Themes: Ranchers, Kidnapping, White People Among Indians
Main Cast: William Holden, Richard Widmark, Janice Rule, Patrick O'Neal, Victoria Shaw, Roger C. Carmel
Release Year: 1966
Country: US
Run Time: 116 minutes
MPAA Rating: NR
Plot
William Holden stars as Alvarez Kelly in this Civil War actioner. While transporting 5,000 head of cattle to the Union forces, Holden is captured by Confederate officer Richard Widmark. Threatened with instant execution if he doesn't cooperate, Holden sets about the train the raw rebel troops to become cattle drovers in order to transport the herd below the Mason-Dixon line. Widmark turns out to be the least of Holden's problems when he tries to negotiate the cattle through Indian territory. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Cattleman Alvarez Kelly (William Holden) is contracted to deliver a herd to the Union army in Virginia. However, as he nears the end of his long cattle drive, Kelly is kidnapped by Confederate raiders led by Colonel Tom Rossiter (Richard Widmark). The Confederacy desperately needs the beef to feed its soldiers besieged in Richmond.
Kelly is "persuaded" (after having one of his fingers shot off by Rossiter) to help steal the herd. For revenge, he arranges passage for Rossiter's discontented Southern belle fiancée, Liz Pickering (Janice Rule), on a blockade runner leaving the city. Despite the hatred between the two men, they manage to work together. Kelly first teaches Rossiter's men how to drive cattle. Then, they proceed to capture the herd, despite the efforts of Union officer Major Albert Stedman (Patrick O'Neal).
