Owen Thursday sees his new posting to the desolate Fort Apache as a chance to claim the military honour which he believes is rightfully his. Arrogant, obsessed with military form and ultimately self-destructive, he attempts to destroy the Apache chief Cochise after luring him across the border from Mexico, against the advice of his subordinates.
John Wayne
as Capt. Kirby York
Henry Fonda
as Lt. Col. Owen Thursday
Shirley Temple
as Philadelphia Thursday
Pedro Armendáriz
as Sgt. Beaufort
Ward Bond
as Sgt. Maj. Michael O'Rourke
George O’Brien
as Capt. Sam Collingwood
Victor McLaglen
as Sgt. Festus Mulcahy
Anna Lee
as Mrs. Emily Collingwood
Irene Rich
as Mrs. Mary O'Rourke
Dick Foran
as Sgt. Quincannon
Guy Kibbee
as Capt. Dr. Wilkens
Grant Withers
as Silas Meacham