The Horse Soldiers (1959)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

John Ford

Writers:

John Lee Mahin (written for the screen by) and
Martin Rackin (written for the screen by) ...

Release Date:

12 June 1959 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | War | Western

Tagline:

John Ford's Thundering Spectacle

Plot:

A Union Cavalry outfit is sent behind confederate lines in strength to destroy a rail/supply centre...

Plot Keywords:

Doctor | Sabotage | Train | Spanking | American Civil War

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

John Wayne	...	Col. John Marlowe
William Holden	...	Maj. Henry 'Hank' Kendall (regimental surgeon)
Constance Towers	...	Miss Hannah Hunter of Greenbriar
Judson Pratt	...	Sgt. Maj. Kirby
Hoot Gibson	...	Sgt. Brown
Ken Curtis	...	Cpl. Wilkie
Willis Bouchey	...	Col. Phil Secord
Bing Russell	...	Dunker, Yankee Soldier Amputee
O.Z. Whitehead	...	Otis 'Hoppy' Hopkins (medical assistant)
Hank Worden	...	Deacon Clump
Chuck Hayward	...	Union captain
Denver Pyle	...	Jackie Jo (rebel deserter)
Strother Martin	...	Virgil (rebel deserter)
Basil Ruysdael	...	The Reverend (Jefferson Military Academy)
Carleton Young	...	Col. Jonathan Miles, CSA

Runtime:

115 min | USA:119 min (DVD version) | UK:119 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

UK:PG | Norway:16 | New Zealand:G | Australia:G | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Alexandria, Louisiana, USA

Company:

Mirisch Corporation, The

Trivia:

The Horse Soldiers is apparently based on the true-life raid by Colonel Benjamin Grierson who, like stated in the movie, started the excursion from LeGrange, Tennessee.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The Jefferson Military Academy was fictitious. The scene was filmed at the old Jefferson College campus. The civilian college was closed during the civil war.

Quotes:

[after Marlowe gets slapped]
Major Kendall: I suggest you see a doctor.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Sesión continua (1984)

Soundtrack:

I LEFT MY LOVE

Holden and Wayne earn their pay

The Horse Soldiers is one of many John Ford and John Wayne collaborations.

Moreover, it is one of their better. The story involves a daring mission by union troops into the heart of the confederacy, in order to cut supply lines. Wayne is leading the daring plan. However, also going on the mission are an insolent

surgeon (played by William Holden) and a Southern Belle, complete with slave

(played by tennis star Althea Gibson). Where this film shines are in the excellent performances turned in by the big two stars. Rumor was that this film had many shutdowns and stoppages, the kind of thing that can make someone hornery.

Well, you see that in the relationship between the Holden and Wayne

characters, they genuinely despise each other. To me, this was one of Wayne's most underrated performances. He shows real emotion in his rather complex

character. As usual, Holden is excellent. Being a Ford film, the story and

scenery are both epic. Moreover, it does not take the Hollywood path towards

the obvious. I really enjoyed this film and was anxious to see just how it would end.