Sergeant Rutledge

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Sergeant Rutledge

Released May 18, 1960

1h 58m

Western

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91%

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11 Reviews

89%

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250+ Ratings

At a U.S. Army fort in the Arizona Territory in 1881, an officer is murdered and his beautiful young daughter is beaten, raped and strangled. Army lawyer Tom Cantrell (Jeffrey Hunter) defends the accused, African-American sergeant Braxton Rutledge (Woody Strode), a soldier who had once been under his command. Under questioning by Cantrell and the prosecutor (Carleton Young), multiple witnesses piece together the truth of what happened at the fort that day.

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Maxine Dowling

New York Daily News

All in all, Ford has once more turned in a gripping, adult Western with a fine modern twist.

Rated: 3.5/4

Sep 22, 2021

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Jet Staff

Jet Magazine

Woody Strode gets his biggest break in his 10-year movie career and makes good use of it by effectively portraying the simple-but-strong Sergeant Rutledge. It is his picture all the way, even though he does not receive star billing.

Jan 16, 2024

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George E. Pitts

Pittsburgh Courier

The story is exciting, entertaining, suspenseful and, most important of all, it is believable.

Dec 2, 2020

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Barbara Mounts

California Eagle

Woody Strode should be nominated for an award for his sensitive portrayal of Sgt. Rutledge.

Dec 6, 2019

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Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

The once-great director John Ford resumes his love affair with the bygone U. S. Cavalry in this long and corny court-martial drama.

Oct 15, 2019

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Michael E. Grost

Classic Film and Television

Extraordinary Western works at all levels, as rousing story telling, visual beauty and Civil Rights drama.

Apr 1, 2013

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Dallas H

John Ford does an episode of J.A.G. in the style of Rashoman and set in the West during the post-Civil War era.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/24/24

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james g

There are three reasons to watch this. 1) A Black man - Woody Strode - in a lead role in a Western. 2) Jeffrey Hunter - first cast as Captain Kirk, and Hunter also performed in the Star Trek pilot, unaired for years. 3) This is a John Ford Western. If you love Westerns, this is a must.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

Really a brilliant movie, which introduced me to the history of the Buffalo Soldiers. I like that, along with the serious drama there are also some moments of hilarity, mostly provided by actress Billie Burke. I like that many of the characters in the movie are not as prejudiced as one might expect--though how far they would have been willing to go to see true justice done is anyone's guess. Brilliant performance by Woody Strode--some of the best acting I have ever seen done. I enjoyed this movie in my childhood and continue to love it as an adult.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

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Audience Member

An astonishing film not only for its sheer visual and narrative excellence but also for its early acknowledgement of race relations in America.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

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Audience Member

decades ahead of its time, recognizing skin color sometimes makes people come to the wrong conclusions

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

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s r

A cinematic story of a cavalry court case that is a little simplistic, but still compelling.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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John Ford

Director

Jeffrey Hunter

Lt. Tom Cantrell

Woody Strode

1st Sgt. Braxton Rutledge

Constance Towers

Mary Beecher

Billie Burke

Mrs. Cordelia Fosgate

Juano Hernandez

Sgt. Matthew Luke Skimore

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Synopsis

At a U.S. Army fort in the Arizona Territory in 1881, an officer is murdered and his beautiful young daughter is beaten, raped and strangled. Army lawyer Tom Cantrell (Jeffrey Hunter) defends the accused, African-American sergeant Braxton Rutledge (Woody Strode), a soldier who had once been under his command. Under questioning by Cantrell and the prosecutor (Carleton Young), multiple witnesses piece together the truth of what happened at the fort that day.

Director: John Ford
Producer: Patrick Ford, Willis Goldbeck
Screenwriter: James Warner Bellah, Willis Goldbeck
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Ford Productions, Warner Bros., John Ford Productions
Genre: Western
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 18, 1960, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 1, 2009
Runtime: 1h 58m

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