Rating: 
Summary: This Ford still works.
Review: I'm out of my element with this film. I normally don't review black-and-white classics, because I'm too cynical to view the big studio releases of yesteryear with an open mind. All of them are contrived and somewhat sappy; I watch them and envision a cherubic Mickey Rooney looking on while eating chocolate chip cookies and drinking milk. "That's a swell show, Dad!"But I like John Ford films. And I really like FORT APACHE, despite the movie being a stereotypical product of its time. Why, you ask (or mutter indifferently)? Because this film actually depicts some range for Henry Fonda and the Duke himself. Fonda plays a very unsympathetic role, while John Wayne steps out of character (for him) to play a compassionate second fiddle. And Ford's experiment works: the two actors pull off exceptional performances; their on-screen chemistry is riveting. Tension--that's the motor that drives FORT APACHE. A new disciplined, disgruntled, by-the-book colonel (Fonda) arrives at a remote Arizona outpost; immediately, he is at odds with the fort's seasoned and weathered captain (Wayne). The captain, who possesses a deep respect for a band of Apache that has left the reservation, has the loyalty and affection of his men; the colonel is looked upon as an unwelcome intruder and resented as a martinet. The two officers wage a battle of wills that ultimately has Fonda using an unsuspecting Wayne as a ploy to draw the Apache back for a surprise attack--a strategy that produces deadly consequences. This is good stuff, further enhanced by some outstanding supporting roles, including Ward Bond, Pedro Armendariz, and Victor McLaglen. We're even treated to a grown-up--yet still annoying--Shirley Temple. Kudos to John Ford for creating a good-looking film that successfully had Fonda and Wayne step outside their respective boxes. FORT APACHE, despite its "Aw, shucks" big studio smarm, is solid entertainment.
--D. Mikels
Rating:
Summary: "IF YOU SAW THEM, THEY WEREN'T APACHE,"
Review: is arguably one of The Duke's best lines (Michael Herr referenced it in his Vietnam War best seller DISPATCHES, making it a prophecy). John Ford's cavalry trilogy is a great body of American film, all three works have their individual moments that distingush their own lasting perfection. FORT APACHE has the classic Ford/Wayne elements: action, dialogue, a great supporting cast both Ford and Wayne knew how to play (Ward Bond, Victor McLaglen). Henry Fonda is brilliant as the pompous, ego maniacal Colonel Thursday and Victor McLaglen's drunken buffonery is classic. FORT APACHE is a ride into film greatness.
Rating:
Summary: "IF YOU SAW THEM, THEY WEREN'T APACHE,"
Review: is arguably one of The Duke's best lines (Michael Herr referenced it in his Vietnam War best seller DISPATCHES, making it a prophecy). John Ford's cavalry trilogy is a great body of American film, all three works have their individual moments that distingush their own lasting perfection. FORT APACHE has the classic Ford/Wayne elements: action, dialogue, a great supporting cast both Ford and Wayne knew how to play (Ward Bond, Victor McLaglen). Henry Fonda is brilliant as the pompous, ego maniacal Colonel Thursday and Victor McLaglen's drunken buffonery is classic. FORT APACHE is a ride into film greatness.
Rating:
Summary: Must see film (just for Fonda&Wayne&Ford cocktail).
Review: It has been said that Fonda was first a STAR and after working with Ford become an ACTOR. I do not know if such a strong affirmation is true or has something of the true in it...
Anyway, Fonda and Wayne (and the rest of the cast as nearly in all Ford's Films...) are practically perfect in their rols.
The script and even the continuity of it is not quite up to par with the direction/interpretation but really that is not a problem (we all know so much about the west/apaches/US Cavalry etc thanks to the fascination derived from the interaction of films-books-history about it...).
A CLASSIC (I have it in an european DVD production quite correct but with no extras). ENJOY.
Rating:
Summary: Action Packed: John Ford's Disguised Take On Custer
Review: John Ford Western's are always great because of the realism of the sets usually filmed on location and because John Ford's personal and factural interest in Western History. This movie is unique in that this movie is suppose to be John Ford's view of Custer and the Little Bighorn that is slyly disguised by placing the story in the southwest against the Apache instead of the Sioux (see the Custer Reader by Paul Hutton). Apparently, Ford sympathized more with Custer's regimental nemesis at the Little Bighorn Captain Benteen and Ford thought of Custer as an egotistical, glory seeking, martinet. Thus, you have your roles set as Henry Fonda plays a despotic Colonel Thursday as John Ford's Custer and Wayne plays the Benteen role as Captain York. The conflict between them adds to the overall tension of the movie as Thursday chronically makes poor decisions based on his lack of respect for the Apache as Wayne dutifully tries to advise him of their capabilities. Just like the real Custer and Benteen dispute, the two nearly come to a duel or blows as the grand finale erupts into a Custer like debacle as York defends the supply train as Benteen did with Reno at the LBH. At the very end, the surviving York pulls back from making a critical assessment of his commander, it seems that at the end, Ford pulled back from too much controversy in bashing the Custer legacy. But nevertheless, this is an exciting, realistic film. The only draw back is grown up Shirley Temple seeems too young for the romantic lead and the Custer (Thursday) and Benteen (York) similarity is much more complex historically and represents Ford's opinion. As always, there is a touch of timely humor in Ford's realistic story of the west.
