Sergeant Rutledge

"Forget all the suspense you have ever seen! Forget all the excitement you have ever known!"

1960 1h 51m EN

👍

7.0

SOLID

🔥

92%

CERTIFIED FRESH

⭐

7.4

IMDB

★7.0TMDB · 141🍅92%Rotten Tomatoes★7.4IMDB · 6,226

WesternCrimeDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Respected black cavalry Sergeant Brax Rutledge stands court-martial for raping and killing a white woman and murdering her father, his superior officer.

“Forget all the suspense you have ever seen! Forget all the excitement you have ever known!”

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Cast

Jeffrey Hunter
Lt. Tom Cantrell
Woody Strode
1st Sgt. Braxton Rutledge
Constance Towers
Mary Beecher
Billie Burke
Mrs. Cordelia Fosgate
Juano Hernández
Sgt. Matthew Luke Skidmore
Willis Bouchey
Col. Otis Fosgate - president of the court-martial
Carleton Young
Capt. Shattuck - prosecutor
Judson Pratt
Lt. Mulqueen (court-martial board member)

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: John Ford
Writers: Willis Goldbeck, James Warner Bellah
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

66 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by John Ford, shot by Bert Glennon. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Howard Jackson. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Jack Murray shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Jeffrey Hunter and Woody Strode and Constance Towers carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Forget all the suspense you have ever seen! Forget all the excitement you have ever known!".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0054292 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

John Ford directs. Bert Glennon behind the camera. Howard Jackson scores. Jack Murray cuts. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

166 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Directed by John Ford, shot by Bert Glennon. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Howard Jackson. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Jack Murray shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Jeffrey Hunter and Woody Strode and Constance Towers carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "Forget all the suspense you have ever seen! Forget all the excitement you have ever known!".
7IMDB entry: tt0054292 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Bert Glennon
Original score: Howard Jackson
Editing: Jack Murray
Costume design: Marjorie Best
Makeup / hair: Web Overlander
Runtime: 111 min · 1h 51m
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): NR
IMDB: Sergeant Rutledge (1960)
Rotten Tomatoes: 92% 🍅 Fresh
IMDB rating: 7.4/10 · 6,226 votes
MPAA: Approved

Awards

2 nominations total

Also by

John Ford

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

John Chard2014-04-29
★ 9/10
Buffalo Soldier. It was alright for Mr. Lincoln to say we was free. But that ain't so! Not yet! Maybe some day, but not yet! John Ford's Sergeant Rutledge tells the story of a black man, 1st Sgt. Braxton Rutledge, a Buffalo Soldier of the 9th U.S. Cavalry who was up before a court-martial for the rape and murder of a white girl, Major Dabney's daughter, Lucy. Taking place in the court room the story is told in flashback as Rutledge's (Woody Strode) troop officer, and defence council, Lt. Tom Cantrell (Jeffrey Hunter) attempts to piece together the evidence. From the outset Ford is on biting form as the case is being tried in a biased and corruptible court, we as the viewers are left in no doubt that Rutledge could be at the mercy of obnoxious white racists. It's one of the many things that makes the film a bold and at times angry picture. This was after all two years before the critically acclaimed To Kill A Mockingbird, thus making it one of the flag bearers for early acknowledgement of race relations in America. As the sharp narrative moves forward, cloaked in visual excellence with Bert Glennon this time being Ford's cinematographer of choice, the film always keeps us guessing as to the outcome. We really can never be sure, such is the stench of racism that hangs heavy, a stench that is counter pointed by Woody Strode's wonderful and powerful performance as the on trial man. Also in fine physical shape at 46, Strode serves notice to just what a fine and important actor he was in relation to Black Americans in Hollywood. Hunter is handsome and strong in vocal delivery as the council in the middle of a real tricky trial, and Constance Towers as Mary Beecher is the glue binding them, and the story, all together. It's a first rate picture from Ford, one that is largely (and wrongly) forgotten when talk of his oeuvre comes around. Still awaiting a DVD release in the UK, it's evident that it still remains hidden from many a prospective new viewer. This needs correcting because it's bold, beautiful and important cinema from a master director, who, as always, had much to say. 9/10

Production companies