In between his two stage hits , Forsythe made dour appearances in a few films , notably Robert Wise 's The Captive City ( 1952 ) , in which he was a small-town newspaper editor fighting widespread corruption ; and John Sturges 's Escape from Fort Bravo ( 1953 ) , where , as a Confederate prisoner , he is conveniently killed by Indians at the end to allow William Holden to get his girl ( Eleanor Parker ) .