Product: Fort Apache (Color Enhanced) [VHS] (1948)
Rating: 5.0
The first in the Cavalry Trilogy
This film exemplifies John Ford's genius and the black and white cinematography is amazing and riveting. Henry Fonda delivers a bravura performance as the martinet Colonel Owen Thursday. It's difficult to hate Fonda in anything, but this is perhaps his most unsympathetic role. John Wayne more than holds in own in a lesser role and he added much luster to his growing status as a Western icon.Ford's familiar stock company is in full evidence, with steller performances by regulars Victor McLaglen and Ward Bond. Shirley Temple delivers an adequate adult performance and her scenes with Fonda are especially effective.This is one of the great westerns ever made and full appreciation of it has been slow in coming. I highly recommend it to anyone with an appreciation of this genre. Fonda's performance alone makes this a must-see classic.