Western

Sergeant Rutledge

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

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

Release Date : 1960-05-25

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : John Ford ProductionsWarner Bros. Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Lt. Tom Cantrell

Original Name : Jeffrey Hunter

Gender : Male

Character Name : 1st Sgt. Braxton Rutledge

Original Name : Woody Strode

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mary Beecher

Original Name : Constance Towers

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mrs. Cordelia Fosgate

Original Name : Billie Burke

Gender : Female

Character Name : Sgt. Matthew Luke Skidmore

Original Name : Juano Hernández

Gender : Male

Character Name : Col. Otis Fosgate - president of the court-martial

Original Name : Willis Bouchey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Capt. Shattuck - prosecutor

Original Name : Carleton Young

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lt. Mulqueen (court-martial board member)

Original Name : Judson Pratt

Gender : Male

Character Name : Court-Martial Board Member (uncredited)

Original Name : Chuck Roberson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Capt. Dickinson (uncredited)

Original Name : Chuck Hayward

Gender : Male

Character Name : Court Guard (uncredited)

Original Name : Phil Adams

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mexican (uncredited)

Original Name : Mario Arteaga

Gender : Male

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Gertrude Astor

Gender : Female

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Brandon Beach

Gender : Male

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Oscar Blank

Gender : Male

Character Name : Trooper (uncredited)

Original Name : Clifton Brandon

Gender : Male

Character Name : Trooper (uncredited)

Original Name : Naaman Brown

Gender : Male

Character Name : Trooper (uncredited)

Original Name : Louis Byrd

Gender : Male

Character Name : Officer's Wife (uncredited)

Original Name : Ruth Clifford

Gender : Female

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Jane Crowley

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mr. Owens (uncredited)

Original Name : Shug Fisher

Gender : Male

Character Name : Trooper (uncredited)

Original Name : Eugene Gaines

Gender : Male

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Sam Harris

Gender : Male

Character Name : Capt. Dwyer (uncredited)

Original Name : William Henry

Gender : Male

Character Name : Trooper (uncredited)

Original Name : James Johnson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cpl. Krump (uncredited)

Original Name : Rafer Johnson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Kenny

Gender : Male

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Mike Lally

Gender : Male

Character Name : Indian (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Lewis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chandler Hubble (uncredited)

Original Name : Fred Libby

Gender : Male

Character Name : Trooper (uncredited)

Original Name : Marvin Luster

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sam Beecher (uncredited)

Original Name : Cliff Lyons

Gender : Male

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Wilbur Mack

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Nellie Hackett (uncredited)

Original Name : Mae Marsh

Gender : Female

Character Name : Lucy Dabney (uncredited)

Original Name : Toby Michaels

Gender : Male

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Mower

Gender : Male

Character Name : Trooper (uncredited)

Original Name : Trusse R. Norris

Gender : Male

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Eva Novak

Gender : Female

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Pennick

Gender : Male

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Perrin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Capt. McAfee (uncredited)

Original Name : Walter Reed

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. Walter Eckner (uncredited)

Original Name : Charles Seel

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chris Hubble (uncredited)

Original Name : Ed Shaw

Gender : Male

Character Name : Trooper (uncredited)

Original Name : Bobby Lee Smith

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sentry (uncredited)

Original Name : Ed Sweeny

Gender : Male

Character Name : Trooper (uncredited)

Original Name : Walter Torrence

Gender : Male

Character Name : Trooper (uncredited)

Original Name : David Washington

Gender : Male

Character Name : Court Guard (uncredited)

Original Name : William Wellman Jr.

Gender : Male

Character Name : Trooper (uncredited)

Original Name : Lloyd Winston

Gender : Male

Character Name : Screaming Trooper (archive sound) (uncredited)

Original Name : Sheb Wooley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Laredo (uncredited)

Original Name : Hank Worden

Gender : Male

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

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