I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Fantastic!

The first must-see film of the year.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Thoughtful and powerful Western drama well played , splendidly photographed and compellingly directed . The West's most savage story titled ¨Fort Massacre¨ is set during the Indian Wars in the Southwest , with a military detachment whose mission results to be escort a civil column . There , a sergeant called Vinson (Joel McCrea) assumes command of a cavalry team after it is mauled in an Apache ambush that murdered its captain and seriously wounded its lieutenant . Vinson is a revenger cavalry sergeant to roust renegade troopers and a tribe of Apaches and subsequently the cavalry troop finds itself under constant attack by Indians . Then , the surviving troopers , including various Privates (Forrest Tucker , John Russell , Denver Pyle) along with an Indian scout , Pawne , (Anthony Caruso) must reach either a wagon train , or a larger cavalry column . Vinson puts the bridle on tight and struggles to win his soldiers respect while warding off violent Indians . But first they need water and the nearest water hole is in Apache hands . Vinson along with a group of soldiers have to defend a left place surrounded by Indians until arrival reinforcement . The more desperate his fight on the desert's scorching sands , the more adored he was in her arms ¡ . Pretty good Western starring an excellent Joel McCrea as revenger who gains his identity killing Indians . This is an exciting flick about hate , pride and cunning . Spectacular and breathtaking scenes when there happen the Indian attacks . It is an exciting Western/drama that holds you interest from start to finish and right through to the intriguing tale , as well as a stirring climax . The flick displays a deep denounce about senseless acts of racism and Indian murders . Moving and thought-provoking screenplay by Martin Goldsmith with great sense of realism , complexity and attention to detail . Director takes a fine penned screenplay creating a cavalry-Indians tale that is far from ordinary , exploring the anguish of soldiers and including jarring burst of violence , however it packs a predictable ending . It's the habitual theme about an unit stranded by enemies and their grueling efforts to break the siege, issue imitated many other times . The plot is quite grim by United Artists Western standards , though it results to be entertaining . In film premiere failed at box office and it was panned by critics and lukewarm reception by public ; however , nowadays reviewers carried a detailed reappraisal of the movie . The cast is frankly well . Joel McCrea is solid , if a bit stolid . The support cast is fine , as John Russell , Anthony Caruso , Denver Pyle , Francis McDonald , Susan Cabot as beautiful Piute Indian girl and final film of Irving Bacon . Colorful cinematography by Carl E. Guthrie that features some clever matte paintings and lush three-strip Technicolor , De Luxe photography , being shot in National Parks such as Gallup, New Mexico , Red Rock State Park, Church Rock, New Mexico, Kanab , Utah . Thrilling as well as evocative Original Music by Marlín Skiles . Directed and in nice style by Joseph M. Newman who previously directed other good Western titled ¨Pony Soldier¨ . Joseph received two Oscar nominations as assistant director . Many of his films , almost all second features and shot on modest budgets , use character actors rather than stars for the lead roles . They have a gritty , semi-documentary look , particularly his two best offerings : the film noir ¨The human jungle¨ (1954) and the outdoor drama ¨Red sky of Montana¨ (1952) . Many also share an overriding preoccupation with technology , as in "711 Ocean Drive", in which an electronically-minded telephone repairman played by Edmond O'Brien becomes entangled with a shady bookmaking syndicate and in Newman's most famous film, the cult sci-fi Island Earth (1955) , though re-shot by director Jack Arnold . Newman's work was competent, if routine : some westerns as ¨The sheriff of Dodge City¨, ¨The Outcasts of Poker Flat¨ ,¨Fort Comanche¨ , Ädventure : ¨Tarzan, the Ape Man¨ (1959) and a few crime pictures as ¨Death in Small Doses¨ , ¨Flight to Hong Kong¨, ¨King of the Roaring 20's: The Story of Arnold Rothstein¨ , (1961) and ¨The lawbreakers¨ (1961) . ¨Fort Massacre¨ is an authentic must see , not to be missed for buffs of the genre . An enjoyable movie because of its awesome acting , dialog , score are world class.

