Fort Apache Reviews

1948

Rated:
70
from 1444 members

A first of John Ford's trilogy of cavalry movies set during America's struggle against the Apache Indian. Henry Fonda plays the stubborn Colonel Thursday whose textbook methods of warfare appear as pure as suicide to everyone but him. John Wayne stars as Captain York, a soldier experienced in Apache warfare, from whom Thursday .. Read more

Starring	Henry Fonda, John Wayne, Shirley Temple, Victor McLaglen
Director	John Ford
Genres	Action/Adventure

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Critics' reviews (3) of Fort Apache
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Hard-boiled, and hard-pressed, cop Paul Newman tries to control crime on New York's mean streets in a tremendously exciting thriller laced with taut suspense and grisly shocks that make NYPD Blue look like Dixon of Dock Green. Even cult Hairspray director John Waters singled out for high praise former sleaze queen Pam Grier's electric performance as a psychotic hooker — just watch for that razor blade between her teeth. Highly controversial (the Bronx community complained about misrepresentation), but still highly recommended.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
The first of Ford's cavalry trilogy (to be followed by She Wore a Yellow Ribbon and Rio Grande), and an intriguing... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 04 Nov 2008
Rather stiff and unsatisfactory epic Western which yet contains sequences in its director's best manner.
- Halliwell's Film Guide
- Posted 02 Mar 2006
Most helpful members' reviews (3) of Fort Apache
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10 out of 11 people found this review helpful

showing its age...

This movie is hard to stay interested in. The acting is quite poor and the dialog too dramtic. It's really showing its age and is a very good advert for just how polished films are today in all capcities: acting, scripts, effects, production etc.

I've never got the John Wayne thing so I assume it must be a thing of the era.
- - A customer from North West
  - Posted 21 May 2005 08:39
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

cowboys and real indians

An old B&W but still a classic. John Wayne is superlative. Not at the racy pace of modern movies but holds the interest with lessons in the manners of a bygone age, 1940's and mid 19th Century.
- - A customer from Surrey
  - Posted 13 Jul 2005 19:58
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

Fort Apache

A good old fashioned western with some real life quandaries thrown in, e.g. why is Henry Fonda's uptight colonel so convinced of his military correctness even though John Wayne knows best? How come Shirley Temple gets her man so quickly despite the opposition of her pa (Fonda)?

Plotwise there's a lot to fit in here, but Wayne shows that he could act pretty well, and the scenery is spectacular. Well done John Ford!
- - neworder from Shropshire
  - Posted 08 Feb 2005 11:51
Most recent members' reviews (2) of Fort Apache
View all
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

* * * This review contains spoilers * * *ShowHide

[Highly rated reviewer]

classic western

This film was made when Wayne and Fonda were at the peak and John Fords first western since the end of world war 2.Although the stars are good the whole cast is near perfect for this film of life in the US cavalry.Victor Mclaglan and Ward Bond bring their talents to add laughter and seriuosness as the fiim requires.The ending is all the better as characters are developed, the wives of the soldiers are featured, and you get the idea of the regiment as an extended family.The final scenes confirms Fords belief in the legend of the west and is moving.Personally I would have liked a few extras but this dvd compares with the best westerns ever made.
- - duke51 from Peterlee
  - Posted 25 Mar 2008 12:02
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

cowboys and real indians

An old B&W but still a classic. John Wayne is superlative. Not at the racy pace of modern movies but holds the interest with lessons in the manners of a bygone age, 1940's and mid 19th Century.
- - A customer from Surrey
  - Posted 13 Jul 2005 19:58

10 out of 11 people found this review helpful

showing its age...

This movie is hard to stay interested in. The acting is quite poor and the dialog too dramtic. It's really showing its age and is a very good advert for just how polished films are today in all capcities: acting, scripts, effects, production etc.

I've never got the John Wayne thing so I assume it must be a thing of the era.
- - A customer from North West
  - Posted 21 May 2005 08:39
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful

cowboys and real indians

An old B&W but still a classic. John Wayne is superlative. Not at the racy pace of modern movies but holds the interest with lessons in the manners of a bygone age, 1940's and mid 19th Century.
- - A customer from Surrey
  - Posted 13 Jul 2005 19:58
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

Fort Apache

A good old fashioned western with some real life quandaries thrown in, e.g. why is Henry Fonda's uptight colonel so convinced of his military correctness even though John Wayne knows best? How come Shirley Temple gets her man so quickly despite the opposition of her pa (Fonda)?

Plotwise there's a lot to fit in here, but Wayne shows that he could act pretty well, and the scenery is spectacular. Well done John Ford!
- - neworder from Shropshire
  - Posted 08 Feb 2005 11:51
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

great

A classic john wayne western.
- - A customer from Haverfordwest Pembrokeshire
  - Posted 01 Jul 2005 09:49
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

Classic Western

A classic John Wayne Movie, No1 of John Fords Cavalry Trio ( Rio Grande ,She wear a yellow ribbon). Sorry Duke -Henry Fonda stole the show in this one.
- - A customer from Downpatrick
  - Posted 03 Sep 2006 20:50
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

* * * This review contains spoilers * * *ShowHide

[Highly rated reviewer]

classic western

This film was made when Wayne and Fonda were at the peak and John Fords first western since the end of world war 2.Although the stars are good the whole cast is near perfect for this film of life in the US cavalry.Victor Mclaglan and Ward Bond bring their talents to add laughter and seriuosness as the fiim requires.The ending is all the better as characters are developed, the wives of the soldiers are featured, and you get the idea of the regiment as an extended family.The final scenes confirms Fords belief in the legend of the west and is moving.Personally I would have liked a few extras but this dvd compares with the best westerns ever made.
- - duke51 from Peterlee
  - Posted 25 Mar 2008 12:02
A great partnership

John Ford and John Wayne seem to have conquered the old west on their own and in this film they have a little help from Henry Fonda and Victor McLaglan. It might not have the pulling power for the younger generation these days, but this is the type of film that made Westerns the 'Bread and Butter' of the old Hollywood. Come on you youngsters give it a go and see what cinema was all about !!
- - David Perrins from Wrexham, North Wales
  - Posted 30 Mar 2005 10:10
five star ford

brilliant film directed by john ford.wayne was excellent.but for me henry fonda stole the show.
- - david campbell from scotland
  - Posted 19 Apr 2005 21:06
a wonderful, wonderful movie

This must be one of the best westerns ever.

Great characterisation, finely acted, atmospheric, and brilliantly shot battle scenes.

It also depicts native Americans rather sympathetically, and interestingly deals with truth and myth in American culture.

They just don't make them like this any more.
- - Daniel Aston from leeds
  - Posted 22 Feb 2006 13:31
An absolute classic

As my dad would say, son they dont make them like that any more...A real top drawer western
- - A customer from Newcastle upon Tyne
  - Posted 27 Feb 2006 21:33

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Critics' reviews (3)
Hard-boiled, and hard-pressed, cop Paul Newman tries to control crime on New York's mean streets in a tremendously exciting thriller laced with taut suspense and grisly shocks that make NYPD Blue look like Dixon of Dock Green. Even cult Hairspray director John Waters singled out for high praise former sleaze queen Pam Grier's electric performance as a psychotic hooker — just watch for that razor blade between her teeth. Highly controversial (the Bronx community complained about misrepresentation), but still highly recommended.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
The first of Ford's cavalry trilogy (to be followed by She Wore a Yellow Ribbon and Rio Grande), and an intriguing... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 04 Nov 2008
Rather stiff and unsatisfactory epic Western which yet contains sequences in its director's best manner.
- Halliwell's Film Guide
- Posted 02 Mar 2006