John Wayne is well regarded as the most talented Western star that’s ever emerged from America, and some of his projects were hugely influential in the development of the genre. The actor had several movies that performed underwhelmingly, numerous that were incredibly successful, and some that fell somewhere in-between: but all of them were important contextually. Even the movies that weren’t great served a greater purpose in the narrative of the Western genre, changing the way that certain ideas and people were perceived and depicted.
There’s a reason that Wayne’s status is regarded as higher than most of his competitors: on the whole, his movies were simply more engaging and impressive. He wasn’t typecast into playing the same character in every project, like many of the other stars of that era were, but rather he was given complex roles that challenged audiences’ perceptions of what he could do on-screen. Many of John Wayne’s best movies are still well-regarded today for their filmmaking ability – though some are appreciated for other reasons, such as their progressive treatment of some previously problematic tropes.
John Wayne’s Fort Apache Change How Native Americans Were Depicted In Western Movies
Native Americans Had Previously Been Presented Unfairly
With 100% fresh status on Rotten Tomatoes, Fort Apache is widely considered to be among the strongest movies in John Wayne’s catalog. The film follows an unpredictable Civil War hero, played by Henry Fonda, who clashes with a more reasonable local captain, played by John Wayne, when he arrives at Fort Apache to take control of the outpost. The film was hugely respected at the time of release because of its complex non-linear narrative and groundbreaking action set pieces, but in the years that followed, it was the progressive depiction of Native Americans that it became known for.
Fort Apache was one of the first Western movies, in general, to depict Native Americans in a respectful way that was faithful to their culture and lived experience. It recognized that its two protagonists were oppressors and invaders, but didn’t treat this as a joke or a good thing like many Westerns would have previously. This newfound respect for Native Americans would fundamentally change the bones of Hollywood, with most of the best Westerns ever made coming after this period and adopting the changes that were first put forward in Fort Apache.
Why Fort Apache Is Still Considered One of The Best Westerns Of All Time
There’s A Reason The Movie Is Still Discussed Today
However, what’s most surprising about Fort Apache is that it’s still considered one of the greatest-ever Westerns today, almost 80 years after its release. Even the movies that were inspired by Fort Apache mostly failed to improve upon its ideas, with many later releases merely feeling like cheap copies. Of course, it helps that Fort Apache came first and deserves credit for being the original, but the reason it’s so admired today is because of how forward-thinking and innovative the filmmaking style was. It was unlike anything that had been released before it, both narratively and technically.
While the effects might look dated, the story is just as strong – which is a clear sign of a great movie.
The non-linear narrative, practical effects, and huge-scale action sequences were outstanding for this period of filmmaking, which is important to bear in mind when watching Fort Apache today. While the effects might look dated, the story is just as strong – which is a clear sign of a great movie. The performances are another of Fort Apache’s highlights: it’s one of Henry Fonda’s best Western roles, not only allowing him to play against type as the arrogant war veteran but also using his character to interrogate the previously held beliefs about Native Americans that Fort Apache proves wrong.
Was Fort Apache John Wayne’s Best Western?
There’s Some Fierce Competition
Ultimately, there are very few other candidates for John Wayne’s best Western. The only others that genuinely pose a threat to this claim are The Searchers and True Grit, which often find themselves at the center of conversation in this topic. Both of these movies feature incredible effects, gripping stories, and beautiful cinematography that proved to audiences that Westerns don’t have to be mindless action showcases, but rather poignant stories about humanity and survival. These two movies were hugely influential, but Fort Apache deserves bonus points for coming first.
Neither of them would’ve been made without Fort Apache’s success preceding them. For this reason, it’s hard to dispute its title as John Wayne’s best western – it was the most engaging, the most progressive, and the most inspirational movie in the genre when it was released, and the magic still holds up today. Admittedly, it isn’t Wayne’s most historically accurate story, but it ditches some of that authenticity for entertainment value, prioritizing the audience’s enjoyment and the innovative depictions of Native Americans instead.