Sergeant Rutledge (1960)

★ 7.0 1h 51m IMDb

Drama Crime Western

Respected black cavalry Sergeant Brax Rutledge stands court-martial for raping and killing a white woman and murdering her father, his superior officer.

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Cast

Jeffrey Hunter as Lt. Tom Cantrell Died 1969 · New Orleans, Louisiana, USA Jeffrey Hunter (November 25, 1926 – May 27, 1969) was a versatile American actor who made a significant impact on the film and television industry. He is best known for his portrayal of Martin Pawley...

Woody Strode as 1st Sgt. Braxton Rutledge Died 1994 · Los Angeles, California, USA An athlete turned actor, Strode was a top-notch decathlete and a football star at UCLA. He became part of Hollywood lore after meeting director John Ford and becoming a part of the Ford "family,"...

Constance Towers as Mary Beecher Age 92 · Whitefish, Montana, USA Constance Mary Towers (born May 20, 1933) is an American actress and singer..

Billie Burke as Mrs. Cordelia Fosgate Died 1970 · Washington, District of Columbia, USA Mary William Ethelbert Appleton "Billie" Burke (August 7, 1884 – May 14, 1970) was an American actress. She is primarily known to modern audiences as Glinda the Good Witch of the North in the musical...

Juano Hernández as Sgt. Matthew Luke Skidmore Died 1970 · San Juan, Puerto Rico An Afro-Puerto Rican stage and film actor who was a pioneer in the African American film industry..

Director John Ford

Cast Jeffrey Hunter, Woody Strode, Constance Towers, Billie Burke, Juano Hernández, Willis Bouchey, Carleton Young, Judson Pratt, Chuck Roberson, Chuck Hayward

John Chard 9/10 Apr 29, 2014

Buffalo Soldier.

It was alright for Mr. Lincoln to say we was free. But that ain't so! Not yet! Maybe some day, but not yet!

John Ford's Sergeant Rutledge tells the story of a black man, 1st Sgt. Braxton Rutledge, a Buffalo Soldier of the 9th U.S. Cavalry who was up before a court-martial for the rape and murder of a white girl, Major Dabney's daughter, Lucy.

Taking place in the court room the story is told in flashback as Rutledge's (Woody Strode) troop officer, and defence council, Lt. Tom Cantrell (Jeffrey Hunter) attempts to piece together the evidence. From the outset Ford is on biting form as the case is being tried in a biased and corruptible court, we as the viewers are left in no doubt that Rutledge could be at the mercy of obnoxious white racists. It's one of the many things that makes the film a bold and at times angry picture. This was after all two years before the critically acclaimed To Kill A Mockingbird, thus making it one of the flag bearers for early acknowledgement of race relations in America.

As the sharp narrative moves forward, cloaked in visual excellence with Bert Glennon this time being Ford's cinematographer of choice, the film always keeps us guessing as to the outcome. We really can never be sure, such is the stench of racism that hangs heavy, a stench that is counter pointed by Woody Strode's wonderful and powerful performance as the on trial man. Also in fine physical shape at 46, Strode serves notice to just what a fine and important actor he was in relation to Black Americans in Hollywood. Hunter is handsome and strong in vocal delivery as the council in the middle of a real tricky trial, and Constance Towers as Mary Beecher is the glue binding them, and the story, all together.

It's a first rate picture from Ford, one that is largely (and wrongly) forgotten when talk of his oeuvre comes around. Still awaiting a DVD release in the UK, it's evident that it still remains hidden from many a prospective new viewer. This needs correcting because it's bold, beautiful and important cinema from a master director, who, as always, had much to say. 9/10