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John Ford's 1948 classic stars John Wayne as a Cavalry officer used to doing things a certain way out West at Fort Apache. Along comes a rigid, new commanding officer (Henry Fonda) who insists that everything on his watch be done by the book, including dealings with local Indians. The results are mixed: greater discipline at the fort, but increased hostilities with the natives. Ford deliberately leaves judgments about the wisdom of these changes ambiguous, but he also allows plenty of room in this wonderful film for the fullness of life among the soldiers and their families--community rituals, new romances--to blossom. Fonda, in an unusual role for him, is stern and formal as the new man in charge; Wayne is heroic as the rebellious second; Victor McLaglen provides comic relief; and Ward Bond is a paragon of sturdy and sentimental masculinity. All of this is set against the magnificent, poetic topography of Monument Valley. This is easily one of the greatest of American films. --Tom Keogh
Synopsis
The first film of John Ford's celebrated Cavalry Trilogy, Fort Apache mirrors the effects of the director's wartime experience on his attitude toward military command. Lt. Col. Owen Thursday (Henry Fonda), a West Point-trained Civil War veteran, is sent to command the remote Arizona outpost of Fort Apache. An arrogant, by-the-book officer, he's annoyed at having drawn such an ignominious assignment. Despite the warnings of veteran Indian-fighter Capt. Kirby York (John Wayne), he dismisses the notion that a group of savages could possibly be of concern to one possessing his military prowess. After Thursday's daughter, Philadelphia (Shirley Temple), and young Lt. Michael O'Rourke (Ward Bond) find the bodies of some mutilated soldiers, it's discovered that Indian agent Silas Meacham (Grant Withers) has been stirring the Apaches up by selling them liquor illegally. York persuades Thursday to withhold all action until he can arrange peace talks with Cochise (Miguel Inclan), but when the Indian chief shows up for the palaver he finds that the blindly willful army commander has called out the entire regiment for an attack on the Apache force. A tragic, absorbingly complex study of the problems of command, Fort Apache benefits enormously from Fonda's superb performance and the exhaustive research of screenwriter Frank S. Nugent into Apache culture and the army outposts of the era.
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
FORT APACHE (1948) was John Ford's and John Wayne's first western together since STAGECOACH (1939) they would go on to make six more culminating in THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE (1962). This film was also the first of what became known as Ford's Cavalry Trilogy. The others were SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON (1949) and RIO GRANDE (1950) and were Ford's splendid tribute to the U.S. Cavalry and as such deserve to be judged as a body of work that as yet has no equal!
Wayne in this film shares top billing with Henry Fonda who a couple of years earlier had starred as the hero Wyatt Earp in John Ford's marvellous My Darling Clementine (1946) this time Ford has him cast as the unsympathetic martinet Lt Col Owen Thursday against the experienced Captain Kirby York (John Wayne). Incidentally when Wayne reprised this role for the last outing in the trilogy in Rio Grande he not only gained promotion but an extra letter to his name by becoming Lt Col Kirby Yorke. Also starring Shirley Temple and John Agar as the young lovers (who were actually married at the time of filming) and last but not least Victor McLagen for his Irish Sergeant part in the trilogy
As with the rest of the trilogy the story is taken from a novel by James Warner Bellah story is basically a study of frontier life against the backdrop of the Indian Wars and the end bears more than a passing resemblance to Custer's Last Stand with the Fonda character leading his men into an Apache massacre from which few return. The final theme when it's all over was "when the legend becomes fact, print the legend" which would be used to such good effect in another James Warner Bellah story the aforementioned THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE some fourteen years later.
