Sergeant Rutledge (1960)
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100% of critics liked it
(6 reviews) -
86% of users liked it
(276 ratings)
The first big budget Western to feature a black hero, this military courtroom drama from director John Ford starred his long-time stock player Woody Strode. When a cavalry commander and his daughter are discovered murdered, racism amidst the 9th Cavalry immediately leads to suspicions that Sergeant… More The first big budget Western to feature a black hero, this military courtroom drama from director John Ford starred his long-time stock player Woody Strode. When a cavalry commander and his daughter are discovered murdered, racism amidst the 9th Cavalry immediately leads to suspicions that Sergeant Braxton Rutledge (Strode), a black man, is responsible for the crime. Arrested by Lieutenant Tom Cantrell (Jeffrey Hunter), Rutledge escapes from captivity during an Indian raid but voluntarily returns to warn his fellow cavalrymen that they are about to face an ambush by hostiles, saving the detachment from certain doom. At first among those who accept Rutledge's probable guilt, Cantrell and his love interest Mary Beecher (Constance Towers) become two of the accused man's scarce defenders as he is put on trial and faces testimony from prejudiced "witnesses." ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
- Directed By
- John Ford
- Written By
- James Warner Bellah, Willis Goldbeck
- Genres
- Western, Drama, Classics
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- May 18, 1960 Wide
- On DVD
- Jun 6, 2006
- Studio
- Warner Bros. Pictures
Critic Reviews
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Michael E. Grost, Classic Film and Television
Extraordinary Western works at all levels, as rousing story telling, visual beauty and Civil Rights drama.
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Noted as the first major Hollywood western to feature an African-American hero.
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Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
An astonishing film not only for its sheer visual and narrative excellence but also for its early acknowledgement of race relations in America.
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Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Effective anti-racist western from Ford.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Jeffrey Hunter
as Lt. Tom Cantrell
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Constance Towers
as Mary Beecher
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Billie Burke
as Mrs. Cordelia Fosgate
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Woody Strode
as Sgt. Braxton Rutledge
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Carleton Young
as Capt. Shattuck
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Willis B. Bouchey
as Col. Otis Fosgate
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Juano Hernandez
as Sgt. Matthew Luke Skidmore
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Judson Pratt
as Lt. Mulqueen
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Bill Henry
as Capt. Dwyer
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Walter Reed
as Capt. MacAfee
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Chuck Hayward
as Capt. Dickinson
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Mae Marsh
as Nellie
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Fred Libby
as Chandler Hubble
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Charles Seel
as Dr. C.J. Eckner
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Shug Fisher
as Mr. Owens
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William Henry
as Capt. Dwyer
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Cliff Lyons
as Sam Beecher
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Eva Novak
as Spectator
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Chuck Roberson
as Juror
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Jan Styne
as Chris Hubble
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Estelle Winwood
as Spectator
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Hank Worden
as Laredo
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Jack Pennick
as Sergeant