If you've stuck through at least a season of just about any western television serial, you'll be familiar with FORT MASSACRE's plot, involving a troop crossing Apache territory. As a fan of RIDE THE HIGH COUNTRY, I expected Joel McCrea would be the sole reason for reinvesting myself in this film's well-trodden set-up. While McCrea's performance is certainly a draw (especially given his character's hard edge, usually reserved for a supporting or villainous character) the real standout here was John Russell as Private Travis. I've never encountered a character like his--in this or any other film genre--solely driven by his indecision. You might expect that this is because such an arc wouldn't make for a compelling lead, but damn if FORT MASSACRE doesn't become his film by the end. Thanks to some interesting and revealing exchanges between McCrea and Russell, as well as superb cinematography by Carl Guthrie (BACKFIRE, THE HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL), this obscure "B" western deserves more recognition than it currently receives.

While there have been a ton of westerns involving the US Cavalry, this one is a bit different. Instead of the usual 'Indians-bad/Cavalry-good' mentality, this one is much more complex and the moral implications are not so cut and dry."Fort Massacre" begins with a small band of Cavalry enlisted men stuck in enemy territory. The local Indian tribe has attacked and killed the Commanding Officer and now the Sergeant (Joel McCrea) is in charge. This may not be a good thing, as McCrea has a VERY personal stake. After all, his family was wiped out by Indians and he has a serious chip on his shoulder as a result. Many of his men (particularly Forrest Tucker playing his usual loud-mouth character) balk at his authority--they think that McCrea is more interested in killing the Indians than making sure they get back to the fort.John Russell plays an 'everyman' sort of guy. He is neither on the side of the folks against McCrea nor is he going to blindly follow him. The only negative of this character is that he's supposed to be a guy who's had many jobs and is looking for a purpose in life--so he joined the Cavalry. BUT, he also said he graduated Magna Cum Laude at a university--and it is hard to believe he's only be a private. The only other part that was really hard to believe was the Indian woman--who spoke like a middle-class white lady! Still, despite a few problems, the film was very compelling because it took a psychological look at people AND offered a complex story with characters who were NOT 'cookie cutter' western heroes. Well worth seeing.

With the officers killed, Sergeant Joel McCrea finds himself in command of a patrol that's supposed to meet up with a larger column of men at a water hole. McCrea and his patrol find that larger group of men, but they turn out to be hostile Apaches. That's the beginning of Fort Massacre, a tough and brutal western about an army patrol trying to get back to their lines. The problem they have isn't just the Indians, it's McCrea. He lost his wife and children to the Apaches a few years before and it's unhinged him and clouded his judgment. At least that's the considered opinion of most of the men.The main problem with Fort Massacre is the miscasting of Joel McCrea who usually made it point of always being an upright hero in his films. In fact when his swan song picture was originally being cast, Ride the High Country, McCrea insisted on being the hero Steven Judd because he knew it would be better on him instead of the original casting of Gil Westrum the former deputy who was turning bad. Randolph Scott agreed to the switch and it worked out all for the better.In fact Fort Massacre would rate a lot higher with me if Randolph Scott had done the lead. In his later westerns Scott's heroes had a real edge to them, the film would have worked better with him. I'm not sure producer Walter Mirisch didn't send this script for Scott to McCrea by mistake. McCrea's sergeant had a lot of similarities to the revenge crazed character Alan Ladd played in One Foot In Hell. The rest of the cast does nicely in parts that fit them. Denver Pyle, Forest Tucker and John Russell are other troop members. Anthony Caruso is a laconic Pawnee Indian scout for the patrol who's full of a lot of wisdom. Susan Cabot and Francis McDonald are a Paiute cliff dweller and his granddaughter with whom the troop take refuge and Irving Bacon and Claire Carlton are a pair of Indian traders.Fort Massacre is a grim western with no frills, it could have been a lot better if Randolph Scott had done this one though.