Escape from Fort Bravo (1953) - Turner Classic Movies

Brief Synopsis

The Civil War complicates the Cavalry's battle against Indians.

Cast & Crew

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John Sturges

William Holden

Eleanor Parker

John Forsythe

Capt. John Marsh

William Demarest

William Campbell

Photos & Videos

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Escape From Fort Bravo (1953) -- (Movie Clip) You Shouldn't Try To Frighten A Lady

Escape From Fort Bravo (1953) -- (Movie Clip) I'm Glad We're In The Same Army

Escape From Fort Bravo -- (Original Trailer)

Escape From Fort Bravo (1953) -- (Movie Clip) You're Beginning To Act Human

Film Details

Also Known As

Fort Bravo, Rope's End

Genre

Western

Adventure

Drama

War

Release Date

Dec 4, 1953

Premiere Information

not available

Production Company

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Corp.

Distribution Company

Loew's Inc.

Country

United States

Location

Death Valley National Momument, California, United States; Gallup, New Mexico, United States

Technical Specs

Duration

1h 38m

Sound

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color

Color (Anscocolor)

Theatrical Aspect Ratio

1.37 : 1

Film Length

8,848ft (11 reels)

Synopsis

At the Union stockade at Fort Bravo, Arizona Territory, Confederate prisoners watch, enraged, as bedraggled escapee Bob Bailey is brought back to the camp on foot by the steely Capt. Roper. Although the camp commander, Col. Owens, privately reproaches Roper for his inhumane treatment of the prisoner, Roper maintains that Bailey, who had stolen a horse to escape and then left the exhausted animal to die in the desert, deserved the punishment for his cowardice. One of the prisoners, Capt. John Marsh, visits Bailey in the hospital and warmly promises the young man that he will get him home. Later, Marsh and fellow prisoner Campbell caution an impetuous younger soldier, Cabot Young, against being too hasty to attempt an escape. The following day, Roper and Lt. Beecher lead a patrol in search of some overdue supply wagons. In the desert, they come across the charred remains of the wagons and find the bodies of the drivers staked to an anthill, victims of the vicious Mescalero Indians. That night, the soldiers come to the aid of a covered wagon that has been under Indian attack. The wagon's passenger, a beautiful Texan named Carla Forester, says she is on her way to Fort Bravo to visit Owens and his daughter Alice, who is soon to marry Beecher. The troops return to the fort, and Carla frankly expresses her interest in Roper, asking him to escort her to the dance the following night. At the dance, to which some of the Confederate officers have been invited, Carla dances with Marsh, her secret fiancé, and they discuss plans for his escape on the night of Beecher and Alice's wedding. Afterward, Carla returns with Roper to his quarters, where he shows her his treasured rose garden and speaks to her about his life. The following day, Roper insists on accompanying the women as they ride into town to buy a wedding dress for Alice. In the general store, Carla pays the proprietor, Watson, a Southern sympathizer, to equip her with horses and supplies, and arranges for him to come to the fort and smuggle the escapees out in his wagon. On the way back to the fort, Roper and Carla give in to their growing attraction and kiss. The following night, during the wedding festivities, Marsh, Campbell, Young and Bailey conceal themselves in Watson's wagon. Meanwhile, Roper declares his love for Carla and asks her to marry him. Carla, who has fallen in love with Roper, is shaken and asks to be alone. She then runs to the wagon and tells Marsh she is going with them. In the morning, the men are discovered missing, and the Rebel prisoners defiantly whistle "Dixie" at formation. Roper is sanguine about the escape until he learns that Carla is also gone. He sets out to bring the prisoners back, and Beecher, fearing that Roper might take revenge on Carla, insists on going with him. They ride to a nearby town, where Roper finds Bailey in a bar. Bailey, a sensitive poet, surrenders to Roper and admits that fear of Mescalero attacks prompted him to part ways with the others. With Bailey in tow, Roper and Beecher catch up with the fugitives on the road to Texas, but on the way back to Fort Bravo they are attacked by Mescaleros. Roper distributes guns among his captives, and both sides fight together against their common enemy. They survive the attack, but end up trapped in a gully without their horses. During the night, one of the horses returns, and Bailey takes it and flees. The Mescaleros launch a fresh attack the following day. Using spears to mark the perimeter of the gully, the Mescaleros direct a volley of arrows toward the helpless soldiers, leaving Marsh and Beecher badly wounded. Campbell and Young run out and tear down the markers, but they are shot to death by the Mescaleros. That night, Marsh tells Roper that Carla is in love with him. The following morning, Roper tells the others he wants to make the Indians believe he is the last one alive so they will end the standoff. After embracing Carla, Roper walks out in plain view of the Mescaleros, and is shot and wounded. Just then, Union troops ride to the rescue, led by Bailey, who rushes to the dying Marsh's side in time to say goodbye. The weary survivors return to Fort Bravo.

