The Guns of Fort Petticoat

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D H The Guns of Fort Petticoat (1957) I found The Guns of Fort Petticoat to be a disappointing and sluggish western that never manages to find its rhythm. Despite an interesting premise—a cavalry deserter training a group of frontier women to defend themselves during an Indian uprising—the execution feels uninspired and overly cautious. The pacing is slow, the tension is minimal, and most of the action sequences lack any real sense of danger or energy. Even the central idea, which could have made for a sharp and unusual take on the genre, is handled so predictably that it feels like the film is going through the motions. The characters are one-note, and while Audie Murphy gives his usual steady performance, there’s very little for him to work with. The women he’s training could have been complex, layered characters, but instead they’re written as stereotypes with subplots that go nowhere—half-hearted attempts at drama that are quickly dropped or resolved without consequence. The dialogue is stiff, and much of the film’s runtime is spent waiting for something meaningful to happen. Visually, the movie has the dusty charm of 1950s westerns, but even the scenery can’t make up for how flat everything feels. There’s no real sense of grit, emotion, or momentum. It’s the kind of film that seems like it should build to a rousing finale, yet by the time the big standoff comes, it’s hard to care who wins or loses. In the end, The Guns of Fort Petticoat feels like a missed opportunity—an idea that might have worked in stronger hands but instead gets bogged down by dull pacing, thin writing, and lifeless storytelling. A few scattered moments of potential can’t save it from being a forgettable entry in the long list of mid-century westerns that fail to leave a mark. Rated 1/5 Stars •  Rated 1 out of 5 stars 10/22/25 Full Review Audience Member Historically incorrect but good for its time Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review ashley h Guns of Fort Petticoat is an excellent film. It is about a cavalryman who deserts the Union Army to warn former Texas neighbors of impending Indian attacks triggered by Army massacre. Audie Murphy and Kathryn Grant give amazing performances. The screenplay is well written. George Marshall did a great job directing this movie. I enjoyed this motion picture because of the action and adventure. Guns of Fort Petticoat is a must see. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member The basic concept's not bad, but this western is stocked full of B-grade cheese. Audie Murphy makes for a pretty bland leading man. Still mildly entertaining, if your standards aren't too high. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review Audience Member Two things jumped out at me while watching this female empowerment western: Audie Murphy was really a tiny man. Kathryn Grant must've been 40 years younger than Bing when he married her. She's just a baby in this. Otherwise "Guns" is an average to above average western as Murphy plays a Texan in the Union army who comes back to Texas during the civil war to warn the locals of a Indian uprising. When he discovers all the men have left town to fight in the war (sounds like the premis for a Dean martin western) he trains the ladies to fight, aided by Hope Emmerson as his Sergeant at arms. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Guns of Fort Petticoat

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