Sergeant Rutledge

At a U.S. Army fort in the Arizona Territory in the late 1800s, Army lawyer Tom Cantrell defends Braxton Rutledge, a Black sergeant formerly under Cantrell’s command, in his court martial for murder and rape. Under questioning by Cantrell and the prosecutor, multiple witnesses piece together what happened at the fort on the day of the crimes. The film remains notable for its frank treatment of racism and as the first major studio Western to cast a Black actor in the lead. Star Constance Towers joins us for a special Master of Cinema award program following the screening. Use discount code RETRO at checkout for a special half-price offer!

Sponsored by Marcsa Birkas and Billy Mai.

*Screening in person only.*