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Sergeant Rutledge follows the titular man (Woody Strode), a black sergeant in a regiment of the U.S. Cavalry who is being court-martialed for the rape and murder of a white girl. He is represented by Lt. Tom Cantrell (Jeffrey Hunter), who is also Rutledge's troop officer.
The film starts as the court martial begins and then goes through a series of flashbacks from witnesses and Rutledge himself to explain what happened. These witnesses accounts serve to expose the racism and prejudice that Rutledge was, and still is subject to, as we understand how hard he is trying to stay alive.
This film was recommended by my friend @ThatDarnMKS during a podcast recording last year where we talked about "hidden gems". MKS commented on how strange it was that this film hardly ever came up in conversations about westerns or culturally/socially relevant films, even with John Ford's name attached to it. After watching it myself, I have to wonder the same.
The Wild West that is shown here, in 1881, is a West that is still getting use to changes; whether it is the struggles of expansion or the "integration" of black people into society and regular life. There are countless times when characters, with malice or not, refer to Rutledge as "colored", or cower from him as he approaches. Is it because they think he's a murderer/rapist, or because he's black?
But through it all, Rutledge is trying hard to stay alive. The sergeant isn't flawless, but is portrayed as a man of integrity, loyalty, and honor, and Strode has both a gallant and commanding presence to convey that. Regardless of the insults, the discrimination and false accusations, he never breaks... except for one key climatic moment in the trial; an extremely emotionally charged confession from Rutledge himself. Therein lies the power of the film; in that character and his struggles.
Like Rutledge, the film is not without flaws. I felt that the legal side of the film was a bit overwrought as it attempted to stretch the witnesses accounts to lead us one way. Also, there are some attempts at comedy that are hit and miss. Finally, despite Rutledge being the apparent focus of the film, the story can't help but resort to the "white savior" trope with the blue-eyed, square jawed Cantrell. Hunter's subpar performance only makes that shift feel worse.
It's interesting that as the court martial is resolved (a resolution that might seem to come a bit from left field), we don't even see Rutledge anymore. What we get is an ending to a half-baked romantic subplot with Cantrell and his white girlfriend kissing, as *other* black soldiers look and smile; a testament to what most *white* audiences would probably consider relevant. Where is Rutledge then? Trying hard to stay alive, I guess.
Grade:
SERGEANT RUTLEDGE
(1960, Ford)
A western film
(1960, Ford)
A western film
"Lady, you don't know how hard I'm trying to stay alive."
Sergeant Rutledge follows the titular man (Woody Strode), a black sergeant in a regiment of the U.S. Cavalry who is being court-martialed for the rape and murder of a white girl. He is represented by Lt. Tom Cantrell (Jeffrey Hunter), who is also Rutledge's troop officer.
The film starts as the court martial begins and then goes through a series of flashbacks from witnesses and Rutledge himself to explain what happened. These witnesses accounts serve to expose the racism and prejudice that Rutledge was, and still is subject to, as we understand how hard he is trying to stay alive.
This film was recommended by my friend @ThatDarnMKS during a podcast recording last year where we talked about "hidden gems". MKS commented on how strange it was that this film hardly ever came up in conversations about westerns or culturally/socially relevant films, even with John Ford's name attached to it. After watching it myself, I have to wonder the same.
The Wild West that is shown here, in 1881, is a West that is still getting use to changes; whether it is the struggles of expansion or the "integration" of black people into society and regular life. There are countless times when characters, with malice or not, refer to Rutledge as "colored", or cower from him as he approaches. Is it because they think he's a murderer/rapist, or because he's black?
But through it all, Rutledge is trying hard to stay alive. The sergeant isn't flawless, but is portrayed as a man of integrity, loyalty, and honor, and Strode has both a gallant and commanding presence to convey that. Regardless of the insults, the discrimination and false accusations, he never breaks... except for one key climatic moment in the trial; an extremely emotionally charged confession from Rutledge himself. Therein lies the power of the film; in that character and his struggles.
Like Rutledge, the film is not without flaws. I felt that the legal side of the film was a bit overwrought as it attempted to stretch the witnesses accounts to lead us one way. Also, there are some attempts at comedy that are hit and miss. Finally, despite Rutledge being the apparent focus of the film, the story can't help but resort to the "white savior" trope with the blue-eyed, square jawed Cantrell. Hunter's subpar performance only makes that shift feel worse.
It's interesting that as the court martial is resolved (a resolution that might seem to come a bit from left field), we don't even see Rutledge anymore. What we get is an ending to a half-baked romantic subplot with Cantrell and his white girlfriend kissing, as *other* black soldiers look and smile; a testament to what most *white* audiences would probably consider relevant. Where is Rutledge then? Trying hard to stay alive, I guess.
Grade: