|
Sergeant Rutledge (1960) 7.3
Respected black cavalry Sergeant Brax Rutledge stands court-martial for raping and killing a white woman and murdering her father, his superior officer. Director:John Ford |
| Watch Trailer 0Share... |
User Lists
Related lists from IMDb users
Share this Rating
Title: Sergeant Rutledge (1960)
Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.
Edit
Cast
| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Jeffrey Hunter | ... |
Lt. Tom Cantrell (counsel for the defense)
|
|
| Constance Towers | ... |
Mary Beecher
|
|
| Billie Burke | ... |
Mrs. Cordelia Fosgate
|
|
| Woody Strode | ... |
1st Sgt. Braxton Rutledge
|
|
 |
Juano Hernandez | ... |
Sgt. Matthew Luke Skidmore
|
| Willis Bouchey | ... |
Col. Otis Fosgate - president of the court-martial
|
|
|
|
Carleton Young | ... |
Capt. Shattuck - prosecutor
|
|
|
Judson Pratt | ... |
Lt. Mulqueen (court-martial board member)
|
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
Storyline
Lieutenant Tom Cantrell is sent to defend Sergeant Braxton Rutledge, a black cavalry soldier, on a charge of rape and murder. The story begins in a courtroom and it is told through flashbacks. This is a story of how a black soldier in the face of danger from the Indians can be so easily mistaken as a criminal. Written by Christopher D. Ryan <cryan@direct.ca>
Taglines:
You knew all along that love had nothing to do with it ... See more »Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents »
Edit
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
18 May 1960 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Captain Buffalo See more »Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound Recording)Color:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
Edit
Mary Beecher: What are you talking about?
1st Sgt. Braxton Rutledge: I'm talking about you. A white woman. White women only spell trouble for any of us.
Mary Beecher: That's nonsense. We're just two people trying to stay alive.
1st Sgt. Braxton Rutledge: Lady, you don't know how hard I'm trying to stay alive.
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
The horse Jeffrey Hunter rides is an American Quarter Horse with a white blaze. See more »Goofs
When Lt. Cantrell is holding a picture of the young Miss Lucy Dabney over her dead body, he moves the picture out of camera frame, and you can see her moving her right eyelid. See more »Quotes
1st Sgt. Braxton Rutledge: Anyone come, you ain't gonna be in here with me.Mary Beecher: What are you talking about?
1st Sgt. Braxton Rutledge: I'm talking about you. A white woman. White women only spell trouble for any of us.
Mary Beecher: That's nonsense. We're just two people trying to stay alive.
1st Sgt. Braxton Rutledge: Lady, you don't know how hard I'm trying to stay alive.
See more »
This movie was a wonderful piece of social history. It was filmed during a turbulent time in the United States when Civil Rights marches were really making headlines. It was a well crafted and movingly brave attempt to address in celluloid what the Civil Rights movement was addressing on placards.
Throughout the trial, colour isn't mentioned at all until near the end, but the underlying issue is one of race and how easy it would have been to jump to the wrong conclusion and ‘Hang ourselves a nigger'. It was also incredibly brave to show how the protagonist, Sergeant Rutledge, (beautifully played by Woody Strode) was helped by a white woman; again very rare at that time.
This is a hidden gem of a movie, and although the dialogue gets a little stilted at times, it doesn't detract from the central issue. Judging by his performance when under oath, Woody Strode is up there with the best of the marvellous Black actors that have changed the face of social America.
I rate this 10 out of ten.