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John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Shirley Temple, Ward Bond, John Agar ... see more see more... , Dick Foran , Pedro Armendáriz , Victor McLaglen , Miguel Inclan , Guy Kibbee , Anna Lee , George O'Brien , Jack Pennick , Irene Rich , Grant Withers , Frank Baker , Maria [Movita] Castaneda , Cliff Clark , Frank Ferguson , William Forrest , Mary Gordon , Fred Graham , Ray Hyke , Ben Johnson , Mae Marsh , Mickey Simpson , Harry Tenbrook , Archie Twitchell , Hank Worden , Francis Ford , Philip Kieffer , Shirley Temple Black

The soldiers at Fort Apache may disagree with the tactics of their glory-seeking new commander. But to a man, they're duty-bound to obey - even when it means almost certain disaster. John Wayne, Henry... read more read more... Fonda and many familiar supporting players from master director John Ford's "stock company" saddle up for the first film in the director's famed cavalry trilogy (She Wore a Yellow Ribbon and Rio Grande are the others). Roughhouse camaraderie, sentimental vignettes of frontier life, massive action sequences staged in Monument Valley - all are part of Fort Apache. So is Ford's exploration of the West's darker side. Themes of justice, heroism and honor that Ford would revisit in later Westerns are given rein in this moving, thought-provoking film that, even as it salutes a legend, gives reasons to question it.

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7,472 ratings

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100% liked it

14 critics

Unrated, 2 hr. 7 min.

Directed by: John Ford

Release Date: March 9, 1948

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DVD Release Date: August 15, 2006

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Flixster Reviews (288)

  • fb1664868775
    October 27, 2011
    fb1664868775
    The greatest of the "Cavalry" trilogy. Packed with great social commentary and amazing performances by Fonda, Wayne and Ward Bond. Fonda's final scene is one of the most powerful I've seen.
  • ythelastman89
    September 1, 2010
    ythelastman89
    The first part in John Ford's Cavalry Trilogy and it's a complete epic. It's hard to find any mistakes, potholes or dull spots; probably because they don't exist. This is a wonderful story with great characters, messages, and overall outlook concerning the west. Henry Fonda went ... read moreagainst his usual personality and plays quite a flawed man, sick with a case of too much pride. John Wayne plays a supporting role in this, but his character is so important to the plot that he completely overshadows everyone else. He might have a fraction of some of the others lines, but he's there when it means something.
  • matertenebraum
    January 10, 2009
    matertenebraum
    I know that many consider Red River or The Searchers to be Wayne's greatest cowboy movies, but for me, you can't get better than Fort Apache. It is the first of John Ford and John Wayne's cavalry trilogy and is the best of the lot.

    I think the most interesting thing about the fi... read morelm is its rather sympathetic view of the American Indians--they were shown as being decent and 3-dimensional and Wayne repeatedly stressed the importance of our country keeping its word of honor to them as well. In fact, it was very funny seeing Wayne portraying the voice of reason while Henry Fonda was more of a martinet and could have cared less about honor and truth.

    Along the way, these two great actors are supported by old familiars like Victor McLaglen and Ward Bond, as well as Shirley Temple and her then husband, John Agar. Despite criticism leveled towards Agar by the media over the years (and to a lesser extent, to the adult Temple), I think they did just fine in their roles and made a positive contribution to the movie.

    And finally, the action and cinematography is tops. It's hard to imagine a more beautiful black and white film or one where so much care and effort was given to make a great film.
  • garyX
    November 8, 2008
    garyX
    One of John Ford's classic tales of the US cavalry, Fort Apache flies in the face of the established stereotypical western and portrays Cochise as an intelligent and honourable man acting for the good of his people. Henry Fonda who we are far more used to playing heroic, sympathe... read moretic roles is the cavalry officer ordered to bring him back to the reservation whose arrogance and lack of understanding of or respect for the Apache leads to disaster. For the first half of the film, I thought "Fort Squaredance" would be a far more appropriate name as it is a full hour before an Apache is to be seen. These horse soldiers seem to spend much more time drinking and dancing than riding and fighting! The opening of the film is typical of Ford's dewy eyed romanticism of the old west featuring the usual mix of likable, hard drinking rabble-rousing soldiers, slapstick comedy and naive romanticism set to epic western landscapes. Things get far more interesting as the Indian nation reveals itself and Ford pulls no punches showing the folly of the US government's handling of the situation. John Wayne was always best when working with Ford and this is one of his best roles and Fonda's casting against type works really well. It's a shame the build up is so long winded because when it finally gets going it's brilliant. If you can stomach an hour of old fashioned romantic comedy, the climax is well worth the effort.
  • kenstachnik
    January 21, 2008
    kenstachnik
    Henry Fonda squares off against the Duke in this dark take on the cavalry mythos.

    It's interesting that this film flies in the face of Ford's infamous quote "print the legend." While it does embrace that this story became a classic tale of bravery, it reveals that the "hero" be... read morehind it was a narcissistic glory hungry fool
  • staindslaved
    July 15, 2011
    staindslaved
    I don't get why John Wayne gets top billing here. This is Henry Fonda's movie from start to finish. His portrayal of the 'by the book' and 'my way or the highway' Lt. Col. Owen Thursday is a frustratingly engaging performance. His frictions with his daughter and his men are re... read moreminiscent of a future Humphrey Bogart performance as Lt. Queeg in The Caine Mutiny. The film also has an ending that almost mirrors another John Ford classic The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance where after Thursdays demise Wayne's character gives him the hero sendoff instead of telling the journalists the way things really went down. Fairly deserving of it's 'classic' billing.
  • fb704730572
    May 17, 2011
    fb704730572
    Made in 1948, Fort Apache is way ahead of its' time in a number of ways, namely its' complex themes. Henry Fonda is terrific, and the rest of the cast shines as well. My only significant criticism comes as a result of not enough of The Duke. A lesson Ford would later learn from.
  • jonnycrumley
    January 10, 2012
    jonnycrumley
    Another great John Ford Western. Fort Apache tells the story of a bitter colonel who gets assigned to a remote fort after a brilliant war record. Director Ford's portrayal of the actual story shines the light on Colonel Thursday as a glory hunting fool, rather than a heroic war h... read moreero. I loved the performances from The Duke and Fonda, who are given able support from an adult Shirley Temple, and then husband John Ager. I also thought the cinematography was first-class, and I enjoyed the authentic dialogue. Fort Apache is a definite must see for all Western fans.
  • Tecnoandre
    August 22, 2010
    Tecnoandre
    1948 western film directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne and Henry Fonda. The film was the first of the director's "cavalry trilogy" and was followed by She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949) and Rio Grande (1950), both starring Wayne. The story, which screenwriter James Warner B... read moreellah based loosely on George Armstrong Custer and the Battle of Little Bighorn, as well as the Fetterman Massacre of 1866, was one of the first to present an authentic and sympathetic view of the Native Americans involved in the battle (Apache in the film, Sioux in the real battles).

    The film was awarded the Best Director and Best Cinematography awards by the Locarno International Film Festival of Locarno, Switzerland.

    After the American Civil War, highly-respected veteran Captain Kirby York (John Wayne) is expected to replace the outgoing commander at Fort Apache, an isolated U.S. cavalry post. York had commanded his own regiment during the Civil War and was well-qualified to assume permanent command. To the surprise and disappointment of the company, command of the regiment was given to Lieutenant Colonel Owen Thursday (Henry Fonda). Thursday, a West Point graduate, was a general during the Civil War. Despite his Civil War combat record, Lieutenant Colonel Thursday lacks experience with the Indians he is expected to oversee, and is an arrogant and egocentric officer.
    Great cinematography and some good dialogues, but a little dated.
  • codyfranklin2
    July 4, 2008
    codyfranklin2
    Great Ford western with Fonda as a by the book Colonel in the frontier clashing with experienced Indian fighter Wayne. Great performances shot in beautiful black and white with a fantastic ending.

View All Fort Apache Reviews

Critic Reviews

Jeffrey M. Anderson
February 24, 2012
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

It's an odd film, consisting more of sidetracks than of an actual story, but it showed a new restlessness in Ford. Full Review

Michael E. Grost
August 8, 2008
Michael E. Grost, Classic Film and Television

Fascinating Western loaded with political and social commentary. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
March 10, 2008
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Inspired by the massacre of General Custer's Cavalry, John Ford's superb elegiac Western contrasts legal-rational authority (Henry Fonda) with charismatic type of authority (John Wayne) to an advantage. Full Review

Steve Crum
March 8, 2008
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

One of John Ford's cavalry trilogy, and a near classic on its own. Wayne and Fonda are fine.

David Bezanson
March 12, 2006
David Bezanson, Filmcritic.com

demonstrates that westerns weren't always one-sided and jingoistic. Full Review

Gary Brown
August 29, 2005
Gary Brown, Houston Community Newspapers

Henry Fonda's stubborness reminds me of our occupant in the White House with his Iraq policy.

Dennis Schwartz
August 12, 2001
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

This one is a reworking of the Custer myth, in a film that over sentimentalizes Army life and chivalry. Full Review

September 2, 2008
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Bosley Crowther
March 25, 2006
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

No review available.

Andy Klein
April 7, 2005
Andy Klein, Los Angeles CityBeat

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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  • John Ford employed real indians for the movie. He was amazed on how accurate were the weather predictions the wizard of the tribe made to him. One day, there was no prediction, and John Ford asked to an indian boy, 'What happened with your wizard', a... read morend he answered 'He can not tell you about weather. His radio is broken'
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Fort Apache Trivia

  • name that movie with paul newman and edward asner played together on what movie 1981???????  Answer »
  • Name the director of the films Drums Along the Mohawk, Donovan's Reef, Fort Apache, and How the West Was Won.  Answer »
  • Who played Sergeant Stryker in "Sands of Iwo Jima" and Captain York in "Fort Apache" ?  Answer »
  • In 'Fort Apache', we are given the impression that the character Lt. Col. Owen Thursday is a fictional representation of which real person?  Answer »
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