Two Movies seen on TCM: Fort Apache (1948) and The Naked Spur (1953)

I've been hooked on TCM for years now. I just always remember being a fan of Humphrey Bogart, Cary Grant, Errol Flynn, Audrey Hepburn, Katharine Hepburn, James (Jimmy) Steward, John Wayne, and many many more. Around a decade ago, I used to do some reviews of movies I saw on TCM. I figured I'd start it up again. If you're interested, click on through.

Fort Apache (1948). This movie is the first of John Ford's Cavalry Trilogy that later included She Wore a Yellow Ribbon and Rio Grande. The movie starts off with Lieutenant Colonel Owen Thursday (Henry Fonda) and his daughter Philadelphia (Shirley Temple) on a stagecoach. They're heading to Fort Apache. During the Civil War, he had been given the rank of Major General, but once the war ended he lost his rank and was given the lower rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Though he lost his rank of Major General, he was given the plumb assignment of working in Europe. For some reason, he lost that assignment and was being re-assigned to Fort Apache. He doesn't see much hope in this new position, seeing it as career ending. His feelings centers to some degree on the fact that the Apache and Americans are in a relatively peaceful co-existence. 

Along their journey, they crossed paths with another officer making his way to Fort Apache, Second Lieutenant Michael O'Rourke (John Agar). Romantic sparks can be seen flying between O'Rourke and Philadelphia. When they get to the fort, they meet Captain Kirby York (John Wayne) who has been in command of the fort. We also learn that O'Rourke's father is  at the fort, Sergeant Major Michael O'Rourke. We learn that the Sergeant Major was a major during the Civil War. It is an interesting detail about post-Civil War military life where many who had served their country with honor found themselves with ranks that were far lower than during the war.   

Conflicts between the Apache and Americans flair up due to poor treatment at the reservation that is run by a corrupt government agent. The Apache then flee towards Mexico. I'm not exactly sure why, but the United States doesn't want them fleeing to Mexico, but instead wants them to return to the reservation (perhaps worried that there will be cross boarder skirmishes). York is sent to negotiate a peace deal. However, Thursday sees it as an opportunity to gain some glory. As the Apache are making their way back to the reservation, the American troops attack. It is not a wise decision. The Apache set a trap and Thursday and his men are massacred. The only survivors are a small group of soldiers who are held to the rear that include York (who obviously was not pleased that his peace deal was being blown up) and Second Lieutenant O'Rourke. Upon seeing that this group of soldiers has stayed out of the fight, the Apache do not attack them. 

The movie flash forwards a few years. York is back to commanding the fort. A memorial has been set up for Thursday, creating a false impression that he was a hero. O'Rourke and Philadelphia are now married. They calvary is also seen heading off to confront Geronimo. 

The movie is very pro-Apache. The Thursday character is obviously based on General George Custer who was given a rank of Major General in the Civil War and then afterwards was made a Lieutenant Colonel. The movie highlights a man who due to his own ambitions starts a war that results in his own Battle of the Little Bighorn. Even after his passing, the war continued with Geronimo. As history would dictate via Wikipedia, Geronimo "was one of the last major forces of independent Native American warriors who refused to accept the United States occupation of the American West."

The Naked Spur (1953). The movie revolves around a tight cast of characters with the backdrop of the beautiful mountains of Colorado. Bounty Hunter Howard Kemp (James Stewart) is tracking down Ben Vandergroat (Robert Ryan) who is wanted on murder charges. Kemp has lost the trail, but happens to come across Jesse Tate (Millard Mitchell) who might have a clue via an old camp fire that he had come across. The two find the camp fire and then follow the trail left by a couple horses. 

The two of them track down Vandergroat who happens to be atop a granite cliff. Every attempt to get to him is cut off via either gun fire or rock slides. This gets the attention of Roy Anderson (Ralph Meeker) who recently was dishonorably discharged from the cavalry. Via another pathway, Anderson is able to confront Vandergroat. Unknown to anyone, Vandergroat has a companion, Lina Patch (Janet Leigh) who attempts to assist by attacking Anderson. The struggle ends when Kemp and Tate make it up the cliff. 

Vandergroat quickly realizes that his only way to survive is to cause tensions between the three allies. First, he happens to know Kemp and quickly realize that the other two individuals believe he is a sheriff. He points out that Kemp is really a bounty hunter, trying to make $5,000. There is an immediate demand that the bounty get split evenly. Throughout the movie, Vandergroat continues to play the three against each other.

We also learn that the Blackfoot tribe is tracking the five individuals. They're not out to kill the group. Instead, they're specifically after Anderson who raped the chief's daughter. Anderson has to confess this fact to the group and is sent away. Anderson sets up a trap and once executed it causes a battle between the Blackfoot and the five individuals. Unfortunately, all the Blackfoot are kills and Kemp is shot in the leg. In a way, both the Blackfoot and Kemp are bounty hunters. 

Patch is assigned to help Kemp and they gradually start to fall for each other. 

The ending of the movie is a bunch of double crossing between the trio of bounty hunters, mainly caused by the psychological warfare by Vandergroat. At the end, everyone is dead except for Kemp and Patch. As Kemp is getting ready to head off with Vandergroat's body to get his bounty, Patch pleads with him to let it rest. In the end, Patch wins the argument. Vandergroat is buried and the two head towards California. 

Why exactly they couldn't get the $5,000 reward and then head to California is a bit confusing to me. I mean, $5,000 shortly after the Civil War isn't exactly chump change. The movie is a well made psychological battle, using the shortcomings of various individuals, in an attempt to survive another day. Why is the movie called The Naked Spur? The spur plays an important role at the end.