Fort Apache Page #3

Synopsis: In John Ford's sombre exploration mythologising of American heroes, he slowly reveals the character of Owen Thursday, who sees his new posting to the desolate Fort Apache as a chance to claim the military honour which he believes is rightfully his. Arrogant, obsessed with military form and ultimately self-destructive, Thursday attempts to destroy the Apache chief Cochise after luring him across the border from Mexico, against the advice of his subordinates.
Director(s): John Ford
Production: Turner Home Entertainment
  2 wins & 1 nomination.
 
IMDB:
7.6
Rotten Tomatoes:
100%
NOT RATED
Year:
1948
128 min
1,256 Views


daughter...

...and this is Mrs. O'Rourke,

the wife of our sergeant major...

...and the mother

of a very fine young officer.

How do you do, Mrs. O'Rourke.

Sam told me about Michael's arrival.

How happy you must be.

Oh, I am.

- How does he look?

- Oh, he looks wonderful.

I mean, he makes a very fine officer.

Mary, this poor child has to set up house

in that bare barn.

Don't you worry,

I'll tend to everything.

Well, he is nice.

Order. And one, two, three.

All right, now let's try it together.

Carry arm. One, two, three.

Put that piece on the ground.

Pick it up.

Put that piece down, soldier.

Well, captain, when you say carry arm,

you mean to carry this little gun?

- Get back in line.

- Yes, sir. I was... I was only asking.

- Shut up and put your hat on.

- Yes, sir.

I'm sorry, soldier.

I was only trying to tell you.

- How's the boy doing, Festus?

- Oh, he's doing fine, Michael.

But nevertheless,

he's an officer and a gentleman.

And that's no job for a gentleman.

Well, then.

Come on.

Would Lieutenant O'Rourke

please step over to the stable, sir.

But these men, they're pretty rough.

But the sergeants... The sergeants

can take over the drill, sir.

Very well.

Sergeants, continue with the drill.

Yes, sir.

Now, the first thing to do after becoming

a soldier is to look like a soldier.

To look like a soldier,

you got to stand like a soldier.

Suck in that belly.

Get that hand out of your pocket.

Straighten up those legs.

Pull those feet out. Get that chin up.

Wait a minute, Daniel, darling.

Just one moment.

I'm gonna make this squad the finest party

of men in the American Army.

Get back in line there.

Hold your head up.

Head and eyes straight to the front.

Heels together and your toes apart.

At the approximate angle of 45 degrees.

I've never seen such a ragged line.

- Just come out and look at yourselves.

- Get back there.

Now, is there any man here

from Tipperary?

Is there any man here from Cork?

Is there any man here

from County Sligo?

Yes, sir.

Now, we don't want to show any

favoritism about this...

...but you're now an acting corporal.

Now, Sergeant Shattuck will take you

in the manual of arms.

That is, by numbers.

Meaning one, two...

Come on, get back in line there.

Get on your feet. Get in here.

Hello, son.

It's from your mother and myself.

Oh, gee, Dad, he's a beauty.

He's thoroughbred and Morgan.

Get on him, ride him.

Come on.

Hey, Dad, he's a beauty.

He's a leaper, that one.

Go on, take him.

Four. One, two, three, four.

One, two, three, four.

There's Sergeant John McAfferty

And Corporal Donahue

They make us march up to the crack

In gallant Company Q

The drums they roll upon my soul

For that's the way we go

Forty miles a day on beans and hay

In the regular Army, oh

There's Sergeant John McAfferty

And Corporal Donahue

They make us march up to the crack

In gallant Company Q

The drums they roll upon my soul

For that's the way we go

Forty miles a day on beans and hay

In the regular Army, oh

- Those recruits, captain?

- Yes, sir. First day's drill.

They show promise.

A good officer, that O'Rourke.

West Point training, colonel.

Surprise.

Well, what do you think

of your new quarters?

Well, did you do all this yourself?

