Fort Defiance (film)

Fort Defiance is a 1951 American Western film directed by John Rawlins and starring Dane Clark, Ben Johnson, and Peter Graves. The film tells the story of Ben Shelby (Dane Clark), a man wrongly accused of robbery and murder who escapes custody and is pursued by a posse led by his former friend, Johnny Tallon (Ben Johnson).

The film is set in the Arizona Territory of the 1880s. Shelby, trying to clear his name, encounters a stagecoach robbery. He helps a young woman, Ruth (Tracey Roberts), and her younger brother, Billy (Dickie Moore), who are passengers on the stagecoach. He becomes their protector as he attempts to evade capture and prove his innocence.

Fort Defiance is notable for its location shooting and its focus on the complex relationship between Shelby and Tallon, testing the bonds of friendship under duress and suspicion. The film also features a strong supporting performance from Peter Graves as Captain John Carter, who adds another layer of conflict to the narrative. While a low-budget production, Fort Defiance offers a traditional Western tale with themes of loyalty, justice, and redemption.