Horse Soldiers, Texas, Escape from Fort Bravo

[Groggy]

John Ford's Civil War adventure feels like it should be a lot better. The Horse Soldiers (1959) is beautifully shot, with John Wayne and William Holden making a dynamic star pairing. But the movie never quite gels, a disappointing collection of exciting action and awkward drama.

In spring 1863, Union and Confederate armies are deadlocked before Vicksburg, the Rebels' last stronghold on the Mississippi. General Ulysses S. Grant (Stan Jones) recruits Colonel John Marlowe (John Wayne) to lead a daring raid on Confederate supply lines. Marlowe plans to ride from La Grange, Tennessee down to Newton Station, destroy the supply depot there, then continue south to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The mission grows complicated when the Federals encounter Hanna Hunter (Constance Towers), a headstrong Southerner they arrest for fear of informing, and when Marlowe and his surgeon Major Kendall (William Holden) grow to loathe each other.

Based on Harold Sinclair's novel, The Horse Soldiers is a heavily fictionalized version of Grierson's Raid. At a time when the Union cavalry was a laughingstock ("Whoever saw a dead cavalryman?" went a rueful joke), Colonel Benjamin Grierson led 1,700 troopers on a daring raid that cut Rebel supply lines to Vicksburg, tied up thousands of Rebel troops and safely arrived in Baton Rouge with few casualties. These scratch Yankee horsemen put Southern cavalrymen like Nathan Bedford Forrest to shame, and materially aided Grant's campaign too. It's a fascinating tale of true-life derringdo tailor made for a movie.

The Horse Soldiers is certainly a handsome movie. Ford provides striking iconography, with beautiful shots of cavalry columns on the horizon, all captured by ace photographer William C. Clothier. Ford consciously recalls Matthew Brady's photographs, with carefully composed camp scenes and sweeping battle tableaux: one early scene even has Marlowe and staff photographed by a war correspondent. Ford stages two fabulous battles, especially the ambush at Newton Station, alongside colorful vignettes: a confrontation with two Confederate deserters (Strother Martin and Denver Pyle); Kendall chatting with a friendly Rebel colonel (Carleton Young); and a humorous episode where the Yankees encounter teenaged military cadets (loosely inspired by the Battle of New Market, Virginia).

Ford takes his only direct stab at America's biggest conflict (vignettes in Judge Priest and How the West Was Won notwithstanding), with commendable complexity. Ford consistently emphasizes the "gentlemanly" conduct of both sides. Marlowe's troops kill no civilians (accurate to Grierson's raid), care for Rebel wounded and bloodlessly disengage from the underage cadets. Yet this chivalry is contrasted with chaotic battles, Kendall's bloody operations and scenes of material destruction. Kendall proves the noblest character, putting aside nationality to treat wounded on both sides. Not quite an antiwar tract, The Horse Soldiers nonetheless eschews predictable flag-waving.

Then why isn't The Horse Soldiers a classic? Despite its quality set pieces, Ford's interstitial material rings consistently false. The central Marlowe-Kendall rivalry between never seems authentic; writers John Lee Mahin and Martin Rackin give Marlowe a cringeworthy personal reason for hating doctors. No points for guessing how they patch things up. Similarly, headstrong Hannah falls for Marlowe simply because box office demands it. That's neglecting annoying side characters like the Victor McLaglen-lite Sergeant Kirby (Judson Pratt) and Marlowe's Lt. Colonel (Willis Bouchey), who reminds us he's a politician every time he's on screen. The finale also feels rushed, thanks to the death of stuntman Fred Kennedy.

John Wayne and William Holden redeem a lot. These tough guy leads have great chemistry, selling their thin characters and hokey rivalry through sheer charisma. Constance Towers (Sergeant Rutledge) is compelling early on as a resourceful Southern belle; later she deteriorates into token love interest. Willis Bouchey and tennis star Althea Gibson play annoying one-note roles. Strother Martin and Denver Pyle get one of the best scenes as scurvy Rebel deserters; Ford regulars Ken Curtis, Hank Worden, Russell Simpson, Anna Lee and Carleton Young put in mandatory appearances.

The Horse Soldiers is an entertaining flick, but seems like a missed opportunity. There's plenty to like, but Ford's mixed execution makes it merely a good picture. 7/10

http://nothingiswrittenfilm.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-horse-soldiers.html

[drinkanddestroy]

Just saw the movie for the third time, and I can;t believe I gave it high ratings years ago. This film is a crappy 5.5/10

I enjoyed reading Grggy's review more than watching the movie.

The cinematography is terrific. Some good battle scenes.

But the whole subplot ? actually, it's maybe the main plot ? of them bringing along Constance Towers (still with us at 87 years old) does nothing for the mother. Yeah, she's nice to look at (perfect makeup at all times, of course ) But the movie would have been better off if her character had not been in there.

The tension between doctor-hating Wayne and Holden is dumb, and Ford's comedy here, with the endless drinking jokes and the guy who wants to be a politician, detract from the film. I find sometimes that Ford's comedy would be funny as its own segment, or in a comedy movie, but stuck into non-comedy films, it detracts. (Perhaps the most egregious example of this is the scene with Victor McLaglen in the saloon in She Wore a Yellow Ribbon.) Also, that theme song "I Left My Love" is insufferable.

This could have been a good movie if it had been a straight-up story about this Civil War incident, without the female subplot, without the Holden character, and without the so-called humor. This was a real wasted opportunity. The only way I'll ever watch this again is on mute ? the movie looks absolutely gorgeous.

[dave jenkins]

Just saw the movie for the third time, and I can;t believe I gave it high ratings years ago. This film is a crappy 5.5/10

You are hilarious.

