John Wayne is considered the most talented Western star to ever emerge from America, and some of his projects were enormous influence on the development of the genre. The actor had several films that were underwhelming, numerous that were incredibly successful, and some that were somewhere in between: but all of them were contextually important. Even the films that weren’t so great served a higher purpose in the narrative of the Western genre by changing the way certain ideas and people were perceived and portrayed.

There is a reason Wayne’s status is rated higher than that of most of his competitors: overall, his films were simply more compelling and impressive. He was not locked into playing the same character in every project, as was the case with many other stars of the era, but was given complex roles that challenged the audience’s ideas of what he could do on screenMany of John Wayne’s best films are still appreciated today for his cinematic skill – but some are also appreciated for other reasons, such as their progressive handling of some previously problematic stereotypes.

John Wayne’s Fort Apache changed the portrayal of Native Americans in Western films

Native Americans have been portrayed unfairly

With 100% fresh status on Rotten Tomatoes, Fort Apache is widely regarded as one of the strongest films in John Wayne’s catalog. The film is about an unpredictable Civil War hero, played by Henry Fonda, who clashes with a more reasonable local captain, played by John Wayne, when he arrives at Fort Apache to take control of the outpost. The film was highly regarded at the time of its release for its complex non-linear narrative and groundbreaking action scenes, but in the years that followed the film became known primarily for its progressive portrayal of Native Americans.

Fort Apache was one of the first Western films ever to portray Native Americans in a respectful way that was true to their culture and life experience. It acknowledged that its two protagonists were oppressors and invaders, but did not treat this as a joke or as a good thing, as many Westerns before it had done. This newfound respect for Native Americans would fundamentally change the framework of HollywoodMost of the best Westerns of all time were made after this time and adopted the changes that were first made in Fort Apache.

Why Fort Apache is still considered one of the best westerns of all time

There is a reason why the film is still being discussed today

But the most surprising thing is Fort Apache is that even today, almost 80 years after its release, it is still considered one of the best Westerns of all time. Even the films that Fort Apache He was mostly unable to improve his ideas, although many later releases just feel like cheap copiesOf course it helps that Fort Apache came first and deserves recognition as an original, but the reason it is so admired today is how forward-looking and innovative the filmmaking style was. It was unlike anything released before, both narratively and technically.

The non-linear narrative, practical effects and large-scale action sequences were outstanding for this era of filmmaking, which can be seen when watching Fort Apache today. While the effects may look dated, the story is just as strong – which is a clear sign of a great film. The performances are another example Fort ApacheHighlights: It is one of Henry Fonda’s best Western roles, allowing him not only to play against type as an arrogant war veteran, but also to use his character to challenge previously prevailing views about Native Americans, who Fort Apache turns out to be wrong.

Was Fort Apache John Wayne’s best western?

There is tough competition

Ultimately, there are very few other candidates for John Wayne’s best Western. The only others that really challenge this claim are The Wild Seekers And True determinationwhich are often the focus of discussions on this topic. Both films show incredible effects, gripping storiesAnd beautiful cinematography that proved to audiences that Westerns do not have to be mindless action shows, but poignant stories about humanity and survival. These two films were hugely influential, but Fort Apache earns bonus points for first place.

Neither of them would have come into being without Fort ApacheSuccess is a given. For this reason, it is difficult to claim his title as John Wayne’s best Western – it was the most compelling, progressive and inspiring film in the genre when it came out, and the magic continues to this day. Granted, it’s not Wayne’s most historically accurate story, but it sacrifices some of that authenticity for entertainment value, instead placing emphasis on audience enjoyment and innovative portrayals of Native Americans.