{"id":85751,"date":"2022-07-25T19:02:31","date_gmt":"2022-07-26T02:02:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=85751"},"modified":"2022-07-25T20:43:38","modified_gmt":"2022-07-26T03:43:38","slug":"sergeant-rutledge-1960","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=85751","title":{"rendered":"Sergeant Rutledge (1960)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;White women only spell trouble for any of us.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Poster-195x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"195\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-85752\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Poster-195x300.png 195w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Poster-83x128.png 83w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Poster-176x270.png 176w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Poster.png 615w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 195px) 100vw, 195px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA Black Cavalry soldier (Woody Strode) falsely accused of raping and murdering a young White woman (Toby Michaels) is defended in court by a White lieutenant  (Jeffrey Hunter) and his love interest (Constance Towers), who both believe in Strode&#8217;s innocence.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>African-Americans<\/li>\n<li>Cavalry<\/li>\n<li>Courtroom Drama<\/li>\n<li>Falsely Accused <\/li>\n<li>Jeffrey Hunter Films<\/li>\n<li>John Ford Films<\/li>\n<li>Juano Hernandez Films<\/li>\n<li>Westerns<\/li>\n<li>Woody Strode Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nJohn Ford attempted to atone for his previously demeaning depictions of African-Americans on screen &#8212; see <a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=5805\"><em>Judge Priest<\/em> (1934)<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=49647\"><em>The Sun Shines Bright<\/em> (1954)<\/a> &#8212; in this earnest, historically groundbreaking western featuring a humanized Black protagonist, and portraying <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Buffalo_Soldier\">&#8220;Buffalo Soldiers&#8221;<\/a> (Black Cavalry members) for the first (?) time. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Buffalo-Soldiers.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Buffalo-Soldiers-1024x581.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"363\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-85791\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Buffalo-Soldiers-1024x581.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Buffalo-Soldiers-300x170.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Buffalo-Soldiers-128x73.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Buffalo-Soldiers-768x436.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Buffalo-Soldiers-476x270.png 476w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Buffalo-Soldiers.png 1285w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The movie is told as a courtroom drama, in which we&#8217;re first led to believe Towers will portray a stereotypical White damsel-in-distress at the mercy of a &#8220;dangerous&#8221; Black man. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Towers-Hand.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Towers-Hand-1024x578.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"361\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-85792\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Towers-Hand-1024x578.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Towers-Hand-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Towers-Hand-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Towers-Hand-768x434.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Towers-Hand-478x270.png 478w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Towers-Hand.png 1287w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Soon, however, we learn that Strode has saved her life from an Apache raid, and Towers is actually a reasonable, non-bigoted female protagonist who is justifiably indignant about the claims made against Strode. The rest of the storyline &#8212; who <em>did<\/em> rape and kill &#8220;Miss Lucy&#8221;, and who shot wounded Strode? &#8212; is effectively handled, as we&#8217;re kept in suspense about various potential culprits for each crime until the very end. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Lucy.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Lucy-1024x592.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"370\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-85793\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Lucy-1024x592.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Lucy-300x174.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Lucy-128x74.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Lucy-768x444.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Lucy-467x270.png 467w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Lucy.png 1267w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, we&#8217;re shown non-stereotyped Black soldiers interacting and carrying out their duties in a way that should have been much better represented in cinema of the era, but &#8212; of course &#8212; wasn&#8217;t. (Watch for Juano Hernandez in a key supporting role.) <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Hernandez2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Hernandez2-1024x589.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"368\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-85798\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Hernandez2-1024x589.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Hernandez2-300x173.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Hernandez2-128x74.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Hernandez2-768x442.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Hernandez2-469x270.png 469w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Hernandez2.png 1281w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Ford&#8217;s film remains a critical step in the direction towards more authentic racial representation on screen, and is thus must-see viewing for its historical significance in cinema. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> Strode and Ford remained real-life friends until his death. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Woody Strode as Sgt. Rutledge<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Strode5-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Strode5-1-1024x582.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"364\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-85790\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Strode5-1-1024x582.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Strode5-1-300x170.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Strode5-1-128x73.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Strode5-1-768x436.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Strode5-1-475x270.png 475w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Strode5-1.png 1287w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Jeffrey Hunter as Lt. Cantrell<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Hunter2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Hunter2-1024x581.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"363\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-85754\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Hunter2-1024x581.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Hunter2-300x170.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Hunter2-128x73.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Hunter2-768x436.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Hunter2-476x270.png 476w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Rutledge-Hunter2.png 1285w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Bert Glennon&#8217;s cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Routledge-Moon.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Routledge-Moon-1024x577.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"361\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-85755\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Routledge-Moon-1024x577.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Routledge-Moon-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Routledge-Moon-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Routledge-Moon-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Routledge-Moon-479x270.png 479w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Sergeant-Routledge-Moon.png 1291w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, for its historical significance. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Historically Relevant<\/li>\n<li>Important Director<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0054292\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/16129\/sergeant-rutledge#articles-reviews?articleId=313607\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s2013ford.html\">DVD Savant Review (scroll down)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;White women only spell trouble for any of us.&#8221; Synopsis: A Black Cavalry soldier (Woody Strode) falsely accused of raping and murdering a young White woman (Toby Michaels) is defended in court by a White lieutenant (Jeffrey Hunter) and his love interest (Constance Towers), who both believe in Strode&#8217;s innocence. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: African-Americans Cavalry Courtroom Drama Falsely Accused Jeffrey Hunter Films John Ford Films Juano Hernandez Films Westerns Woody Strode Films Review: John Ford attempted to atone&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=85751\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-85751","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85751","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=85751"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85751\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":85818,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85751\/revisions\/85818"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=85751"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=85751"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=85751"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}