Sergeant Braxton Rutledge (Woody Strode) is a black cavalry soldier on trial for unknown charges which has the town up in arms. Lieutenant Tom Cantrell (Jeffrey Hunter) is his defense attorney. Mary Beecher (Constance Towers) is called as the first witness. She recalls when she was talking with Cantrell on a train as it arrives in Spindle. There has been an Apache breakout from the nearby reservation.
This is a John Ford western in Monument Valley. The premise is that each witness in the trial leads to a flashback to the events. It starts poorly with the prosecutor doing some over-the-top sleaziness followed by an over-the-top grand standing by Cantrell. I don't know how the judge can stay in the case when his wife is put on the witness stand. The movie is generally pushing too hard but that era does push on the melodramatic button. It doesn't make it good especially considering the subject matter. Gregory Peck's reserved acting really helps to sell To Kill a Mockingbird (1962). There is a significant difference between the two. This movie has the broad comedy and broad melodrama which really takes it in a wrong direction. On the other hand, I am enthralled with the story and the great attempt at racial politics in the trial. There is also a final problem with the twist. There is no reason for that person to interrupt and then testify. That person would not do it that way. He would go right to the reveal if he feels a certain way. He would not do a detour like that. He would just stand up and say the whole thing. I hope I didn't do a spoiler. This movie has a great filmmaker doing great filmmaking making at stab at the great subject matter of racial justice. I don't always like the comedic tones and some of the broad acting. Full marks for the attempt.
This is a John Ford western in Monument Valley. The premise is that each witness in the trial leads to a flashback to the events. It starts poorly with the prosecutor doing some over-the-top sleaziness followed by an over-the-top grand standing by Cantrell. I don't know how the judge can stay in the case when his wife is put on the witness stand. The movie is generally pushing too hard but that era does push on the melodramatic button. It doesn't make it good especially considering the subject matter. Gregory Peck's reserved acting really helps to sell To Kill a Mockingbird (1962). There is a significant difference between the two. This movie has the broad comedy and broad melodrama which really takes it in a wrong direction. On the other hand, I am enthralled with the story and the great attempt at racial politics in the trial. There is also a final problem with the twist. There is no reason for that person to interrupt and then testify. That person would not do it that way. He would go right to the reveal if he feels a certain way. He would not do a detour like that. He would just stand up and say the whole thing. I hope I didn't do a spoiler. This movie has a great filmmaker doing great filmmaking making at stab at the great subject matter of racial justice. I don't always like the comedic tones and some of the broad acting. Full marks for the attempt.