Rewind, Review, and Re-Rate: ‘Fort Apache’: An Action-Packed Start to John Ford’s Cavalry Trilogy

(Foreground) Lt. Col. Owen Thursday (Henry Fonda, L) and Capt. Kirby York (John Wayne) don’t exactly see eye-to-eye, in “Fort Apache.” RKO Radio Pictures

Passed | 2h 8min | Action, Adventure, Western | 1948

I began my viewing of director John Ford’s Cavalry Trilogy out of order—having watched 1949’s “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon,” the series’ second film, first. So, I thought it only natural to go back to 1948’s “Fort Apache,” the movie considered by many critics to be the best of the trio. And after watching it, I can see why (although I haven’t yet watched the third film in the series, 1950’s “Rio Grande.”)