grafxman This movie is not a Western but it does have Indians and it is set in the west. It's not a romance although there are some romantic moments. It's not a "black" movie although most of the actors are black. It's not an army movie although many of the folks are in the film are in the army. So what is it?The movie is a murder mystery worthy of anything Alfred Hitchcock ever directed. There red herrings. There is confusion. There is evidence. There are cross examinations. There are flashback scenes. And best of all there is an absolutely stunning twist at the end that may make your head explode! This is a movie that is not to be missed.

magneta This is a movie that was not generally recognized when released, but which has over time become a cult favorite. John Ford once again returns to Monument Valley to give us a tale of soldiering, military justice, and who-done-it, with a strong racial overtone. The film is a good one, with an unusual mystery angle, and survives by overcoming the handicap of some very bad acting. Jeffery Hunter and Constance Towers are fine in their roles, Juano Hernandez is believable as an old soldier whose friend has been accused of a heinous crime, and Woody Strode handles the title role with dignity and appealing intensity. Strode once remarked that in this film John Ford "put some good words in my mouth," and he certainly did. The anchor that this film drags is in the deplorable acting by most of the supporting cast. The murdered young girl and her boyfriend are uncredited, and deservedly so. The usually dependable Willis Bouchey blusters and stumbles through his role as the president of the court-martial, while the other court members engage in what can only be called slapstick. Billie Burke, in her final role, is plain silly, and Carleton Young is irritatingly overbearing as the chief prosecutor. The Razzie for this film, though, goes to Fred Libby as the post sutler, who chews the scenery completely up in the film's climax, a performance that is painful to watch. The film, despite this major drawback, is worth seeing. Ford, who had approached the subject of racism four years earlier in "The Searchers," is less subtle in his approach here, but handles the subject expertly, telling the story of the Ninth Cavalry's "Buffalo Soldiers" with the respect that their place in history deserves.

downstarr Having seen the picture again last night but this time in HD, I'd just like to say that in my opinion, it has to be the finest cavalry picture ever filmed. The movement of the actors on the horses, the motion of the troop riding across the scenery, even the positions taken of the troop in the background as the dialogue unfolds is impressive. At most there were less than 20 horsemen in one scene, but the actions portrayed the effect of an entire company of horse soldiers. There are too many layers in this picture for me to comment on but I always enjoy watching it when it comes on the telly. A close second in cavalry films would have to be Mssrs. Ford & Waynes Horse Soldiers. But even though there were more actors to fill the scenes, I'd still give Sgt. Rutledge the high mark. Long may he live!

DKosty123 There are two ways too look at this film. The first way too look at it is as a painting done by an artist of the Western Genre. In this sense, John Ford's film is just as good here as any film he did. The Monument Valley in Utah is used much the same here as it is in every film Ford featured it in.Fords work with this cast is a form of the artist too. Every person in this cast shines from Jeffrey Hunter's lead role throughout. Ford proves here he doesn't need John Wayne, James Stewart, or any of the biggest A List stars of 1960 to make a terrific film. This film is done with his style & flair. It has possibly the best performances on film of the entire cast. The classic courtroom & flash back sequences work as well as ever too.The second way to look at this is for political messages. I think it is a mistake too look at this film for that. Granted this is the largest black cast ever assembled for a Ford film, but that does not really mean he was trying to make a civil rights message here. In fact from what I see, the history here is fatally flawed as the period after the Civil War this is set in would not contain these people.Racism was not addressed immediately after the Civil War period. We wish (& maybe Ford did too) now that issue had been (Monday Morning Quarterbacks in 1960). True History indicates otherwise. What this script does is take some 1960 people who were coming around to the idea that racism is wrong, & places them after the Civil War. The result in this film is mixed on how effective that really is.Entertainment is something this film does provide well. Ford the artist does shine through here which makes this a much better than average film in it's era. I did read a review on here that takes offense too the women being sent out of the courtroom during certain testimony in the trial. The truth in that era is that could have happened. You have to remember that women did not get the right to vote until years after the time this movie is set in.Don't look at this movie as true history though. It is revisionist history. What I enjoy with this film is artistry of a great director taking an excellent cast & painting a great picture on a film canvas. This film does that very well.