Rating:
Summary: Best of the Cavalry Trilogy?
Review: The first, and in my opinion, the best of John Ford's so-called Cavarly Trilogy. "Fort Apache" is Ford's thinly veiled re-telling of the Custer-Little Bighorn legend. A subject that fascinated Ford, but he didn't want to be hemmed in by the history so he completely changed the names and locations so he could tell the story the way he wanted to tell it. Henry Fonda plays a Custer-like Colonel who has seen his career's meteoric rise during the Civil War end with peacetime and an assignment to a frontier outpost. He resents this, and looks for an opportunity to earn fame and glory. He finds this opportunity at the expense of the Apaches who have left their reservation for good reasons. If he can defeat the Apaches then his career will certainly be boosted. Fonda's Colonel Thursday is a brave and competent officer, who does recognize some of the injustice and indignity that the reservation system has imposed upon the Apaches, but his lust for glory blinds him to everything in the end. John Wayne plays the competent, experienced second in command who clashes repeatedly with his superior. The film also features a love interest between a grown-up Shirley Temple and her then real-life husband John Agar. Being a Ford movie there is plenty of comic relief from various Irish NCO's, and romanticized vignettes of frontier cavalry life.
Rating:
Summary: Best of the Cavalry Trilogy?
Review: The first, and in my opinion, the best of John Ford's so-called Cavarly Trilogy. "Fort Apache" is Ford's thinly veiled re-telling of the Custer-Little Bighorn legend. A subject that fascinated Ford, but he didn't want to be hemmed in by the history so he completely changed the names and locations so he could tell the story the way he wanted to tell it. Henry Fonda plays a Custer-like Colonel who has seen his career's meteoric rise during the Civil War end with peacetime and an assignment to a frontier outpost. He resents this, and looks for an opportunity to earn fame and glory. He finds this opportunity at the expense of the Apaches who have left their reservation for good reasons. If he can defeat the Apaches then his career will certainly be boosted. Fonda's Colonel Thursday is a brave and competent officer, who does recognize some of the injustice and indignity that the reservation system has imposed upon the Apaches, but his lust for glory blinds him to everything in the end. John Wayne plays the competent, experienced second in command who clashes repeatedly with his superior. The film also features a love interest between a grown-up Shirley Temple and her then real-life husband John Agar. Being a Ford movie there is plenty of comic relief from various Irish NCO's, and romanticized vignettes of frontier cavalry life.
Rating: 
Summary: Funny and swell...
Review: The movie has a good story, and a good, accurate ending. It also has a number of humorous parts. However, it could have portrayed Apache culture a little more accurately and authentically. Although, the 'Apaches' in this film actually 'look' like Apaches (which is pretty scarce in other westerns starring Wayne) and dress like them, why couldn't they film the flic in 'Apache-land?' The NAVAJOS, resided (and still do) in Monument Valley, NOT the APACHES. This and a few other petty elements kind of marred the film. Atypical of Wayne's films: Compromising authenticity for dramatic scenery and what not. But the ending portrayed realistic Apache indian guerrilla tactics. It wasn't a typical scene where (as in most westerns) the infantry wipes out indians with ease; just the opposite was true. Apaches were the greatest guerrilla-fighters the world has ever had.
Rating:
Summary: Intelligent Landmark Western Of True Classic Status
Review: The western genre has been probably one of the most frequently used in Hollywood filmmaking , at least until fairly recent times. In every decade there have been countless mediocre efforts and a few that have come down to us as true classics of the genre, whether it be for their great action sequences, good character studies or spectacular scenery. John Ford's 1948 "Fort Apache" is I believe one that belongs in the later category boasting excellence in all the three areas mentioned. The first installment in Ford's deservedly classic cavalry trilogy "Fort Apache", is strong on interesting character studies while never sacrificing the exciting action element which makes for a thrilling western. The teaming of veterans John Wayne and Henry Fonda in characters that have personalites that are bound to collide makes for much of the fine dramatic meat of this story. The film is also a standout in this genre for presenting a sympathetic and dignified image of the Indian races depicted in the story which helps give the film a certain uniqueness for western efforts from this period in Hollywood history.
