*** This review may contain spoilers *** *Plot and ending analyzed*Fort Bowie (1958) is a horrible Western, and there are many reasons that being the case. The most notable is a diluted script, bad acting, and a baseless portrayal of the Apache Indians war tactics. Ben Johnson is ineffective as the lead man, for he's as stiff as a bucket of heavy lead. You don't know if he sympathizes with the Apaches or wants them all killed, since he alternates throughout. I don't think it matters much since he comes off as some arrogant jerk.The Apaches themselves are played as half-grunting oafs. The plot is the standard U.S. Cavalry versus the much-hated Apaches. One officer wants to use mild tactics, while another wants to kill them outright.In the film, the Apaches attack a large fort head-on in one of the most ridiculous scenes of a Western. In reality, two Apaches could have sneaked in and burnt the fort during the night. But the Apaches were intelligent and always avoided large groups of soldiers or forts. They also threw in a paltry love interest side-story that is so stupid that it defies any intelligence. The only reason to watch this film is because of the stuntmen who perform some good horse riding and battles scenes, that's about it. Ben Johnson was a good character actor, but not a reliable lead. This film falls short of being average at that.

Ben Johnson is nothing if not a genuinely likable guy. Sure, he's from Oklahoma and Texas and grew up with horses and for all we know his politics, combined with all that equinity, may have put him somewhere to the right of Genghis Kahn. But that would be hard to believe. He's measured and slow in speech and demeanor. When he says "Yes, sir" or "No, sir", it sounds like he's been using those polite forms of address since infancy. I've always liked the guy, even when he was a heavy in "Shane." (He reformed.) He's handsome too, and he sits a horse splendidly. Under John Ford he was never anything except a "trooper" or, at most, a sergeant. Here, he's a commissioned officer. It's easy to see why he might have gotten mixed up in the unholy mess that is this movie.Alas, he's not only a Captain, he's a romantic lead. It just doesn't sound kosher when Ben Johnson is compelled to say something like, "Listen, you mean more to me than any woman I've ever known, but you're not for me." That's not Ben Johnson. That's the screenwriter, Maurice Tombragel, taking a snooze instead of working.At least the woman he's romancing, the mammose Maureen Hingert, is beautiful. She was Miss Ceylon somewhere back in the 1950s. She doesn't look much like an Apache though. She's all glamorized up with eye make up and lipstick and silken hair. But then so is the dissatisfied and ambitious wife of the Commanding Officer. He's Kent Taylor. She's Jan Harrison. Taylor has a Hollywood haircut and the neatly trimmed beard of a college professor. He acts like a Hollywood utility player. Jan Harrison can't act at all, but at least she was "Miss Washington State" at some point. With a little imagination Maurice Tombragel could have interpolated a swimsuit competition. ("Darling, why don't you and Chanzana go down to the river, slip into your tiny bikinis, and have a nice swim? I'll join you later with the videocam." See how easy it is?) I don't know how far I want to bother getting into this. The musical score is by Les Baxter, who did some nice arrangements for pop songs in the 50s, but this is generic and could have been written by a Magic 8 Ball. The Apaches speak Indianese. "You get off horse. Leave guns." (That's a direct quote.) You know, I hate saying this, but it's impossible to watch a movie like this -- cavalry versus Apache -- without Ford's enchiridion coming to mind, especially examples like "Fort Apache" and "She Wore A Yellow Ribbon." Ford's movies have a lived-in quality. It's not just that characters are fleshed out with human quirks, while here everyone is stripped of every feature that doesn't advance the story. It's that in "Yellow Ribbon," John Wayne wears red long johns under his dusty uniform. Here, the uniforms are tightly tailored, not baggy and used. The boots are refulgent. They're so polished they probably emit a glow in the dark.There's a scene in which a sergeant is captured and tortured by the Apache. ("Torture him. Torture him good.") Well, the truth is that the Plains Indians were pretty rough customers when it came to torture, though of course it wasn't torture to them. They probably called it "enhanced execution." The Apache might debone captives, beginning with the phalanges, but they expected the same treatment from their enemies. The attitude towards battle of the Indians on the high plains was remarkably similar to that of the Greek city states -- bravery was a virtue of the highest order.Anyway, however much I enjoy Ben Johnson, he's not enough to save this movie. Let's fillet this sucker.

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.

Howard W. Koch directs this black & white action packed sage brush yarn. A band of Apaches with every intention of a peaceful surrender are slaughtered by a detachment from Fort Bowie, where Major Wharton(J. Ian Douglas)rules with an iron hand. Colonel James Garrett's(Kent Taylor)wife Alison(Jan Harrison)is joining her husband and for safety is escorted by Captain Tom Thompson(Ben Johnson). Garrett is a tried and true military man more than eager to carry out orders to go out and gun down Apaches. Feeling ignored in the romance department, Alison claims that Thompson is trying to steal her affection. This succeeds in making the Colonel jealous, but also a pretty Indian girl Chanzana(Jana Davi), who is in love with the dashing Thompson. A turn of events has the Cavalry being forced to attack their own fort following an Apache takeover. This battle is frantic and the best part of the movie. I personally like the few scenes featuring the absolutely beautiful Miss Davi. Others in the cast: Larry Chance, Peter Mamakos and Jerry Frank.