John Ford was beyond successful in 1948. He had won four academy awards. He had also recently completed service in the navy, as an officer. It would seem that the director couldn’t top his accomplishments. He was about to prove everyone wrong, by starting his cavalry trilogy. The first among them was Fort Apache. This starred his discovery, John Wayne and his good friend, Henry Fonda. John Ford didn’t want to do the trilogy. He was promised by the studio, that he could direct his passion project about Ireland, which became The Quiet Man.
The movie takes place in Arizona, in the remote fort, named Apache. A new commander has arrived, named Lt. Col. Owen Thursday, (Henry Fonda). He is accompanied by his daughter, Philadelphia. She is played very well by a grown up and beautiful Shirley Temple. Thursday is a decorated officer, who is bitter about his being sent to the fort. He is a by the book commander. He is upset at the casual manner of dress by the men. He is also not accepting of their reasons. He is impressed by a young recruit from Westpoint, named lt. Michael Shannon O’Rourke,(John Agar).There is also someone else who is very impressed with the young officer. That is Thursday’s daughter. Agar and Temple were married in real life. This was also John Agar’s first film.
Col Thursday’s strict rules and regulations cause problems with the men, particularly the officers, Captain Kirby York, (John Wayne) and Captain Sam Collinwood, (George O’Brien). York can’t understand Thursday’s ruling with an iron fist, and his disdain for the Apache’s. Captain Collinwood completely understands Thursday, and finds irony that the colonel, has ended up with him. Collinwood has put in for a transfer, and is waiting for a response.
There are among the men, the Sgts. They are Festus Mulcahey,(Victor McGlaglen),Quincannon,(Dick Foran),Daniel Schattuck,(Jack Pennick), Sgt. Beaufort, (Pedro Armendariz)and Sgt. Major Michael O’Rourke,(Ward Bond),who is the proud father of Lt. O’Rourke. Almost all of these actors were part of John Ford’s stock players. Ward Bond was never a star like his best friend, John Wayne. He gives one of his best performances as Sgt. Michael O’Rourke.
The film moves along nicely. The key plot is the antagonism between Thursday and the Apaches. He is determined to bring the renegade Cochise, and his people, back to the reservation. This is against the advice of his senior officers. Things come to a head, when two soldiers are killed. Unfortunately, Philadelphia was out riding, with Lt. O’Rourke, and saw the soldiers bodies. This enrages Col. Thursday and he forbids his daughter to see the young man. She doesn’t listen, and attends a dinner given by Sargent and Mrs. O’Rourke.
Col Thursday has retrieved his daughter from the dinner, forgetting any manners. He is reminded of his rudeness by Sgt. O’Rourke. The colonel comes up with a plan to force Cochise back to the reservation. This upsets Captain York. He has negotiated with Cochise to come peacefully. Thursday rides out with York and demands Cochise go to the reservation. Colonel Thursday, being an iron fisted, glory seeking officer, insults the Apache Chief. He gives him one day to surrender to him. Thursday and his command ride out the next day, to confront Cochise.
This story was made possible by the writing of Frank S. Nugent. He was a critic, who was given a writing job. Nugent did not disappoint. The first of the cavalry trilogy shows the best and worst of man. There is courage, but there is also exploitation. The agent for the bureau of Indian affairs, is Silas Meachum, (Grant Withers). He has been selling liquor and guns to the Apaches. This has earned him the enmity of Cochise, as well as the disdain of Colonel Thursday. The movie also shows that even in the worst of places, there is still family unity. This is shown when Sgt. O’Rourke embraces his son, saying welcome home. The family is delighted to have a dinner with the Lieutenant’s lady love, Philadelphia.
A strength of John Ford’s is showing the harsh side of things. He does it in Fort Apache. The life of the Apache is not a good one. Captain York understands Cochise’s motives. Thursday sees nothing but a man who left illegally and has no sympathy. Ford does not hesitate to show the bureau of Indian affairs in a bad light. This agency did not do its job very well. Ford was a pioneer in putting social issues before the camera. He also employed many members of the local tribes, when filming in his favorite location of Monument Valley Utah.
John Ford’s locations were beautiful. They were enhanced by the cinematographer’s on this movie. They were Archie Stout and William H. Clothier. The O’Rourke reunion is a beautiful scene. They do a great job in photographing the dance at the fort. The camera work on the escape of Lieutenant O’Rourke and Philadelphia from the Apaches, lends to the drama. Their lensing of the film’s finale is terrific. Both men continued to work successfully with Ford and Wayne.
The actors John Wayne and Henry Fonda give very strong performances. Their respective characters chafe at each other’s behavior. Fonda had recently appeared in Ford’s My Darling Clementine. He shows his acting skills by becoming the polar opposite of Wyatt Earp. Wayne made everyone take notice in the movie Red River. He played Thomas Dunson; a man who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. It is a testament to his abilities as an actor, that he can pull off both roles convincingly.
John Ford has been accused of not giving an accurate picture of the west. It is true that many of his westerns are glamorized. Hollywood has done it many times. Fort Apache doesn’t glamorize much. It puts a hard lens on the western frontier. The movie also gives a solid two plus hours of entertainment.