The first film in Ford's cavalry trilogy was an instant Western classic, with Henry Fonda as a bitter commander who feels exiled at remote Fort Apache, and John Wayne as a desert battle trained officer who treats Chief Cochise with the respect he deserves. Historically cited as one of the first films to treat Native Americans with respect, Ford cast hundreds of Navajo to play Apache parts, and ultimately the plot portrays the ensuing massacre after Fonda misjudges and underestimates the Apache forces. Beautiful cinematography, ripping battle scenes, strong characters, and a gripping plot.
Review of Fort Apache