Naturally. Even moved the piano.

No. Mrs. Collingwood

and Mrs. O'Rourke helped me.

They were wonderful.

Mrs. Collingwood gave me

these things and the drapes...

...and Mrs. Grayson gave us

Great-Uncle Abraham.

He was a very famous man.

And Mrs. Tompkins gave us that chair,

and little Mrs. Gates gave us the stool.

Only it doesn't quite match the room.

And Francisco gave us Guadalupe.

How do you do.

She's our cook.

I'm proud of you.

Someday you're going to be

a proper soldier's wife.

And Dr. Wilkens

wanted you to have this.

- It's a little rump sprung, he...

- What?

But very comfortable.

And I helped with the dinner.

I'm sorry, I... I forgot to tell you.

It does that sometimes.

Good evening, sir.

I'm sorry to interrupt, but Fort Grant

is flashing a general alarm, sir.

Have any of our patrols reported,

Mr. Gates?

No, sir.

Keep the wire open to Fort Grant.

- I'll return to the headquarters

immediately. - Yes, sir.

My cap and gloves.

What's your name?

Guadalupe.

But, Dad. Dinner.

Don't wait for me. I may be hours.

There'll be other dinners, Phil.

Yes, Dad.

It's all right, Guadalupe.

We'll cook other dinners together.

- Phil.

- Good evening, Miss Thursday.

- Having a party. Oh, I'm terribly sorry.

- No, you come right in, dear.

It's just a little welcome

for Lieutenant O'Rourke.

Your servant, ma'am.

Couldn't have come at a better time.

Could she?

- No one more welcome.

- No, indeed.

Now then, who shall get this prize?

Our host, of course.

I don't trust you, Sam Collingwood.

No, you shall sit here on my right,

next to Captain York.

Thank you.

So Lieutenant O'Rourke

can have a look at you.

- Well, I don't know whether that's fair.

- Why not?

- Because you'll have to look at him.

- Well, I hope she does.

- You don't drink wine, do you?

- No, thank you.

- Good girl, Philadelphia.

- Coffee, dear.

Were you born in Philadelphia?

No, Pomfret, Connecticut.

I was named after my mother.

Oh, she was born in Philadelphia.

No, Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

She was named after Grandmother.

Grandmother was the first

Philadelphia in our family.

- Oh, then she was...?

- No, Provincetown, Massachusetts.

Let's ta... Let's talk about horses.

Do you ride, Pawtuc... Pom... Phil?

- Yes, I do.

- Well, good.

We'll have to order some nice

young officer to take you riding.

Emily.

- Shall we leave the men to

their cigars, Phil. - All right.

- Have a cigar, Kirby, and I'll join you.

- Sit down, dear.

I can't tell you how wonderful it is to have

you here at the post, Mrs. Collingwood.

- I think you'll get along even without me.

- Without?

We're just marking time, you know.

Sam has applied for transfer

to West Point as instructor.

Oh, I didn't know.

When are you leaving, captain?

Leaving? Leaving for where?

I'm not going anywhere.

Leave my own party?

Phil meant for the academy, Sam.

Oh, that.

Soon, I hope.

Or they may reject me.

Oh, Sam. Sam, they couldn't.

They've had my application

a long time, dear.

You know how the Army is, Sam.

Yes, and I know its opinion of me.

And you know our opinion of you too.

Isn't that enough?

And you know what the men

think of you, sir.

Captain, lieutenant, my compliments.

Bravo, Quincannon.

Thank you, Quincannon. Thank you.

One before each meal.

Sergeant, take him

back to the guardhouse.

There was Sergeant John McAfferty

And Corporal Donahue

This is against all tradition.

A man comes to serenade a lady,

and what does he find?

Her husband and half the regiment

on the balcony.

- I am crushed.

- You're a faintheart, doctor.

You only serenade

when husbands are around.

And for good reason, ma'am.

Seeing what a sorry

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Frank S. Nugent

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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