Fort Apache (1948)

Ward Bond: Sgt. Maj. Michael O'Rourke

Photos 

Quotes 

• Lt. Col. Thursday : This Lt. O'Rourke - are you by chance related?

  RSM Michael O'Rourke : Not by chance, sir, by blood. He's my son.

  Lt. Col. Thursday : I see. How did he happen to get into West Point?

  RSM Michael O'Rourke : It happened by presidential appointment, sir

  Lt. Col. Thursday : Are you a former officer, O'Rourke?

  RSM Michael O'Rourke : During the war, I was a major in the 69th New York regiment... The Irish Brigade, sir.

  Lt. Col. Thursday : Still, it's been my impression that presidential appointments were restricted to sons of holders of the Medal of Honor.

  RSM Michael O'Rourke : That is my impression, too, sir. Will that be all, sir?

• [the sergeants are watching Lt. O'Rourke attempt to drill new recruits] 

  RSM Michael O'Rourke : How's the boy doing, Festus?

  First Sgt. Festus Mulcahy : Aw, he's doin' fine, Michael; but, nevertheless, he's an officer and a gentleman... and that's no job for a gentleman.

  RSM Michael O'Rourke : Well, then. Come on.

  [he and the sergeants walk over to Lt. O'Rourke] 

  RSM Michael O'Rourke : Would Lt. O'Rourke please step over to the stables, sir?

• [Philadelphia is visiting in the home of the O'Rourke's - Col. Thursday comes in, displeased] 

  Lt. Col. Thursday : Come, Phil.

  2nd Lt. Michael O'Rourke : Col. Thursday, sir, I would like...

  Lt. Col. Thursday : Mr. O'Rourke, I want no words with you at this time.

  2nd Lt. Michael O'Rourke : But, Colonel, sir...

  Lt. Col. Thursday : You heard me, sir. Now get out of here before I say something I may regret.

  RSM Mchael O'Rourke : This is my home, Colonel Owen Thursday. And in my home I will say who is to get out and who is to stay. And I will remind the Colonel that his presence here - uninvited - is contrary to Army regulations... not to mention the code of a well-mannered man!

  2nd Lt. Michael O'Rourke : Dad, please. Col. Thursday, sir, what I've been trying to tell you, sir, is that I love your daughter; and I ask her now, in your presence,

  [turns to Philadelphia] 

  2nd Lt. Michael O'Rourke : to be my wife.

  Philadelphia Thursday : Yes, Michael.

• Captain Yorke : A charge! Mounted in fours!

  RSM Michael O'Rourke : Why the madman!

  Captain Yorke : And I'm to stay with the wagon train... and take O'Rourke with me.

  RSM Michael O'Rourke : You'll find Lt. O'Rourke with his troop, sir. And thank you.

• Lt. Col. Thursday : Still, it was my impression that Presidential appointments are restricted to the sons of winners of the Congressional Medal of Honor.

  RSM Michael O'Rourke : That was my impression, too, sir.

• [Co. Thursday has rejoined his men who are pinned down by the Apaches. RSM O'Rourke hands him a pistol] 

  Lt. Col. Thursday : Sergeant-Major O'Rourke... my apologies, sir.

  RSM Michael O'Rourke : You can save them, sir, for our grandchildren.

• Lt. Col. Owen Thursday : Assuming you found Cochise, would he listen to you? Would he believe you?

  Captain Yorke : Cochise knows me, sir. I've never lied to him. And if you can assure him decent treatment for his people...

  Lt. Col. Owen Thursday : I'll confess he interests me. These eastern newspapers... I hadn't realized Cochise was so well known.

  Captain Collingwood : Oh, he's known. He's had the laugh on every troop in the southwest, these three years. Six campaigns... out-generaled us, out-fought us, out-run us.

  Captain Yorke : That's just the point, sir. There aren't enough troops in the whole territory to MAKE Cochise come back. But, one man - a man he trusts - might persuade him.

  Lt. Col. Owen Thursday : Carbine against his spine might be more persuasive.

  Captain Yorke : Well, I'll go in unarmed, sir. I can't fight my way in. Either walk in or...

  Lt. Col. Owen Thursday : [to himself]  The man who brought Cochise back...

  [to Capt. Yorke] 

  Lt. Col. Owen Thursday : I'm for it, Captain. How many men will you need?

