Fort Bowie

This western actually belongs to the military - fort - westerns category; Indians, cavalry...No outlaws, no sheriff, no town tamer, no cattle baron vs rustlers.... This western belongs to specific category. It is short, sharp, powerful but unfortunately too predictable for a movie goer like me. The story line is excellent, the directing solid, action sequences terrific, impressive.... No, this is an awesome Howard Koch's film, at the image that this producer turned director offered during his career. With maybe the exception of two juvenile delinquency flicks. Some scenes are not for the sissies, as in many Indian wars topic westerns. Indian tortures....

A group of Apaches visits a cavalry fort in hopes of laying down their weapons and coming to a peace agreement, but Maj. Wharton (J. Ian Douglas), wanting to make a name for himself, orders his men to massacre them. Meanwhile, Col. Garrett (Kent Taylor) believes his flirtatious wife is sleeping with Capt. Thompson (Ben Johnson), so he tries to get rid of the captain by ordering him to track Victorio (Larry Chance), a notorious Apache warrior who's plotting a large-scale attack on the fort.

A solid cavalry western starring Ben Johnson, an actor usually known for supporting roles, but here he is in the lead as a captain who hasn't only the Apaches to contend with but the colonel's troublesome wife; the latter lends an adult theme to a western that adeptly balances character and action, and boy does it have enough skirmishes to keep one happy. Checkout the frenetic finale where the Apaches turn the tables on the cavalry and fire at the charging cavalry from the fort's parapet. Overall, Fort Bowie is solid gritty western. It's pity that it isn't in colour.

I just finished watching Fort Bowie, and was pleasantly surprised at what a good movie it was. I had never seen it before and the review I had read said it was a low budget film, but the cuts must have come from the actors salary. Ben Johnson was super as was most of the rest of the cast. I also was thrilled to see Johnny Western in a fairly noticeable role. The action scenes were certainly big budget caliber. I recently saw the last western that Ben Johnson made and there was little change in his appearance, except for a bit of weight gain. To me his acting is as natural as John Waynes. Kent Smith did a creditable job in his role. As far as the other actors I wasn't familiar with any of them except the "old sarge", but the movie was far better than I was expecting.

not a review on the movie but I wonder if anyone could give more information on Jana Davi/Maureen Hingert? I am a large fan of movies from the 30's, 40's and 50's and liked this lady. It seems a shame she was in so few pictures and would like to know more about her. .... Just an old man's interest. Any input would be appreciated.

Probably not a large number of people can fill in any information for a minor actress but I would like to have any information available.

There HAS to be someone out there that has some information on her.

Thank you for any help.

I just saw her in GUN FEVER and fell in love with her all over again. Don't ask me why, I just did.

When a ruthless and bloodthirsty major slaughters a band of Apaches who have come with a white flag looking to surrender, the U.S. army finds itself in an all out war with Apaches under Victorio, who has left the reservation. The commander of Fort Bowie, Col. Garrett, finds his job to contain the hostiles complicated after his wife, unhappy in her situation, makes false allegations of improper advances against Captain Thompson. The colonel then decides to send the captain on a suicide mission, to find and order Victorio back to the reservation.

Very much a "B" western, with script and acting to match, it features the always entertaining Ben Johnson in a rare leading role. His horsemanship is very much on display, at one point jumping his horse over the walls of Fort Bowie to get at the Apaches, who have overrun the fort. Beautiful Jana Davi also graces the screen as the half Mexican, half Apache Chanzana, one of Victorio's former wives. She has her heart set on landing Captain Thompson, but he is distracted by Alison Garrett, thinking her an ideal army wife.

Though "Fort Bowie" will never be mistaken for one of John Ford's western classics, there is plenty of action to satisfy most fans of the genre.