Fort Apache

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Fort Apache (1948)

NR 06/24/1948 (US) Western 2h 5m

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John Ford's Masterpiece of the Frontier!

Overview

Owen Thursday 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, he attempts to destroy the Apache chief Cochise after luring him across the border from Mexico, against the advice of his subordinates.

John Ford

Director
Frank S. Nugent

Screenplay
James Warner Bellah

Story

Top Billed Cast

John Wayne

Capt. Kirby York
Henry Fonda

Lt. Col. Owen Thursday
Shirley Temple

Philadelphia Thursday
Pedro Armendáriz

Sgt. Beaufort
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
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Featured Review

A review by John Chard

90%

Written by John Chard on May 29, 2019

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Fort Apache is the first film of what came to be known as John Ford's US Cavalry trilogy. Just like the other two, She Wore A Yellow Ribbon & Rio Grande, this is also based on a short story by James Warner Bellah. Originally intended to be shot in colour, it was however filmed in black and white with Ford still making spectacular use of the Monument Valley location. The story primarily deals with opposite factions within the same army. On one hand is Lt. Col. Owen Thursday (Henry Fonda), stiffly rigid in his beliefs, a stickler for the rules and pig ignorant and hostile toward... read the rest.

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