Main Cast: John Wayne, William Holden, Constance Towers, Althea Gibson, Hoot Gibson
Release Year: 1959
Country: US
Run Time: 114 minutes
Plot
Based on an actual Civil War mission, Colonel Marlowe (John Wayne) and Major Kendall (William Holden) are ordered by General Grant to take three regiments 300 miles into enemy territory. They must destroy the railroad line between Newton Station and Vicksburg in hopes of choking off supplies to the South. Marlowe encounters a Southern belle loyal to the enemy, and keeps her in sight throughout the journey so she can't warn the Confederates. Kendall, a Northern surgeon, and the crusty Marlowe have their differences along the way. Action, romance and gory battlefield surgery accompany the army as the mission is completed. John Ford directed this film based on a novel by Harold Sinclair. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
Review
John Ford's only film to center around the Civil War, The Horse Soldiers overcomes a number of flaws to emerge as a solid, often exciting, movie that just misses being top-drawer Ford. Of course, even lesser Ford is still better than most movies, and Horse has plenty going for it. It has that distinctive Ford look, and William Clothier's cinematography is nothing short of stunning; several shots practically cry out to be framed and placed upon the wall, and the fluidity of the action sequences adds to the film's energy and drive. John Wayne delivers his usual strong, solid performance; it's not necessarily acting of a high order, but it provides the kind of brawny anchor that the film requires. It also gives William Holden's humane doctor a foil to play off of, which he does quite effectively. Unfortunately, the screenplay doesn't develop these or any of the characters to the extent necessary, giving the film a superficial quality that blunts its effectiveness. That said, it does contain a number of moving and effective scenes, such as one in which a group of Southern children must go into battle. Constance Towers is another problem; she's attractive, but Ford fails to reign in her excessive and annoying performance. Despite its flaws, Horse manages to be an engrossing and exciting horse opera. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Frank Hotaling - Art Director, C. Frank Beetson, Jr. - Costume Designer, Ann Peck - Costume Designer, Frank Beetson, Jr. - Costume Designer, Ray Gosnell, Jr. - First Assistant Director, Wingate Smith - First Assistant Director, John Ford - Director, Jack Murray - Editor, David Buttolph - Composer (Music Score), Stan Jones - Songwriter, Webb Overlander - Makeup, William H. Clothier - Cinematographer, Allen K. Wood - Production Manager, John Lee Mahin - Producer, Martin Rackin - Producer, Victor A. Gangelin - Set Designer, Augie Lohman - Special Effects, Jack Solomon - Sound/Sound Designer, John Lee Mahin - Screenwriter, Martin Rackin - Screenwriter, Harold Sinclair - Book Author
The movie is based on the true story of Grierson's Raid and the climactic Battle of Newton's Station, led by Colonel Benjamin Grierson who, along with 1700 men, set out from northern Mississippi and rode several hundred miles behind enemy lines in April 1863 to cut the railroad between Newton's Station and Vicksburg, Mississippi. Grierson's raid was part of the Union campaign, culminating in the Battle of Vicksburg. The raid was as successful as it was daring, and remarkably bloodless. By attacking the Confederate-controlled railroad it upset the plans and troop deployments of Confederate General John C. Pemberton.
A Unioncavalry brigade, led by Colonel John Marlowe (John Wayne), is sent on a raid behind Confederate lines to destroy a railroad and supply depot at Newton Station. Ironically, before the war, Marlowe had been a railroad building engineer. With the troop is a new regimental surgeon, Major Henry Kendall (William Holden) who seems to be constantly at odds with his commander. Kendall is torn between the duty and the horror of war.
Complicating matters, while the unit rests at Greenbriar Plantation, Miss Hannah Hunter (Constance Towers), the plantation's mistress, and her slave Lukey (Althea Gibson) eavesdrop on a staff meeting wherein Marlowe discusses his plans. To protect the mission, Marlowe is forced to take the two women with him. Initially hostile to her Yankee captor, Miss Hunter gradually warms to him.
Several battles later, with Confederate forces in pursuit, Dr. Kendall is forced to choose between remaining behind with some badly wounded men (and being captured with them), or leaving the men without medical care until the Confederates arrive. Marlowe and the remainder of his troop escape back to Northern lines.
The Horse Soldiers was filmed on location in Louisiana and in and around Natchez, Mississippi. John Ford cut the film's climactic battle scene short when Fred Kennedy, a veteran stuntman and bit player, was killed in a horse fall. Ford was so upset he closed the set and had to film the rest of the scene later in the San Fernando Valley. The scene with the fatal fall remains in the film.[citation needed]
