Escape from Fort Bravo *** (1953, William Holden, Eleanor Parker, John Forsythe) – Classic Movie Review 10,269

Director John Sturges never lets the tension sag in the complex, superior 1953 MGM Western film Escape from Fort Bravo, starring William Holden, Eleanor Parker and John Forsythe.

Director John Sturges never lets the tension sag in the 1953 film Escape from Fort Bravo, a complex, superior MGM Western that is too little known.

There are some familiar situations in the screenplay by Frank Fenton, from a story by Philip Rock and Michael Pate. During the US Civil War, Confederate prisoners escape from an Arizona fort only to run slap bang into the Mescalero Apaches, Indians on the warpath, and there is the problem of the pursuing Union troops too.

William Holden is very fine as the tough, easily-riled cavalry captain, Captain Roper, Eleanor Parker is good as Carla Forester, the woman who helps to engineer the escape, and John Forsythe is entirely okay as Captain John Marsh, the posh Confederate prisoner who comes between them.

But there are a few surprises among the familiar situations, as well as well-handled bursts of action, and a tough edge to proceedings that undercuts a glossy exterior. Best of all is Robert L Surtees’s Anscocolor cinematography, especially of the terrific Death Valley National Park, California, backdrop. There is also filming at Gallup, Ford Butte, Rattlesnake, Sanostee, Little Water, and Huerfano, all in New Mexico, as well as at Corriganville, Ray Corrigan Ranch, Simi Valley, California.

Also in the cast are William Demarest, Polly Bergen, William Campbell, Carl Benton Reid, Richard Anderson, John Lupton, Glenn Strange, Harry Cheshire, Michael Dugan, Frank Matts, Alex Montoya, Charles Stevens, Eloise Hardt and Forrest Lewis.

Escape from Fort Bravo is directed by John Sturges, runs 98 minutes, is made by MGM (Loew’s Incorporated), is released by MGM, is written by Frank Fenton, based on a story by Philip Rock and Michael Pate, is shot in Anscocolor by Robert L Surtees, is produced by Nicholas Nayfack, and is scored by Jeff Alexander.

 It was shot from April 1953 to late May 1953.

Release date: December 4, 1953.

The budget was $1,520,000, and it took a successful $3,158,000 at the box office ($1,525,000 in North America and $1,633,000 elsewhere), but MGM were only able to declare a profit of only $104,000. Taking more than $110,000 outside North America is remarkable for an American film at the time, particularly a Western.

Plans to film in 3D were scrapped, but it is the first feature to employ spherical Panavision lenses.

The cast

The cast are William Holden as Captain Roper, Eleanor Parker as Carla Forester, John Forsythe as Captain John Marsh, William Demarest as Sgt Campbell, Polly Bergen as Alice Owens, William Campbell as Cabot Young, Carl Benton Reid as Colonel Owens, Richard Anderson as Lieutenant Beecher, John Lupton as Bailey, Forrest Lewis as Dr Miller, Howard McNear as Watson, Glenn Strange as Sgt Compton, Harry Cheshire, Michael Dugan, Frank Matts, Alex Montoya, Charles Stevens, Eloise Hardt and Forrest Lewis.

William Holden’s real name was William Franklin Beedle Jr. His real life younger brother Richard P Beedle plays the Confederate lieutenant who accompanies Captain Marsh. Richard P Beedle died aged 39 on July 5, 1964 off of the coast of Peru when his plane crashed. His body was not recovered.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,269

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com