The conflict element central to this entire story is introduced very quickly when we see Col. Owen Thursday (Henry Fonda), reluctantly arriving at Fort Apache to take up command of this outpost against his will. He has with him his young daughter Philadelphia (Shirley Temple), and almost before he is settled into his new home he comes into opposition with the local Captain York (John Wayne). York has extensive knowledge of the region and by his fairness and respectful dealings has earned the trust of the Indian population on the reservation however he immediately clashes with the unbending and unrealistic views that Col. Thursday has about outpost discipline and more importantly in the handling of the native population. Good men like Capt. Collingwood (George O'Brien), find themselves relieved of their formerly held posts and Col. Thursday is soon even in conflict with his daughter when she begins a romance with the dashing young 2nd Lt. Michael O'Rourke (John Agar), a man who in Col. Thursday's belief is way below her social station in life. The simmering conflicts at the fort reach a head when it is learnt that the local Indian population have moved out of their agreed reservation and after Capt. York meets with the Indian leader Cochise (Miguel Inclan), and agrees to further peaceful talks, he finds his own reputation on the line when Col. Thursday refuses to be dictated to by the Indians and is prepared to use force if necessary to get them back on the reservation. When an agreement can't be reached even after the real reason why the Indians left the reservation is discovered revealing vast exploitation of the native population by greedy men at the outpost store Col. Thursday, used to military glory sees his opportunity for further praise in his uncompromising handling of the Indians who he regards simply as rebels despite their wish for peace. Insulting the Indian leaders despite their efforts to stay within the agreed treaty it then seems that war is inevitable. Disaster strikes when however when refusing Capt. York's sound advice on battle strategies in this region Col. Thursday leads a whole battalion into a terrible ambush which sees all of the men killed with he also becoming a victim of his own inability to understand both the Indians and his own men.
Westerns as a rule are not renowned for their strong character studies or examinations of Indian and white men's belief about living together however John Ford has achieved that with this excellent examination of all the conflicting attitudes that made up life in the early west frontier. The performances delivered by both Henry Fonda and John Wayne are among their best with Fonda excelling as the type of leader we love to hate, a man driven by his past achievements who is determined to follow those despite what others say. John Wayne working with his favourite director here again delivers a very appealing performance as the decent Captain who finds all his years of experience in warfare and importantly in developing the trust of the Indians coming to naught in the face of Capt. York's rigid set of beliefs. Both men square off against each other in a highly effective manner and add the main dramatic element to the story giving "Fort Apache", alot of its memorable quality. The supporting players are also first rate. "Fort Apache", provides us with a glimpse of the teenage Shirley Temple long after her reign as Hollywood's greatest child star and she provides the typical romantic element here teaming with real life future husband John Agar in his film debut. Pedro Armendariz, Victor McLaglen and especially Ward Bond in his touching performance as Sgt. Maj. O'Rourke all add their expertise to their individual scenes and help make "Fort Apache", a story rich with solid large and small characterisations. Of course being a John Ford western the visuals are of the greatest importance and Ford's favourite location of Monument Valley is well utilised in the story as a magnificent backdrop to the proceedings. The films many great action sequences that display some excellent stunt work also go a long way towards earning this film its classic status with the famous shoot out at the climax where Col. Thursday and his men perish being rarely equalled for excitment and tragedy.
Even if you are not a great western fan there is much to enjoy in "Fort Apache". The main characters are not cardboard cut outs and the main conflicts in the story between firstly the characters played by Henry Fonda and John Wayne and in the wider one between the white men and the Indians are not provided with easy solutions and always try to show both sides of the conflict. It is this lack of everything being depicted as black and white as is so often seen in westerns that makes "Fort Apache", such interesting viewing and which deservedly earns it the accolade of being a great classic of this genre, enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: The first in the Cavalry Trilogy
Review: This film exemplifies John Ford's genius and the black and white cinematography is amazing and riveting. Henry Fonda delivers a bravura performance as the martinet Colonel Owen Thursday. It's difficult to hate Fonda in anything, but this is perhaps his most unsympathetic role. John Wayne more than holds in own in a lesser role and he added much luster to his growing status as a Western icon. Ford's familiar stock company is in full evidence, with steller performances by regulars Victor McLaglen and Ward Bond. Shirley Temple delivers an adequate adult performance and her scenes with Fonda are especially effective. This is one of the great westerns ever made and full appreciation of it has been slow in coming. I highly recommend it to anyone with an appreciation of this genre. Fonda's performance alone makes this a must-see classic.
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