Fort Apache ( John Wayne)

Directed by
John Ford

Writing credits
James Warner Bellah (story)
Frank S. Nugent

Authentic U.S. Region 1
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Genre: Western

Plot Summary: In John Ford's sombre exploration mythologising of American heroes, he slowly reveals the character of Owen Thursday, who sees his new posting to the desolate Fort Apache as a chance to claim the military honour which he believes is rightfully his. Arrogant, obsessed with military form and ultimately self-destructive, Thursday attempts to destroy the Apache chief Cochise after luring him across the border from Mexico, against the advice of his subordinates.

User Comments: The Apache Trilogy part I

User Rating: 7.6/10 (2,529 votes)

Cast overview, first billed only:
	John Wayne	....	Capt. Kirby York
	Henry Fonda	....	Lt. Col. Owen Thursday
	Shirley Temple	....	Philadelphia Thursday
	Pedro Armend��riz	....	Sgt. Beaufort (as Pedro Armendariz)
	Ward Bond	....	Sgt. Maj. Michael O'Rourke
	George O'Brien	....	Capt. Sam Collingwood
	Victor McLaglen	....	Sgt. Festus Mulcahy
	Anna Lee	....	Mrs. Emily Collingwood
	Irene Rich	....	Mrs. Mary O'Rourke
	Dick Foran	....	Sgt. Quincannon
	Guy Kibbee	....	Capt. Dr. Wilkens
	Grant Withers	....	Silas Meacham
	Jack Pennick	....	Sgt. Daniel Schattuck
	Ray Hyke	....	Lt. Gates (Adjutant)
	Movita	....	Guadalupe (Col. Thursday's cook)

Also Known As:
War Party
Runtime: 125 min
Country: USA
Language: English
Color: Black and White
Sound Mix: Mono (Western Electric Recording)
Certification: Iceland:L / Australia:G / Finland:S / Spain:T / South Korea:15 (DVD rating) (2002)

Trivia: The Fort Apache fort, built for this production, stood for years. It was reused in dozens of productions, most notably the TV series "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin" (1954). It was located at the Corriganville Movie Ranch in Simi Valley, California. Today it is possible to visit this location, as it is now administered as a City Park in Simi Valley.

Goofs: Continuity: When Capt. York talks to Lt. Col. Thursday at the first time, he tries to take off the glove from his left hand. The next shot shows him holding the glove off.

Quotes:
Lt. Col. Owen Thursday: Where is Captain Yorke?
Captain Yorke: Here, sir. Welcome, to Fort Apache, General Thursday.
Lt. Col. Owen Thursday: A man's rank is what he's paid on, Captain. I'm paid at the rank of Lt. Colonel.
Captain Yorke: My apologies, Colonel. I remembered you as a general during the war.

Awards: 2 wins & 1 nomination

User Comments:

Author: bartman_9 from Belgium

Lieutenant Colonel Thursday (Henry Fonda) is, for unclear reasons, promoted away to the far away outpost of Fort Apache. When a tribe of Indians rise up against the poor conditions in their reservation, Thursday sees it as an opportunity to re-establish his reputation.

Such is the story, but Ford doesn't force it on us. For the first hour or so, nothing much happens in this movie, we just witness the rituals and routines of a cavalry outpost, a close knit community of men and women on the edge of the frontier. Ford and his actors are amazing in capturing the warmth and humanity of their characters, even when they're painted in thick brush-strokes. Slowly but surely we get to know - and care for - everybody in the troop, so that, when the story starts to take over, we can empathize with everybody, even the proud, stubborn and bigoted Thursday, who becomes a true tragic hero, led and ultimately destroyed by his own misjudgments.

This is a western that plays out like a Greek tragedy - and a great one at that.

UPC 053939751024