Post by artraveler on Oct 22, 2020 15:29:51 GMT -8
John Wayne Western Film Festival
These three movies are not just westerns, but also have themes worth exploring and discussing.
In the Searchers we deal with revenge, redemption and the role of the warrior.
In Fort Apache we deal with hubris, and obsession.
In She wore a Yellow Ribbon, the issues are retirement; old soldiers never die.
The Searchers (Black and White)
Picking three John Wayne westerns is not easy and there are many candidates. I decided to stay with three of the Wayne/Ford movies filmed in Monument Valley. The first is The Searchers (1956), I have discussed this movie before and will not cover the same territory again. Of all the Wayne movies except his last, The Shootist, this is the most cerebral. Like the other movies in this trio it is set in the aftermath of the war. It deals with issues of racism, honor and family. Ethan Edwards returns home after three years after the end of the war where he was in the Confederate army. It is implied that he rode with N.B. Forest but never specifically stated. He also carries a significant amount of gold coins, suggesting some possible criminal activity.
this is West Texas and the land is desolate with few scattered communities and even fewer scattered ranches. The story centers on the pursuit by Edwards and Martin Pauley (Jeffery Hunter) for Ethan’s niece Debbie (Natalie Wood) who is captured by Indians after the massacre of Ethan’s brother and the rest of his family.
At first Ethan is concerned with rescuing Debbie, but as years pass and he realizes that Debbie has grown to be a woman his focus changes from rescuing Debbie to killing her, because he assumes, she has been married to a Comanche chief. Martin, who is Debbie’s half-brother is opposed and there are several times the conflict between the two threatens to erupt into violence. After five or six years they get a break and track down the band that had taken Debbie and Ethan, rather then killing Debbie, gathers her up and brings her home. The last shot is of everyone in the family going into the house leaving only Edwards looking at the door, turning and walking into the sunset. There have been a lot of theories about the last scene. I think it symbolizes the role of the warrior in our culture, protecting, loving, and defending, but never truly a part of it.
Fort Apache, (Black and White)
John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Shirley Temple, Ward Bond; it doesn’t get much better than this for any western. Fort Apache (1948), is the story of an outpost somewhere in the west set in the post war period. There is mention of the Custer disaster which sets the date at June 1876. After the war the army downsized. Generals became colonels, LT colonels and majors, everyone else reduced in rank accordingly. Those who chose to remain in the army went west to the only war there was, the Indian wars.
The regiment at Fort Apache is awaiting a new commander, former Brigadier General, now Lt. Colonel Owen Thursday. The post war army is greatly downsized to a TO of about 28,000 from the millions mobilized 1861-65. Many of the serving NCOs and officers were veterans of the war. Sgt. Major Michael O’Rourke, (Ward Bond) is a wonderful example of the many Irish who joined the army during the war and stayed to serve in the west. His son, 2nd Lt. Michael O’Rourke, (John Agar) recently graduated from West Point, an appointment earned by his father, who holds the CMH.
Col Thursday is disappointed that he has been sent to the end of the world. He views his career salvation from the horror of Fort Apache as to do something to get recognition in Washington. Thursday finds a command that needs attention to training and discipline. Thus, he comes in conflict with some of his officers especially Captain Kirby York, (John Wayne). Capt. York has more experience in the area, he knows the Indian leaders and speaks their language.
There is a subplot of the love story between young 2nd Lt. O’Rourke and Col. Thursday’s daughter Philadelphia, (Shirley Temple). This relationship brings to light the social distance between the officer class and enlisted. A distance that still exists today. So, the relationship between 2nd Lt O’Rourke and Philadelphia brings the Lt and his commanding officer into conflict on military and personal levels. Col Thursday decides to send his daughter East and as her father orders the two to stay apart.
Capt. York requests permission to talk to the Apache leaders, Cochise and Geronimo, asking them to return to the reservation. York gives his word that there would be no violence and reports to Thursday. Thursday’s only interest is that the Indians have returned to American soil and he has the power to compel them to the reservation. In spite of York’s word, he prepares the regiment for battle and goes to the meeting.
