Fort Massacre (1958)

A cavalry troop finds itself under constant attack by Indians.

Director:

Joseph M. Newman

Writer:

Martin Goldsmith

Stars:

Joel McCrea, Forrest Tucker, Susan Cabot

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Joel McCrea	...	Sgt. Vinson
Forrest Tucker	...	Pvt. McGurney
Susan Cabot	...	Piute Girl
John Russell	...	Pvt. Robert W. Travis
George N. Neise	...	Pvt. Pendleton
Anthony Caruso	...	Pawnee (Indian scout)
Robert Osterloh	...	Pvt. Schwabacker
Denver Pyle	...	Pvt. Collins
Francis McDonald	...	Old Piute Man (as Francis J. McDonald)
Guy Prescott	...	Pvt. Tucker
Rayford Barnes	...	Pvt. Moss
Irving Bacon	...	Charlie the Trader
Claire Carleton	...	Adele (Charlie's wife)
Larry Chance	...	Moving Cloud

Storyline

During the Indian Wars in the Southwest, a sergeant assumes command of a cavalry detachment after it is mauled in an Apache ambush that killed its captain and seriously wounded its lieutenant. The surviving troopers must reach either a larger cavalry column or a wagon train the column is to escort. But first they need water and the nearest water hole is in Apache hands....

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Plot Keywords:

cavalry | indian attack

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Taglines:

THE WEST'S MOST SAVAGE STORY OF HATE, PRIDE AND CUNNING! (original print ad - all caps)

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Genres:

Western

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

May 1958 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die Letzten der 2. Schwadron

Filming Locations:

Gallup, New Mexico, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mirisch Corporation, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (as De Luxe)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In 1958, United Artists released this film on a double bill with The Steel Bayonet.

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Quotes

[Vinson's cavalry patrol hurriedly buries a dead trooper]
Sgt. Vinson: Collins, that deep enough. Roll him in and cover him up. Let's move!
Pvt. Collins: You mean without reading the Good Book?
Sgt. Vinson: If he needs our help to make it upstairs, he's in worse shape than he looks.

User Reviews

Thrilling action with a message

A good Western with McCrea as an army sergeant with a severe chip on his shoulder -- his family was killed by American Indians. When the detachment he serves in is attacked, all his superiors are killed and he has to take command of the survivors -- who believe his bigotry will lead them into confrontations which are unnecessary.

McCrea is very good at playing the sergeant as a kind of ruined idealist, beating Wayne at his own game. He has a good rapport with Russell, who plays a man more or less in between the two factions -- he's attached to his sergeant, but can see that his hatred may lead them into danger. Cabot also appears as a native woman, but is not given much to do except be the unwarranted object of McCrea's hatred and suspicions.

A satisfying action film with a strong anti-racist message.