Director John Ford spotlights pioneering African-American actor Woody Strode (The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Professionals) in a challenging role as cavalry soldier, his tale told in flashback as he is tried for the rape of a white woman and a double murder. Lieutenant Tom Cantrell (Jeffrey Hunter), assigned to defend Sergeant Rutledge (Strode), is frustrated with the prosecutor’s obvious bias and underhanded legal maneuvers to plant prejudice in the minds of the court. Co-starring Constance Towers (The Horse Soldiers, The Naked Kiss), Billie Burke and Juano Hernandez (Intruder in the Dust).
“For once, John Ford gave his black company player Woody Strode a staring role… this effective… western thriller represents one of Ford’s late efforts to treat minority members with more respect than westerns usually did (Cheyenne Autumn was another), and Strode takes full advantage of the opportunity.” – Jonathan Rosenbaum, The Chicago Reader
Ariel Schudson discusses Sergeant Rutledge on the New Beverly blog.