The meeting does not go well. Thursday insults the Apache. They refuse to return, and Thursday forms up the regiment for battle. In his hubris, Thursday charges directly into a heavily defended position and most of the regiment is wiped out. The scene changes, and now Col York is in command at Fort Apache being quizzed by newsmen on the “heroic” charge of Thursday. Reserving his own opinion Col York just agrees it was a brave charge. Thursday achieved his goal of glory with the deaths of most of his regiment. No one questions the wisdom of the charge. 2nd Lt. O’Rourke marries Philadelphia.
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (Color)
Capt. Nathan Brittle (John Wayne) is ready to retire from the army. While no particular date is mentioned it has the feel of the 1880s. Capt. Brittle has done his 20 so if he enlisted for the war the 1880s and the state of Indian affairs, the Ghost Dance is mentioned which sets a date in the 80s or early 90s. This is the most amusing of the three movies.
Wayne shows his funny side with the usual group of actors found in his westerns, John Agar (Lt Cohill), Ben Johnson (Sgt Tyree), Harry Carey Jr. (2nd Lt Pennell), Victor McLaglen (Sgt Quinncannon). McLaglen is best know for his role in the Quiet Man, one of the best fights in the movies.
The plot is a simple one with Capt. Brittle about to retire, Indians on the warpath and untrained recruits. This movie is more humorous than the others. Wayne plays straight man to the rest of the cast with a wink and a nod. In terms of drama, well there isn’t much, but the enjoyment of watching these very skilled actors makes the movie.
One important note on all three movies. Former Confederate soldiers are conspicuously present in the US Army. This historically accurate and reflects the time when the South was recovering from the war. The Southern soldiers are given the respect they deserve from the men who fought against them. It was an important part of healing from the war. The point is made, not subtlety, that the west was won by all Americans.
Ford could have taken the extra historical step of bringing Blacks into the troops. I am sure he was aware of the buffalo soldiers, but the 1950s were not ready for it. Additionally, all of the Indians are Navaho and Hopi who live in the Monument Valley area. There are some dispersing remarks about Indians in the movies, but that reflects the 1870s not the time the movies were made or the opinions of Ford or the cast. These are three excellent westerns and deserve attention.
These three movies are not just westerns, but also have themes worth exploring and discussing.
In the Searchers we deal with revenge, redemption and the role of the warrior.
In Fort Apache we deal with hubris, and obsession.
In She wore a Yellow Ribbon, the issues are retirement; old soldiers never die.
The Searchers (Black and White)
Picking three John Wayne westerns is not easy and there are many candidates. I decided to stay with three of the Wayne/Ford movies filmed in Monument Valley. The first is The Searchers (1956), I have discussed this movie before and will not cover the same territory again. Of all the Wayne movies except his last, The Shootist, this is the most cerebral. Like the other movies in this trio it is set in the aftermath of the war. It deals with issues of racism, honor and family. Ethan Edwards returns home after three years after the end of the war where he was in the Confederate army. It is implied that he rode with N.B. Forest but never specifically stated. He also carries a significant amount of gold coins, suggesting some possible criminal activity.
this is West Texas and the land is desolate with few scattered communities and even fewer scattered ranches. The story centers on the pursuit by Edwards and Martin Pauley (Jeffery Hunter) for Ethan’s niece Debbie (Natalie Wood) who is captured by Indians after the massacre of Ethan’s brother and the rest of his family.
At first Ethan is concerned with rescuing Debbie, but as years pass and he realizes that Debbie has grown to be a woman his focus changes from rescuing Debbie to killing her, because he assumes, she has been married to a Comanche chief. Martin, who is Debbie’s half-brother is opposed and there are several times the conflict between the two threatens to erupt into violence. After five or six years they get a break and track down the band that had taken Debbie and Ethan, rather then killing Debbie, gathers her up and brings her home. The last shot is of everyone in the family going into the house leaving only Edwards looking at the door, turning and walking into the sunset. There have been a lot of theories about the last scene. I think it symbolizes the role of the warrior in our culture, protecting, loving, and defending, but never truly a part of it.
Fort Apache, (Black and White)
John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Shirley Temple, Ward Bond; it doesn’t get much better than this for any western. Fort Apache (1948), is the story of an outpost somewhere in the west set in the post war period. There is mention of the Custer disaster which sets the date at June 1876. After the war the army downsized. Generals became colonels, LT colonels and majors, everyone else reduced in rank accordingly. Those who chose to remain in the army went west to the only war there was, the Indian wars.
The regiment at Fort Apache is awaiting a new commander, former Brigadier General, now Lt. Colonel Owen Thursday. The post war army is greatly downsized to a TO of about 28,000 from the millions mobilized 1861-65. Many of the serving NCOs and officers were veterans of the war. Sgt. Major Michael O’Rourke, (Ward Bond) is a wonderful example of the many Irish who joined the army during the war and stayed to serve in the west. His son, 2nd Lt. Michael O’Rourke, (John Agar) recently graduated from West Point, an appointment earned by his father, who holds the CMH.
Col Thursday is disappointed that he has been sent to the end of the world. He views his career salvation from the horror of Fort Apache as to do something to get recognition in Washington. Thursday finds a command that needs attention to training and discipline. Thus, he comes in conflict with some of his officers especially Captain Kirby York, (John Wayne). Capt. York has more experience in the area, he knows the Indian leaders and speaks their language.
There is a subplot of the love story between young 2nd Lt. O’Rourke and Col. Thursday’s daughter Philadelphia, (Shirley Temple). This relationship brings to light the social distance between the officer class and enlisted. A distance that still exists today. So, the relationship between 2nd Lt O’Rourke and Philadelphia brings the Lt and his commanding officer into conflict on military and personal levels. Col Thursday decides to send his daughter East and as her father orders the two to stay apart.
Capt. York requests permission to talk to the Apache leaders, Cochise and Geronimo, asking them to return to the reservation. York gives his word that there would be no violence and reports to Thursday. Thursday’s only interest is that the Indians have returned to American soil and he has the power to compel them to the reservation. In spite of York’s word, he prepares the regiment for battle and goes to the meeting.
The meeting does not go well. Thursday insults the Apache. They refuse to return, and Thursday forms up the regiment for battle. In his hubris, Thursday charges directly into a heavily defended position and most of the regiment is wiped out. The scene changes, and now Col York is in command at Fort Apache being quizzed by newsmen on the “heroic” charge of Thursday. Reserving his own opinion Col York just agrees it was a brave charge. Thursday achieved his goal of glory with the deaths of most of his regiment. No one questions the wisdom of the charge. 2nd Lt. O’Rourke marries Philadelphia.
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (Color)
Capt. Nathan Brittle (John Wayne) is ready to retire from the army. While no particular date is mentioned it has the feel of the 1880s. Capt. Brittle has done his 20 so if he enlisted for the war the 1880s and the state of Indian affairs, the Ghost Dance is mentioned which sets a date in the 80s or early 90s. This is the most amusing of the three movies.
Wayne shows his funny side with the usual group of actors found in his westerns, John Agar (Lt Cohill), Ben Johnson (Sgt Tyree), Harry Carey Jr. (2nd Lt Pennell), Victor McLaglen (Sgt Quinncannon). McLaglen is best know for his role in the Quiet Man, one of the best fights in the movies.
The plot is a simple one with Capt. Brittle about to retire, Indians on the warpath and untrained recruits. This movie is more humorous than the others. Wayne plays straight man to the rest of the cast with a wink and a nod. In terms of drama, well there isn’t much, but the enjoyment of watching these very skilled actors makes the movie.
One important note on all three movies. Former Confederate soldiers are conspicuously present in the US Army. This historically accurate and reflects the time when the South was recovering from the war. The Southern soldiers are given the respect they deserve from the men who fought against them. It was an important part of healing from the war. The point is made, not subtlety, that the west was won by all Americans.
Ford could have taken the extra historical step of bringing Blacks into the troops. I am sure he was aware of the buffalo soldiers, but the 1950s were not ready for it. Additionally, all of the Indians are Navaho and Hopi who live in the Monument Valley area. There are some dispersing remarks about Indians in the movies, but that reflects the 1870s not the time the movies were made or the opinions of Ford or the cast. These are three excellent westerns and deserve attention.