  Captain Yorke : One, sir. Sergeant Beaufort.

  RSM Michael O'Rourke : PRIVATE Beaufort, sir!

  Lt. Col. Owen Thursday : Why him?

  Lt. Col. Owen Thursday : He speaks Spanish - so does Cochise. My Apache has its limits.

  Lt. Col. Owen Thursday : Shouldn't you take another officer instead?

  Lt. Col. Owen Thursday : Well, Sergeant Beaufort was...

  RSM Michael O'Rourke : PRIVATE Beaufort, sir!

  Captain Yorke : Private Beaufort was a major in the Confederate army... an aide to Jeb Stuart.

  Lt. Col. Owen Thursday : Hmm. I remember "Kaydet" Stuart. He was...

  Captain Collingwood : Quite.

  Lt. Col. Owen Thursday : Were you saying something, Captain?

  Captain Collingwood : I said, "Quite," sir.

  Captain Yorke : I'd like to leave at once if the Colonel has no questions.

  Lt. Col. Owen Thursday : Hmm? What?

  Captain Yorke : Questions, sir?

  Lt. Col. Owen Thursday : No. No questions. Proceed, Captain... take your ex-rebel.

• Lt. Col. Owen Thursday : Captain Yorke, send a wagon and a detail to repair the wires and bring back the bodies.

  Captain Yorke : Yes, sir. Sergeant Major, assemble a platoon from A Troop...

  Lt. Col. Thursday : A platoon? I said a detail, Captain: an officer and four men.

  Captain Yorke : The apaches may still be around, sir...

  Lt. Col. Thursday : I'm running a command not a debating society, Captain Yorke.

  Captain Yorke : A detail of four men. I will be in command...

  Lt. Col. Thursday : Mr. O'Rourke will be in command.

  Captain Yorke : Mr. O'Rourke in command. Have them take sixty rounds of carbine ammunition per man...

  Lt. Col. Owen Thursday : That's a lot of ammunition for men who've been trained to shoot. Thirty will be ample.

  Captain Yorke : ...thirty will be ample... and eighteen per revolving pistol. You'll call for volunteers.

  RSM O'Rourke : With the colonel's permission, I volunteer.

  Lt. Col. Owen Thursday : Permission refused. Carry out your orders, Sergeant Major.

  Captain Yorke : You'll leave within the quarter hour, Mr. O'Rourke. Questions?

  [RSM O'Rourke has left the office. Lt. O'Rourke salutes Col. Thursday and leaves] 

  RSM O'Rourke : [speaking to his son outside]  Michael. Michael, you know what's expected of you, now.

  2nd Lt. Michael O'Rourke : Sure, Dad, I know.

  [leaves the building] 

  RSM O'Rourke : [to the bugler]  Derice, go get Quincannon out of the guardhouse. Wait.

  [to the courier] 

  RSM O'Rourke : O'Feeney, go to the stables and find Mulcahy, Shaddock and Johnny Reb. Tell 'em they're volunteerin' for an extra-hazardous mission... above and beyond the call of duty. Tell 'em their regiment is proud of 'em. Now, get goin', the whole of youse.

• Lt. Col. Owen Thursday : Have the trumpeter sound officer's call.

  RSM Michael O'Rourke : Officer's call?

  Lt. Col. Owen Thursday : How long have you been in the army, O'Rourke?

  RSM Michael O'Rourke : The United States army - fifteen years, sir.

  Lt. Col. Owen Thursday : Then you've heard of officer's call. Have it sounded.

  RSM Michael O'Rourke : Yes, sir.

  RSM Michael O'Rourke : [to the bugler]  Sound officer's call.

• RSM Michael O'Rourke : [to bugler]  Sound officers' call.

  Bugler : Now?

  RSM Michael O'Rourke : No, next Christmas, you looney!

• RSM Michael O'Rourke : Now boys, you know I'm not a drinking man, but if the Suttler's Store is still open...

  First Sgt. Festus Mulcahy : If it isn't , Michael darlin', I'll kick the door in with me bare fists.

• RSM Michael O'Rourke : How's the boy doin' Festus?

  First Sgt. Festus Mulcahy : Oh, fine, Michael, but... well... he's an officer and a gentleman, and that's no job for a gentleman.