sandcrab277 Perhaps the only film henry fonda had to actually act in because he wasn't playing henry fonda... i didn't care for his role either ... i'm sure john ford made his gnash his teeth over and over to get this performance ... shirley temple was the best in this film ... its probably the only film she was in that i liked ... john wayne played john wayne very well...

v_haritha_in One more of John Ford's epic westerns. The young and ambitious, Lt. Col. Owen Thursday (Henry Fonda) is appointed to a small army outpost close to one of the Indian reserves. Though crestfallen at first on being posted far from action, he decides to make his mark nonetheless. In his zest to prove himself, he disregards the advice of veterans like Capt. York (John Wayne) and sets off on a suicidal mission to attack the Apache.Thursday is a man who has visions of glory but does not have the patience to get there. He is too proud to mingle with his subordinates, maintains a stately kind of relations with other veterans and in keeping with his manner, forbids his daughter's (Shirley Temple) romance with a young, eligible officer. He might follow the rules by the book and place great importance on formalities but he lacks leadership qualities.The other soldiers are a stark contrast to Lt. Col. Thursday. They may appear and behave rough but they know to obey their superior. They respect him in spite of his flaws and do not question when he literally orders them to their deaths.It is one of the few old Westerns that do not show the Indians as savages. They are all for peace and talks; it is Thursday's misguided aggression that forces them to defend themselves.An all round good movie. It takes its time in developing the characters; it is almost like knowing more and more about a person as you spend more time with them. Wayne is in familiar territory as a man who knows the West like the back of his palm. Fonda is not a bad guy but a head-strong fool who manages to do more harm than a traditional villain; a role he simply nails. Shirley Temple is no longer the little girl from the 30's but boy has she bloomed. She is pretty, vivacious and steals every moment of her screen-time.No more words, just watch it.

utgard14 Henry Fonda plays a Custeresque lieutenant colonel who forces a conflict with the Apaches, against the warnings of cavalry captain John Wayne. The first of Ford and Wayne's cavalry trilogy. Many would argue it's the best. Beautiful location scenery that's wonderfully photographed. Ford's direction is brilliant, as it almost always was during this decade. Backing up Fonda and Wayne, who are both superb, is a fine stable of character actors, many of whom are Ford regulars. Also, John Agar in one of his best roles as well as a young adult Shirley Temple doing fine in her limited part. Slow-going for awhile but never dull. Fort Apache is an excellent, thought-provoking film that is definitely a feather in the cap for director Ford and his two stars.

kloomnik I haven't seen Fort Apache for 40 years and I was amazed by how well it wears.The film should not be dismissed as "just an old fashioned Western". It is the work of a genuine auteur: A classic (and, at the time, original) Fordian mix of action, folklore, humor, the family, the cavalry, the military code of honor, truth vs. myth, monument valley locations, memorable camera work, professional acting (John Wayne, Henry Fonda, and many of his "stock players" -- Victor McLaglen, Ward Bond, etc.), a dose of "irishness", and so on.Tastes have changed over the years, and our views of the period have undergone multiple revisions. But that should not subtract from the greatness of Fort Apache. The treatment of Indians, by the way, is very sympathetic (not the "savage Indians" vs. the "civilized whites" portrayal, common in other Westerns of the period).A final note: Because of his conservative politics and somewhat limited range of roles (he didn't do Hamlet), John Wayne has often been dismissed by the "cognizanti". In my view, his performance here is perfect. Overall, I would venture that he is a much better actor than that other star who built his reputation on Westerns: Clint Eastwood. (Of course, Eastwood has achieved well-deserved acclaim as a movie director).