New 4K scan: https://www.kinolorber.com/product/the-horse-soldiers-blu-ray

[dave jenkins]

https://trailersfromhell.com/the-horse-soldiers/

[stanton]

A pretty uneven film with some memorable scenes and enough flaws. Funnily Ford's films are often held by me in better estimation than they actually should, considering all the things I don't like in his films, and this one does not make an exception. The flaws seem to be all so basic and many if I list them, but I still give this one a 7/10

Hah, same with The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, which I re-watched recently. Considering its reputation and its historic importance for the genre, it is a big disappointment, and when I think of all the big flaws I'm wondering why Liberty still gets a 7/10, as a 5/10 could do it also.

[drinkanddestroy]

A pretty uneven film with some memorable scenes and enough flaws. Funnily Ford's films are often held by me in better estimation than they actually should, considering all the things I don't like in his films, and this one does not make an exception. The flaws seem to be all so basic and many if I list them, but I still give this one a 7/10

Hah, same with The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, which I re-watched recently. Considering its reputation and its historic importance for the genre, it is a big disappointment, and when I think of all the big flaws I'm wondering why Liberty still gets a 7/10, as a 5/10 could do it also.

Liberty Valance is much better than Horse Soldiers

[stanton]

Meanwhile I'm not so sure about that. It's an example for a totally overrated classic.
I also rewatched Wagonmaster, My Darling Clementine and The Searchers last year, and they all grew in my estimation, I never enjoyed them as much as I did now. They are all much more exciting than Liberty, which often feels like bad theatre with a 60s TV movie atmosphere. Too bad, as it is a film I would like to like

[dave jenkins]

Liberty Valance is much better than Horse Soldiers

No, and here's why. I like Constance Towers a lot, but Vera Miles always makes my dick shrivel.

[drinkanddestroy]

No, and here's why. I like Constance Towers a lot, but Vera Miles always makes my dick shrivel.

Of all the women stuck into Westerns for the sake of sticking a woman in there, the Constance Towers character in Horse Soldiers may be the single worst. Bogged down a movie that should have been about a military operation, with the dumb story of a woman being dragged along for the ride.

[cigar joe]

Of all the women stuck into Westerns for the sake of sticking a woman in there, the Constance Towers character in Horse Soldiers may be the single worst. Bogged down a movie that should have been about a military operation, with the dumb story of a woman being dragged along for the ride.

Dats right

[mike siegel]

Each his own, but JOHN FORD even a Top 5 director in this home, HORSE SOLDIERS doesn't make the Top 30 of his work. It was a troubled production and overshadowed by the death of a stuntman who had worked for Ford for 10 years.... But it is still fine entertainment, yet next to TWO RODE TOGETHER it is probably his weakest western. Still you get Holden, Strother Martin, some great photography and Ford moments. Constance Towers unfortunately has no onscreen appeal unfortunately. The script didn't help her much either.
But Ford came back with one of the finest films of the 60s, LIBERTY VALANCE. He designed it as a farewell song to the changing west where the characters are even more important than in his other films, hence the decision to focus on the people, not the landscape (as did Hawks 3 years earlier with RIO BRAVO).

I have an entertaining collection on HORSE SOLDIERS in my archive, incl. some 100 unpublished behind the scenes stills. Unfortunately
this time Kino Lorber was not interested. Maybe on another release...

[stanton]

Each his own, but JOHN FORD even a Top 5 director in this home, HORSE SOLDIERS doesn't make the Top 30 of his work. It was a troubled production and overshadowed by the death of a stuntman who had worked for Ford for 10 years.... But it is still fine entertainment, yet next to TWO RODE TOGETHER it is probably his weakest western.

I prefer Horse Soldiers to 2 Rode Together, which is another indecisive film. But the weakest is Sergeant Rutledge, and Cheyenne Autumn isn't that interesting either.

Apart from the superfluous woman role the Holden character in Horse Soldiers hasn't much to do either, and would have worked better in the film's context as a supporting character, but with Holden on board the script is hopelessly seeking for more importance for his role.

[stanton]

The John Ford western entertainometer:

1. Wagonmaster  10/10
2. My Darling Clementine  9/10
3. Fort Apache  9
4. The Searchers  9

5. Stagecoach  8

6. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance  7
7. 3 Bad Men  7
8. 3 Godfathers  7
9. The Iron Horse  7
10. The Horse Soldiers  7
11. Drums Along the Mohawk  7
12. Straight Shooting
13. She Wore a Yellow Ribbon  7
14. Two Rode Together  7

15. Cheyenne Autumn  6
16. Rio Grande  6
17. Sergeant Rutledge  5

[dave jenkins]

The John Ford western entertainometer:

1. Wagonmaster  10/10
2. My Darling Clementine  9/10
3. Fort Apache  9
4. The Searchers  9

5. Stagecoach  8

6. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance  7
7. 3 Bad Men  7
8. 3 Godfathers  7
9. The Iron Horse  7
10. The Horse Soldiers  7
11. Drums Along the Mohawk  7
12. Straight Shooting
13. She Wore a Yellow Ribbon  7
14. Two Rode Together  7

15. Cheyenne Autumn  6
16. Rio Grande  6
17. Sergeant Rutledge  5

This is pretty good. Yellow Ribbon should go higher and The Searchers lower, but otherwise, this seems right. Maybe Cheyenne Autumn should be on the bottom (I really hate that one).

[T.H.]

The Searchers (1956) A++
My Darling Clementine (1946) A+
Stagecoach (1939) A+
Wagon Master (1950) A-

3 Godfathers (1948) B+
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949) B
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) B

Fort Apache (1948) C+
Drums Along the Mohawk (1939) C+
Rio Grande (1950) C
Sergeant Rutledge (1960) C
Two Rode Together (1961) C
The Horse Soldiers (1959) C
Cheyenne Autumn (1964) C-