Director

John Sturges

Cast

William Holden

Eleanor Parker

John Forsythe

Capt. John Marsh

William Demarest

William Campbell

Polly Bergen

Richard Anderson

Carl Benton Reid

John Lupton

Howard Mcnear

Alex Montoya

Forrest Lewis

Fred Graham

William Newell

Frank Matts

Charles Stevens

Michael Dugan

Valerie Vernon

Phil Rich

Glenn Strange

Harry Cheshire

Richard P. Beedle

Confederate lieutenant

Eloise Hardy

Crew

Jeff Alexander

Jeff Alexander

George Boemler

Malcolm Brown

Alvord Eiseman

Color Consultant

Dan D. Emmett

Frank Fenton

Cedric Gibbons

Arvid Griffen

Assistant Director

Sydney Guilaroff

Ralph Hurst

Stan Jones

Kendrick Kinney

Percy Montrose

Nicholas Nayfack

Warren Newcombe

Special Effects

Michael Pate

Phillip Rock

Helen Rose

Women's Costume Designer

Douglas Shearer

Recording Supervisor

Robert Surtees

Director of Photography

William Tuttle

Makeup created by

Finn Ulback

Edwin B. Willis

Videos

Escape From Fort Bravo (1953) -- (Movie Clip) I'm Glad We're In The Same Army Director John Sturges’ opens his first wide-screen, color Western, William Holden as harsh Union Capt. Roper, dragging Confederate prisoner Bailey (John Lupton) who escaped from an Arizona stockade, then consulting with Col. Owens (Carl Benton Reid), in Escape From Fort Bravo, 1953, co-starring Eleanor Parker and John Forsythe.

Escape From Fort Bravo (1953) -- (Movie Clip) You're Beginning To Act Human Texan visitor Carla (Eleanor Parker) coming on strong to Union stockade captain Roper (William Holden), the night before the dance where, under the nose of commanding Col. Owens (Carl Benton Reid), we learn she’s in league with Confederate prisoner Capt. Marsh (John Forsythe), Escape From Fort Bravo, 1953.

Escape From Fort Bravo (1953) -- (Movie Clip) You Shouldn't Try To Frighten A Lady Union captain Roper (William Holden), with trooper Chavez (Alex Montoya), is chasing Mescalero raiders, who attack a stagecoach carrying Texan Carla (Eleanor Parker, her first scene), who turns out to be a friend of their superior, Richard Anderson as wounded Beecher, in Escape From Fort Bravo, 1953.

Escape From Fort Bravo -- (Original Trailer) William Holden has to keep Confederate prisoners in while keeping Apaches out in the color western Escape From Fort Bravo (1953).

Film Details

Also Known As

Fort Bravo, Rope's End

Genre

Western

Adventure

Drama

War

Release Date

Dec 4, 1953

Premiere Information

not available

Production Company

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Corp.

Distribution Company

Loew's Inc.

Country

United States

Location

Death Valley National Momument, California, United States; Gallup, New Mexico, United States

Technical Specs

Duration

1h 38m

Sound

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color

Color (Anscocolor)

Theatrical Aspect Ratio

1.37 : 1

Film Length

8,848ft (11 reels)

Articles

Escape From Fort Bravo

May 24, 2004

Escape from Fort Bravo (1953) is a classic western, shot in Death Valley and New Mexico, and set during the Civil War. William Holden plays a Union captain guarding a group of Confederate prisoners. The prisoners escape, Holden goes after them, and all of them face a climactic Indian attack.

After seven years as a director and four years at MGM, John Sturges had built a career "of solid and prolific mediocrity," according to DuPre Jones, in his study of Sturges' work (1974, Films and Filming). With Escape from Fort Bravo, Sturges broke out of that rut, and found his niche as "a very good action director with a near-genius for staging gunfights." In Escape from Fort Bravo, Sturges meticulously builds the tension towards one of those long, complex and exciting climaxes which would become a trademark of Sturges hits like Gunfight at the OK Corral(1957), The Magnificent Seven (1960), and The Great Escape (1963).

Escape from Fort Bravo was an important film in William Holden's career as well. Fresh from his success in Stalag 17 (1953), Holden had negotiated a new contract with Paramount which tied him to the studio for only three months a year, and allowed him to freelance. Escape from Fort Bravo was his first film at MGM. Holden, a rugged outdoorsman, relished the strenuous location work. And he earned excellent reviews for his portrayal of the rigid cavalry officer.

Holden's co-star, Eleanor Parker, was saucy and elaborately-gowned as a Confederate spy. She had more to do than most women in Sturges films, and critics found her appealing. One commented, "Eleanor Parker demonstrates that the desert air does just as much for a girl's complexion as a couple of weeks at Helena Rubinstein's."

