Sergeant Rutledge **** (1960, Jeffrey Hunter, Woody Strode, Billie Burke, Constance Towers) – Classic Movie Review 2346

Director John Ford’s 1960 Western reunites him with star Jeffrey Hunter, who relishes an excellent role as Lieutenant Tom Cantrell. It is the sterling story of a US Cavalry’s hero’s fight for justice.

The young lieutenant volunteers to be the counsel for the defence for respected black cavalry Sergeant Braxton ‘Brax’ Rutledge (Woody Strode), who is accused in court martial of the rape and murder of a white woman, the killing of her father, his superior officer, and of desertion. The story of how a black soldier in the face of danger from the Native Americans can be mistaken as a criminal begins in the courtroom and it is told in flashbacks. This allows for some welcome Western action in what would otherwise be a static, one-set movie.

Ford directs a tense, involving courtroom drama, apparently as a riposte to his critics who had accused him of racism in his movies, especially against Native Americans. It is a surprisingly liberal-minded movie for the right-wing director. Though it has inevitably dated as issue dramas have a habit of doing, it is still worthy, and enjoyable Western entertainment.

The underrated Hunter commands attention in a commendably intense and compelling star turn, and Strode gives an outstanding sensitive, distinctive performance. Juano Hernandez, Willis Bouchey, Carleton Young are also notable as Sergeant Matthew Luke Skidmore, the president of the court-martial Colonel Otis Fosgate and the prosecutor Captain Shattuck.

As usual, Ford ensures a good cast of loyal support players: Constance Towers (as Mary Beecher), Billie Burke (as Mrs Cordelia Fosgate), Judson Pratt (as court-martial board member Lieutenant Mulqueen), Mae Marsh, Rafer Johnson, Chuck Robertson, Charles Seal, Estelle Winwood, Hank Worden, Jack Pennick, Eva Novak, Cliff Lyons and Fred Libby.

Bert Glennon’s colour cinematography is an asset. The writers are James Warner Bellah and Willis Goldbeck, basing their screenplay on Bellah’s novel. The project originated in a planned 1957 movie to be directed by André De Toth, based on the 1955 story Shadow of the Noose by John Hawkins and Ward Hawkins in The Saturday Evening Post.

Hunter’s Tom Cantrell character here refers to the Jorgensen Ranch. Ford’s classic Western The Searchers (1956), also starring Hunter, ends with him arriving at the Jorgensen Ranch.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2346

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