Fort Apache (1948)

FORT APACHE is quite possibly my favourite of the John Ford westerns I've watched thus far, featuring a winning combination of male stars Henry Fonda and John Wayne. The story is a thinly-guised version of the famous Custer tale in which a lieutenant colonel's hubris and hatred of the Apaches leads to an ill-advised venture against them, ultimately spelling disaster. Although the running time is lengthy, this is a well-mounted production that has a bit of everything, from humour to drama, romance to tragedy. Wayne's upstanding protagonist is a good guy to vouch for, Fonda's acting is commendable, and the supporting cast is chock-full of familiar faces including a grown-up Shirley Temple alongside Victor McLaglen, Ward Bond, Grant Withers, et al.

This film is the first and to my mind the best of John Ford's cavalry trilogy. It is the Custer story in all but name, with Henry Fonda as Colonel Owen Thursday in the Custer role, and John Wayne's Captain York presumably representing Captain Benteen, one of Custer's subordinates at the Little Big Horn, who despised Custer and openly clashed with him several times. This film is notable for its detailed portrayal of life on an army outpost, the like of which I cannot recall seeing to this extent in any other film. The Apaches are treated with sympathy in the film. Captain York respects them, and tries to get Colonel Thursday to, but Colonel Thursday is more interested in winning glory by defeating them. During the film, Colonel Thursday and Captain York clash several times, but at the end, with Thursday's attack on the Apaches a disaster, Captain York tries to rescue him and take him to safety. It is here that Colonel Thursday redeems himself to some extent by insisting on returning to the remains of his command to die with them. All in all, a great film.

Spielberg,Scorcese,and other Directors have said that John Ford is the greatest American director. Ford was a tough, often bullying director,who didn't like to talk about the underlying themes of His films. He was,however,a romantic and progressive storyteller. For romance look to films like "How Green Was My Valley","The Quiet Man",or "3 Godfathers". As a progressive,look at how in several different Westerns He portrays Native Americans as fighting to preserve their land,and way of life, while showing many white characters as ignorant and racist.After John Wayne was so good in Howard Hawks' "Red River",Ford said "I Didn't know He could really act!",and yet He repeatedly used Wayne as the lead in His films.This is probably an example of Ford running down an actor, to keep them from getting a high opinion of themselves. In "Fort Apache", however,Wayne is relegated to virtually a supporting role, as this is obliviously Henry Fondas' film,with a character that is so antithetical to His normal,likable,relateable,everyman persona.(See "My Darling Clementine","The Grapes of Wrath",or "Twelve Angry Men"etc.) But though His character is pompous and glory hungry,He's interesting, and you keep hoping that He might see the error of his ways before it's too late. But Ford didn't want a unbelievable reverse in the character's personality,just to have a happy ending. Instead, He let Lieutenant Colonel Thursdays' shortcomings run it's course,and let Him lead his command to ruin and massacre. All the better to show how our heroes are often a flimsy facade. You'd like to slap Thursday,but you can't stop watching. The two other films in Fords' Cavalry trilogy might be more fun, but they aren't as meaningful,or any better done.

I wish they had shot this in color as planned or that there was a good "authorized" color version out there. Don't be fooled by the color cover. It's black and white. Henry Fonda and John Wayne do their best work here with Wayne taking the side of the Apache Indians. Shirley Temple is terrific as the Colonel's pretty young daughter. It's a long movie; over 130 minutes. At first I thought it was "slow." But with all that time, Director Ford gets to show life, tradition and chivalry on the old frontier. Details sadly missing in most other westerns. It shows the new recruits training and there is much humor until the movie gets "down to business." Based on a story entitled "Massacre" so it's obvious what's going to happen here, or is it? New post commander Colonel Thursday (Fonda) is disgruntled because he was transferred to this God-forsaken fort in Arizona. He wants his undeserved fame and glory so he lures Cochise into a trap, but he is the one that gets trapped; by his own arrogance and disrespect for the courage and intelligence of the Apache Nation. It is not the Apache that get massacred. Capt. York (Wayne) takes over the command when Colonel Thursday falls. He leads what remains of the troop not into victory, but an honorable truce. In true Calvary tradition, he does not speak ill of his fallen though misguided commander. Shirley marries her young lieutenant and the tradition of honor continues. A vivid portrayal of frontier Army life but probably not very accurate. Seeing the men march into battle is truly inspiring and thrilling to watch. A rousing musical score. John Ford knows how to tell a story well. Terrific staging and amazing stunt work. This film is so good that I soon forgot that it was in black and white and enjoyed it immensely. Even in b/w, the Utah mountains and photography are superb. Perhaps Ford decided against the use of color because of the somber drama in the final climax. Great performances by all, even Henry Fonda. I believe that this is Wayne's finest performance, and that's saying a lot considering how many movies he made. Also perhaps the best role John Agar ever had as well. He appeared in a few good movies with John Wayne but mostly is remembered for his "B" Sci-Fi movies. Violent but not bloody, Fort Apache was made in the tradition of the great American westerns.