It was the height of the 3-D craze, and Escape from Fort Bravo was originally shot in 3-D. But by the time it was ready for release, the gimmick had gotten schlocky, and the 3-D version was dumped. However, Escape from Fort Bravo was the first MGM film to be shot for the increasingly popular wide screen -- a plus with the dramatic locations.

Director: John Sturges
Producer: Nicholas Nayfack
Screenplay: Frank Fenton
Cinematography: Robert Surtees
Editor: George Boemler
Art Direction: Malcolm Brown, Cedric Gibbons
Music: Jeff Alexander
Cast: William Holden (Capt. Roper), Eleanor Parker (Carla Forester), John Forsythe (Capt. John Marsh), William Demarest (Campbell), William Campbell (Cabot Young).
C-99m. Closed captioning.

by Margarita Landazuri

Escape From Fort Bravo

Escape From Fort Bravo

Escape from Fort Bravo (1953) is a classic western, shot in Death Valley and New Mexico, and set during the Civil War. William Holden plays a Union captain guarding a group of Confederate prisoners. The prisoners escape, Holden goes after them, and all of them face a climactic Indian attack. After seven years as a director and four years at MGM, John Sturges had built a career "of solid and prolific mediocrity," according to DuPre Jones, in his study of Sturges' work (1974, Films and Filming). With Escape from Fort Bravo, Sturges broke out of that rut, and found his niche as "a very good action director with a near-genius for staging gunfights." In Escape from Fort Bravo, Sturges meticulously builds the tension towards one of those long, complex and exciting climaxes which would become a trademark of Sturges hits like Gunfight at the OK Corral(1957), The Magnificent Seven (1960), and The Great Escape (1963). Escape from Fort Bravo was an important film in William Holden's career as well. Fresh from his success in Stalag 17 (1953), Holden had negotiated a new contract with Paramount which tied him to the studio for only three months a year, and allowed him to freelance. Escape from Fort Bravo was his first film at MGM. Holden, a rugged outdoorsman, relished the strenuous location work. And he earned excellent reviews for his portrayal of the rigid cavalry officer. Holden's co-star, Eleanor Parker, was saucy and elaborately-gowned as a Confederate spy. She had more to do than most women in Sturges films, and critics found her appealing. One commented, "Eleanor Parker demonstrates that the desert air does just as much for a girl's complexion as a couple of weeks at Helena Rubinstein's." It was the height of the 3-D craze, and Escape from Fort Bravo was originally shot in 3-D. But by the time it was ready for release, the gimmick had gotten schlocky, and the 3-D version was dumped. However, Escape from Fort Bravo was the first MGM film to be shot for the increasingly popular wide screen -- a plus with the dramatic locations. Director: John Sturges Producer: Nicholas Nayfack Screenplay: Frank Fenton Cinematography: Robert Surtees Editor: George Boemler Art Direction: Malcolm Brown, Cedric Gibbons Music: Jeff Alexander Cast: William Holden (Capt. Roper), Eleanor Parker (Carla Forester), John Forsythe (Capt. John Marsh), William Demarest (Campbell), William Campbell (Cabot Young). C-99m. Closed captioning. by Margarita Landazuri

Quotes

Did you fire that shot?
- Capt. Roper

Yep!
- Cabot Young

In any other place than this, I'd thank you.
- Capt. Roper

In any other place, you wouldn't get the chance!
- Cabot Young

Keep the gun!
- Capt. Roper

You must have missed!
- Cabot Young

Naw, we just killed the same one twice!
- Campbell

See what I mean?
- Campbell

When you're in the grave, Beecher, it doesn't matter too much how you got there.
- Capt. Roper

Well, I think it matters. I think it does.
- Lt. Beecher

Write the War Department.
- Capt. Roper

Trivia

Notes

The working titles of this film were Rope's End and Fort Bravo. The order of cast names in the opening credits is different from that of the end credits, in which the leading actors are billed last. Hollywood Reporter news items report that Keenan Wynn was originally cast as "Cabot Young," but William Campbell took over the role when Wynn was injured in an automobile accident. According to an March 11, 1953 Hollywood Reporter news item, James Whitmore was cast in a top role, but he was not in the film. A Hollywood Reporter news item adds Howard Wilson to the cast, but his appearance in the completed film has not been confirmed. Most of the film was shot on location in Gallup, NM and at Death Valley National Monument, CA.
According to information in the file on the film in the MPAA/PCA Collection at the AMPAS Library, composer Jeff Alexander submitted two additional songs, "Battle of Chanc'llorville" and "Rebel's Rant," that were not used in the final film. According to contemporary news items and reviews, Escape from Fort Bravo was the first film made using M-G-M's own wide-screen process, which Variety noted had an aspect ratio of 1.66:1.

Miscellaneous Notes

Released in United States Fall November 1953

Ansco Color

Released in United States Fall November 1953

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