That's the thing - Hank was an ideal "everyman" and is the "liberal" counterpart to one of his best friends, the "conservative" Jimmy Stewart.

Film fans were just unaccustomed to seeing him in an antagonistic role - he was very good as Thursday (I believe a take on Custer, overall, although more spit and polish, Custer was also a West Pointer that went to his doom at the hands of plains indians) - and the only other prominent bad guy he played - at least that I recall - was Once Upon a Time in the West. He was brilliant in that.

And - while Leone "unretired" from making westerns in order to direct Fonda - Fonda initially passed. Eli Wallach had to talk him into it.

They made that entire movie to show Hank Fonda killing a child...

ETA: Fort Apache is probably my least favorite of Ford's "Cavalry" trilogy. She Wore A Yellow Ribbon is more fun (although Fort Apache has its moment) - and Rio Grande has Maureen O'Hara.

This post was edited on 12/20/14 at 8:44 am

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Posted by udtiger

Over your left shoulder

Member since Nov 2006

99153 posts

Posted on 12/20/14 at 10:08 am to Ace Midnight

quote:
Maureen O'Hara

Definite babe...and probably the only ginger with a soul.

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Posted by Jim Rockford

Member since May 2011

98335 posts

Posted on 12/20/14 at 9:08 pm to Ace Midnight

quote:
(I believe a take on Custer, overall, although more spit and polish, Custer was also a West Pointer that went to his doom at the hands of plains indians) -

More Fetterman than Custer, IYAM. Custer was a douchebag, but he was also an experienced Indian fighter, and based on past experience, his tactics should have worked at LBH. The plains tribes hardly ever engaged in set piece battles vs the US Army, and In fact, Custer's great concern was that they would break contact before his reinforcements arrived, so he attacked without them. But the Sioux and Cheyenne crossed him up and decided to stand and fight. Fetterman was a green officer from back east who was out to make a name for himself, disobeyed orders not to get out of sight of the fort, and got his whole command wiped out by the Sioux. He's unremembered him because it happened during the Civil War when nobody was paying attention to what was going on out west.

Any explanation or theories on what happened between Thursday and Collingwood?

quote:
Nothing personal in this, Sam. No explanations, Owen. We've never had them before. - Although, once, I tried. - There was nothing to explain. No, nothing. You did what you did, and rode to glory. I did what I did, and wound up at Fort Apache- Well, you've wound up here too..

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Posted by Mr. Misanthrope

Cloud 8

Member since Nov 2012

5521 posts

Posted on 12/20/14 at 11:19 pm to Ace Midnight

Fonda's Thursday was rigid to the point of foolishness. The kind of leader who ends up with most of his command sacrificed because he considered officer's and non-com's opinions counter to his either wrong or insubordinate.

He played the part well. If you get to watch it again pay attention to his bearing in this scene with Ward Bond. It's my favorite in the film.

quote:
Lt. Col. Thursday: This Lt. O'Rourke - are you by chance related?

RSM Michael O'Rourke: Not by chance, sir, by blood. He's my son.

Lt. Col. Thursday: I see. How did he happen to get into West Point?

RSM Michael O'Rourke: It happened by presidential appointment, sir

Lt. Col. Thursday: Are you a former officer, O'Rourke?

RSM Michael O'Rourke: During the war, I was a major in the 69th New York regiment... The Irish Brigade, sir.

Lt. Col. Thursday: Still, it's been my impression that presidential appointments were restricted to sons of holders of the Medal of Honor.

RSM Michael O'Rourke: That is my impression, too, sir. Will that be all, sir?

Thursday hardly bats an eye. Compare him to the General from Heartbreak Ridge who, in a reception line, tells Gunny Highway it's a honor to meet a MOH winner.

BTW agree Maureen O'Hara is a babe.