ESCAPE FROM FORT BRAVO

US, 1953, 98 minutes, Colour.
William Holden, Eleanor Parker, John Forsythe, William Demarest, William Campbell, Richard Anderson, Polly Bergen.
Directed by John Sturges.

Escape from Fort Bravo is a standard Western of the early 50's and enjoyable as such. William, Holden and Eleanor Parker were at the height of their popularity. The film was directed by John Sturges who, at this time, made concise entertaining films like this. In the 60's his films became larger and more ambitious, like The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape, Marooned, Ice Station Zebra. This is a satisfying ordinary Western.

1. Was this a satisfying Western action film? what were its best features?

2. The atmosphere of Fort Bravo as a situation and a location? How were the isolation and the atmosphere communicated?

3. The background of the civil war, opposition and tensions, the prison atmosphere of the Fort? What did this add to the film?

4. The explicit confrontations between North and South? The clashes between Roper and John Marsh?

5. The nature of the plot, Carla to help Marsh to escape? How interestingly was this presented? Was it plausible?

6. The character of Roper - as a soldier from the North, in charge, a hard man, affected by isolation and war? His relationships with his own men. with the prisoners, with Carla? Why did he allow himself to be influenced by Carla?

7. Carla - as a plausible character, in sympathy with the South, working out practical ways to help marsh escape, as influenced by Roper?

8. Marsh - as a sympathetic character. of the South, suffering in prison? Was the audience sympathy for his escape? Why?

9. The presentation of life at the Fort - how effective. how interesting, affecting the atmosphere of the film and its realism?

10. The theme of love and betrayal: the relationships between Roper. Carla, and Marsh? The effect of the betrayal on Roper and his pursuit?

11. The filming of the escape and the pursuit - how exciting. how effective. how interesting? What really was Roper pursuing? What was Carla escaping from? The minor characters in the pursuit - were they interesting or did they represent typical attitudes? Clashes?

12. The pursuing group - were the assisting officers and scouts characters in their own right or merely typifying attitudes? The heroism of the scout?

13. The siege with the Indians - how interesting and effective? Did it communicate the reality of the situation?

14. The resolution of the film - was it realistic and credible? Too heroic? Satisfying in terms of human relationships?