Escape From Fort Bravo

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Escape From Fort Bravo

1953

1h 38m

Western

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3 Reviews

55%

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100+ Ratings

Captain Roper (William Holden) is the warden of a Union-run prison camp. A mysterious woman named Carla Forester (Eleanor Parker) arrives at the camp in order to free the Confederate prisoners, and things get complicated when Carla and the captain begin to fall for each other. In an effort to recapture the escaped prisoners, Roper has a run-in with a group of Mescalero Indians. In order to survive, he has to team up with his own prisoners to fight the Indians and wipe them out.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

An above-average Western.

Rated: 2.5/4

May 23, 2021

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Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

...exceptionally thrilling...

Nov 13, 2019

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Though not one of the better Westerns it was still effective.

Rated: B-

Jun 26, 2005

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Lanfranco C

Passion, Dixies and Indians in the Far West!

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

08/13/25

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Anthony J

The film may have been considered exciting, well-staged and acted in its day, but it seems very dated cowboys 'n' indians cornball by today's standards. Why the hell are union soldiers holding confederate prisoners way out in some desert? And the women seen to have packed a ridiculous number of wardrobe changes in trunks hauled out by a small stagecoach.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/20/25

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Audience Member

Really good old army in cowboys and Indians Western yes I recommend it James Welch, Henderson, Arkansas, November 22, 2023

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/22/23

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CodyZamboni

This movie is exciting, with an atypical Western setting, an Arizona desert Confederate prison camp. William Holden anchors the film with his commanding presence, as he tries to keep the prisoners in line. I liked the location photography of Monument Valley, and I recognized lots of famous faces in supporting roles. Movie gets docked for an uneccessary love triangle, and silly scenes of ladies galavanting in expensive fancy gowns in the middle of a vast, searing, bleak desert landscape. But the movie rights its' small wrongs with an extended, intense, memorable, sweat inducing climax.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/27/23

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deke p

1953! Gets better & better, then really GREAT Indians vs Cavalry, in great rocky canyon scenery. Oh, & ELEANOR PARKER smokin hot (loved her in that womens prison movie). Saw on the GRIT network, 5.16.21

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

Worthy western, but uses very familiar themes in a fairly standard way.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

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John Sturges

Director

William Holden

Capt. Roper

Eleanor Parker

Carla Forester

John Forsythe

Capt. John Marsh

William Demarest

Campbell

William Campbell

Cabot Young

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Synopsis

Captain Roper (William Holden) is the warden of a Union-run prison camp. A mysterious woman named Carla Forester (Eleanor Parker) arrives at the camp in order to free the Confederate prisoners, and things get complicated when Carla and the captain begin to fall for each other. In an effort to recapture the escaped prisoners, Roper has a run-in with a group of Mescalero Indians. In order to survive, he has to team up with his own prisoners to fight the Indians and wipe them out.

Director: John Sturges
Producer: Nicholas Nayfack
Screenwriter: Frank Fenton
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre: Western
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2012
Runtime: 1h 38m

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