John Wayne’s movie with 100% on RT completely changed the western genre forever

John Wayne is well regarded as the most talented western star to ever emerge from America, and some of his projects are Very influential in the development of the genre. The actor has several movies that have done underwhelmingly, many that have been incredibly successful, and some that have fallen somewhere in between: but all of them are important contextually. Even the movies that weren’t great served a larger purpose in the narrative of the Western genre, changing the way certain ideas and people were perceived and portrayed.

There is a reason that Wayne’s status is considered higher than most of his competitors: in general, his movies are simply more engaging and impressive. He is not typical of playing the same character in every project, like many of the other stars of the era, but he was given complex roles that challenged audiences’ perceptions of what he could do on screen. Many of John Wayne’s best movies are still well-regarded today for their filmmaking ability – although some are appreciated for other reasons, such as their progressive treatment of some previously problematic tropes.

John Wayne’s Fort Apache changed how Native Americans were depicted in Western movies

Native Americans have previously been treated unfairly

With 100% fresh status on Rotten tomatoes, Fort Apache is widely considered to be among the strongest movies in John Wayne’s catalog. The film follows an unpredictable Civil War hero, played by Henry Fonda, who clashes with a more reasonable local captain, played by John Wayne, when he arrives at Fort Apache to take control of the outpost. The film was highly respected at the time of release because of its Complex non-linear narrative And groundbreaking action set pieces, but in the years that followed, it was the progressive depiction of Native Americans that it became known for.

Fort Apache was one of the first Western movies, in general, to portray Native Americans in a respectful way that was faithful to their culture and lived experience. It recognized that its two protagonists were oppressors and invaders, but did not treat this as a joke or a good thing as many Westerns would have before. This newfound respect for Native Americans would Fundamentally change the bones of HollywoodWith most of the best Westerns ever made coming after this period and adopting the changes that were first put forward Fort Apache.

Why Fort Apache is still considered one of the best westerns of all time

There is a reason that this movie is still discussed today

But, what is most surprising about Fort Apache Is that it is still considered one of the greatest-ever Westerns today, almost 80 years after its release. Even the movies that were inspired by Fort Apache Mostly failed to improve his ideas, With many later releases only feeling like cheap copies. Of course, it helps that Fort Apache came first and deserves credit for being the original, but the reason it is so admired today is because of how forward-thinking and innovative the filmmaking style was. It was unlike anything that had been released before it, both narratively and technically.

The non-linear narrative, practical effects and huge-scale action sequences are outstanding for this period of filmmaking, which is important to keep in mind when watching Fort Apache Today. While the effects may be dated, the story is just as strong – which is a clear sign of a great movie. The performances are another one Fort ApacheHighlights: This is one of Henry Fonda’s best western roles, not only allowing him to play against type as the arrogant war veteran, but also using his character to explore previously held beliefs about Native Americans that Fort Apache Proves wrong.

Is Fort Apache John Wayne’s Best Western?

There is some fierce competition

Ultimately, there are very few other candidates for John Wayne’s Best Western. The only others who really pose a threat to this claim are The searchers And True sizewhich often find themselves at the center of conversation in this topic. Both of these movies feature Incredible effects, Captivating storiesAnd Beautiful cinematography Which proved to the audience that Westerns do not have to be mindless action showcases, but rather poignant stories about humanity and survival. These two movies are very influential, however Fort Apache Earn bonus points for coming first.

None of them would have been done without Fort Apaches success preceding them. For this reason, it is difficult to dispute his title as John Wayne Best Western – It was the most engaging, the most progressive and the most inspirational movie in the genre when it was released, and the magic still holds up today. Admittedly, it’s not Wayne’s most historically accurate story, but it ditches some of the authenticity for entertainment value, prioritizing audience enjoyment and innovative depictions of Native Americans instead.