Thursday's inability to deal with Meacham effectively, due to his rigid interpretation of Army regulations stating that Meacham is an agent of the United States government, so entitled to Army protection (despite his own personal contempt for the man), coupled with Thursday's prejudicial and arrogant ignorance regarding the Apache, drives the Apaches to rebel.Seeing an opportunity for glory and recognition as the man who brought in Cochise, Thursday orders his regiment into battle on Cochise's terms, a direct charge into the hills, despite York's urgent warnings that such a move would be suicidal. When unrest arises among the Apache, led by Cochise, Thursday ignores York's advice to treat the tribes with honor and to remedy problems on the reservation caused by corrupt Apache agent Silas Meacham. However, the class-conscious Thursday forbids his daughter to see someone whom he does not consider an equal and a gentleman. The elder O'Rourke was a recipient of the Medal of Honor as a major with the Irish Brigade during the Civil War, entitling his son to enter West Point and become an officer. She becomes attracted to Second Lieutenant Michael Shannon O'Rourke, the son of Sergeant Major Michael O'Rourke. It becomes evident from a conversation with his former colleague, Captain Sam Collingwood, that Thursday had made his name through an act of reckless courage that had paid off, and therefore his posting to a remote fort was intended to keep him from any unnecessary risk taking.Īccompanying widower Thursday is his daughter, Philadelphia. He clearly regards his posting to Fort Apache as a snub given his record. Despite his Civil War combat record, Lieutenant Colonel Thursday is an arrogant and egocentric officer who lacks experience dealing with Native Americans, and in particular local tribes with their unique cultures and traditions. Thursday, a West Point graduate, was a general during the Civil War. To the surprise and disappointment of the company, command of the regiment was given to Lieutenant Colonel Owen Thursday. York had commanded his own regiment during the Civil War and was well-qualified to assume permanent command. Nugent was nominated for best screenplay by the Writers Guild of America.Īfter the American Civil War, highly respected veteran Captain Kirby York is expected to replace the outgoing commander at Fort Apache, an isolated U.S. The film was awarded the Best Director and Best Cinematography awards by the Locarno International Film Festival of Locarno, Switzerland. In his review of the DVD release of Fort Apache in 2012, The New York Times movie critic Dave Kehr called it "one of the great achievements of classical American cinema, a film of immense complexity that never fails to reveal new shadings with each viewing" and "among the first 'pro-Indian' Westerns" in its portrayal of indigenous Americans with "sympathy and respect". The film was one of the first to present an authentic and sympathetic view of Native Americans. The historical sources for "Massacre" have been attributed both to George Armstrong Custer and the Battle of Little Bighorn and to the Fetterman Fight. The screenplay was inspired by James Warner Bellah's short story "Massacre" (1947). The film was the first of the director's "Cavalry Trilogy" and was followed by She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949) and Rio Grande (1950), both also starring Wayne. Fort Apache is a 1948 American Western film directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne and Henry Fonda.
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