Fort Apache (1948)

At Fort Apache, an honorable and veteran war captain finds conflict when his regime is placed under the command of a young, glory hungry lieutenant colonel with no respect for the local Indian tribe.

Director:

John Ford

Writers:

Frank S. Nugent (screenplay), James Warner Bellah (suggested by the story "Massacre")

Stars:

John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Shirley Temple

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Wayne	...	Capt. Kirby York
Henry Fonda	...	Lt. Col. Owen Thursday
Shirley Temple	...	Philadelphia Thursday
Pedro Armendáriz	...	Sgt. Beaufort (as Pedro Armendariz)
Ward Bond	...	Sgt. Maj. Michael O'Rourke
George O'Brien	...	Capt. Sam Collingwood
Victor McLaglen	...	Sgt. Festus Mulcahy
Anna Lee	...	Mrs. Emily Collingwood
Irene Rich	...	Mrs. Mary O'Rourke
Dick Foran	...	Sgt. Quincannon
Guy Kibbee	...	Capt. Dr. Wilkens
Grant Withers	...	Silas Meacham
Jack Pennick	...	Sgt. Daniel Schattuck
Ray Hyke	...	Recruit
Movita	...	Guadalupe

Storyline

Deep into the territory of the great Apache chief, Cochise, the demoted Civil War general, Lieutenant Colonel Owen Thursday, reports for duty as a commanding officer at the remote U.S. cavalry outpost known as Fort Apache, along with his daughter, Philadelphia. There, the arrogant commander will soon lock horns with the realistic and sensible second-in-command, Captain Kirby York, who, as an expert in the local Apaches, disagrees with Thursday who wants to make a name for himself in the Arizona frontier. In the end, is it wise to engage in battle when personal glory is all you seek?

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Plot Keywords:

u.s. cavalry | fort apache arizona | arizona | apache indian | u.s. military | 

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Taglines:

John Ford's Masterpiece of the Frontier!

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Western

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Ford made certain that the story included several Irish characters; he wanted to include "a bit of Americana" by depicting the type of Irish-American who headed west after the Civil War.

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Goofs

When Captain York and Beaufort are riding to meet Cochise they pass a spot on the Colorado River which is on the northern border with Utah not the southern border of Arizona with Mexico.

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Quotes

Lt. Col. Owen Thursday: Captain Yorke?
Captain Yorke: I'm Captain Yorke, sir. I bid you welcome, General Thursday.
Lt. Col. Owen Thursday: I'm not a general, Captain. A man is what he's paid for. I'm paid in the rank of Lt. Colonel.
Captain Yorke: I'd remembered you as a general from the war, sir.

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Alternate Versions

There is a computer colorized version.

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Connections

Featured in Maltin on Movies: John Carter (2012)

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Soundtracks

O Dem Golden Slippers
(uncredited)
Written by James Allen Bland

User Reviews

A great American film

Director John Ford's first entry in his cavalry trilogy is this excellent film about life on a military outpost far from the glamorous theaters of the Indian Wars on the northern plains. The film touches on character development of the officers and enlisted men on the post, family relationships and the class distinctions among the military social order. Henry Fonda is great as a bitter, unhappy colonel who feels unappreciated by the military hierarchy and is displeased by his assignment to the isolated desert areas. John Wayne gives the film just the right balance as a captain who looks out for his men and knows Indians. Ford has his regular cast on board for the film, and John Agar and Shirley Temple handle the romantic clinches. The pace is slowed somewhat by comedy bits that add nothing to the film's substance. The black and white camera work is stunning and the music is reflective and melancholy.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

14 June 1948 (Brazil)

Also Known As:

Fort Apache

Filming Locations:

Monument Valley, Arizona, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Argosy Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

128 min 84 min (cut)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1