war, anti-authority story, but Ford doesn?t have a revolutionary bone in his body. In the hands of a Billy Wilder this would be a story of gloom and tragedy, but Ford sees it as a story of triumph and courage, ford seems interested in encourage unjust historical revisionism and the glorification of authority figures. On the bright side, the depiction of the Native Americans here is slightly, and I do mean slightly, more enlightened than most films of this time. This is of course a John Ford film, and thus it is awesome for it?s visual storytelling majesty, and the story does hold up. This is great filmmaking even if it doesn?t fit with my personal political beliefs.

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