Escape from Fort Bravo (1953) – full review!

Directed by John Sturges (Bad Day at Black Rock (1955)) this average Western set in 1863 combines elements of the Civil War with the struggle against the Mescalero Indians in settling the West. The Union Army maintains the titled stockade for some Southern Confederate prisoners in Arizona (actually filmed in Death Valley California). Given the remote desert location the prisoners aren’t likely to attempt escape without horses or the guns needed to defend themselves against the Natives. So it works pretty well. However when one of the Southerners (John Lupton) does escape Captain Roper (William Holden) feels it’s necessary to make an example of him to keep others from trying the same – he makes him walk back! Captain Marsh (John Forsythe) as the leader of the Confederates is not too happy about Roper’s cruel and unusual punishment but has a plan for he and a few others to escape. These others include the coward Bailey (Lupton) crotchety old Campbell (William Demarest) and young “buck” Cabot (William Campbell). Campbell and Cabot maintain a love-hate relationship.

Colonel Owens (Carl Benton Reid) isn’t too pleased with Roper’s exhibition either but he also realizes that Roper is the soldier who always gets his man too. Roper’s subordinate Lieutenant Beecher (Richard Anderson) who’s about to marry the Colonel’s daughter Alice (Polly Bergen) doesn’t approve of Roper’s methods either. Alice’s cousin Carla Forester (Eleanor Parker) comes to visit. En-route Carla’s stagecoach is attacked by some Mescaleros such that she’s rescued by Roper’s men on patrol. Alex Montoya and Western veteran Glenn Strange appear uncredited as Sergeants under Roper’s command. Roper soon falls for the lovely bold newcomer who we soon learn is betrothed to Marsh and part of his escape plan. While Roper is distracted by his infatuation with Carla she plots with the local storekeeper and Southern sympathizer Watson (Howard McNear uncredited) to affect their escape during the Beecher-Owen wedding reception. Later it is clear that Carla has feelings for Roper such that she feels she too must escape with Marsh et al.

Of course Roper must pursue the escapees. Even though he knows per the Colonel that he was duped by Carla he fears for her life because of the Mescalero Indians. Not exactly trusting his commander’s intentions the newlywed Beecher insists on going along as well. Naturally Roper (and the few he takes with him) catches up with them perhaps too easily but on the way back to Fort Bravo they are attacked by the Mescaleros. Under siege by superior numbers Roper uses his military experience to find them the best possible place to mount their defense a dugout. This “hole” works well except for the fact that it is soon surrounded leaving them with limited water supplies and no horses trapped. With virtually no other options the soldiers Union and Confederate work together to stay alive. The film’s most interesting action (battle) sequences which include its climax follow. Carla figures in the equation too.

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