John Ford - Fort Apache 2

More random thinkings on Ford's Fort Apache

Although the Apache play the role of hostile savage threat - considerable respect is given to their plight and they are shown easily defeating the US Cavalry with skill and integrity- The character of the corrupt reservation representative acknowledges the government's failures in dealing with the native peoples.

The script of this movie really attempts to present quite a striking number of socio-political contradictions and complexities within a given historical context - and presented in a way as to convey a commentary on the contemporary post-way situation as well - and ends on note that optimismically stresses traditional collective values over individualism.

By today's standards, the ideal values put forward could be considered very conservative - although considering the current governmental positioning to the far right, perhaps not as rigid.

My only unresovled question is how well did the film succeed in fluidly juggling all the various complexities it very ambitiously set out to deal with... and maintaining a unified structure....

John Ford - Fort Apache 1

Some more random note's on John Ford's 'Fort Apache' The John Wayne character - is something of an ideal leader - pragmatic, compassionate, open, honest, intelligent, unselfish, true to his code,... One thing though is that there is something of an aristocratic, elitist portrayal where the officers are shown as honorable, dignified, and responsible whereas the lower ranks as seen as alcohol-fueled cornballs... although I'd say better this than the other way around (It's relatively rare that the upper class or ruling class aren't portrayed as decadent and corrupt in films, and this a subtext in this film as well). However, an important theme in Ford's work is that virtue and personal merit are more important than rigid social stratification (i.e advancement should be based on worthy qualifications rather than political manoeuvering, social barriers should not be so rigid as to not recognize acts of nobility, regardless of social standing or rank). Tradition and social ceremony are used to underscore these points - dancing for example, is used as a symbol of harmonious social interaction... Stuff: There's this guy: http://www.artpastel.com/ Besides being a very cool pastel artist, he also has amazing knowledge of the coolest illustrators. ..and this guy, a helluva cartoonist/illustrator: http://sanmillan.free.fr/ They did a book on this guy : http://mapage.noos.fr/beuville/ This dude is da bomb - you can see how he influenced European cartoonist René Follet, who's one my favorite euro guys...

Claire Wendling Bodoi 1997

(Above from the latest Bodoi, drawing dates from 97.)