This 2006 DVD release is a good transfer with beautiful black and white images on the skyline, swirling dust clouds and the wonderful detailed domestic settings in the fort, all in the director's best manner! Divided into 18 chapters for easy access, also available with subtitles but little else in the way of extras. But still excellent value from Amazon at a very attractive price
Wayne in this film shares top billing with Henry Fonda who a couple of years earlier had starred as the hero Wyatt Earp in John Ford's marvellous My Darling Clementine (1946) this time Ford has him cast as the unsympathetic martinet Lt Col Owen Thursday against the experienced Captain Kirby York (John Wayne). Incidentally when Wayne reprised this role for the last outing in the trilogy in Rio Grande he not only gained promotion but an extra letter to his name by becoming Lt Col Kirby Yorke. Also starring Shirley Temple and John Agar as the young lovers (who were actually married at the time of filming) and last but not least Victor McLagen for his Irish Sergeant part in the trilogy
As with the rest of the trilogy the story is taken from a novel by James Warner Bellah story is basically a study of frontier life against the backdrop of the Indian Wars and the end bears more than a passing resemblance to Custer's Last Stand with the Fonda character leading his men into an Apache massacre from which few return. The final theme when it's all over was "when the legend becomes fact, print the legend" which would be used to such good effect in another James Warner Bellah story the aforementioned THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE some fourteen years later.
This 2006 DVD release is a good transfer with beautiful black and white images on the skyline, swirling dust clouds and the wonderful detailed domestic settings in the fort, all in the director's best manner! Divided into 18 chapters for easy access, also available with subtitles but little else in the way of extras. But still excellent value from Amazon at a very attractive price
54 of 57 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
"Rip off" is the phrase that came to mind when I started to watch this DVD. Having owned and watched the budget priced VHS copy many times, I was looking forward to a top quality picture and soundtrack. What you get is a print far inferior to the tape version with lots of jumps, scratches and more grain than you'll see in a field of wheat. The soundtrack is no better with background noise and distortion. With both Rio Grande and She Wore A Yellow Ribbon due for release shortly by this distributor, they have an opportunity to restore their reputation having damaged it with this release and The Quiet Man (another disappointment). I hope that they rise to the occasion.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The first part of the Wayne/Ford "cavalry trilogy" (She Wore a Yellow Ribbon and Rio Grande following in the next two years)this is a surprisingly multi-layered and liberal western for its time.
Wayne and Fonda are both at their peaks, with Fonda unusually cast as an unsympathetic character. Ford's usual cast of outstanding western character actors flesh out the story with their usual excellent bit-parts (whatever happened to great character-acting?).
Lots of action; a brilliant, crisp mono print; clear sound. Bring on the popcorn - they really don't make them like this any more!
Wayne and Fonda are both at their peaks, with Fonda unusually cast as an unsympathetic character. Ford's usual cast of outstanding western character actors flesh out the story with their usual excellent bit-parts (whatever happened to great character-acting?).
Lots of action; a brilliant, crisp mono print; clear sound. Bring on the popcorn - they really don't make them like this any more!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great Ford/Wayne western
I bought a copy of this film on blu ray from the states and it plays perfectly well on my region B player. Read more
Published 2 months ago by W. J. Marshall
DVD
Bought as a gift. Easy to find on amazon despite it being an old film. Arrived quickly in the post.
Published 5 months ago by ramgib
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Fort Apache is the first film of what came to be known as John Ford's US Cavalry trilogy. Read more
Fort Apache is the first film of what came to be known as John Ford's US Cavalry trilogy. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Spike Owen
Ford's take on Custer
Here's John Ford's take on the Custer legend, not the actual story itself but a parallel of a martinet commander with ideas of heroism leading his men into a suicidal charge... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Mr Swallow
Ford On Form.
The Duke had a vintage year in 1948 with the release of two very fine films. In the March of that year came "Fort Apache", followed by the monumental Howard Hawks epic "Red River",... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Bob Salter
movie review
great movie.part of a trilogy by john huston, starring john wayne, about the u.s. cavalry. great feel about it of comradeship, etc.
Published 20 months ago by Arthur Byrne
Fine Film, Poor Transfer
Fort Apache is a very fine film by Hollywood standards. Normally I am not a Western fan, but if they were all as good as this I would devour them all. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Odysseas
Ford's Fort
Rousing Cavalry picture inspired in part by the events of the Battle at little Big Horn and Fetterman Massacre. Read more
Published 22 months ago by One view
"We'll always remember the Thursdays. The others are forgotten."
A great movie and a great character study Fort Apache was made in Monument Valley in 1948 when indians were still one dimensional stereotypes. Read more
Published on 7 Feb 2010 by Stephen Griffin
A Great Western.
A great Western with a complicated story, fantastic action and humour. For it's time time Fort Apache was filmed brilliantly with memorable music. Read more
Published on 19 Mar 2006 by Ross
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