The Horse Soldiers [Blu-ray]

Director: John Ford

Overview

John Ford's Civil War-era docudrama stars John Wayne as John Marlowe, a Union colonel spearheading a group of saboteurs on a mission to destroy a Confederate railroad.

Product Details

Release Date:	06/14/2022
UPC:	0738329259167
Original Release:	1959
Rating:	NR
Language:	English
Time:	2:00:00
Sales rank:	14,700

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

William Holden	Maj. Henry Kendall
John Wayne	Col. John Marlowe
Constance Towers	Miss Hannah Hunter of Greenbriar
Althea Gibson	Lukey,Brown
Anna Lee	Mrs. Buford
Russell Simpson	Sheriff
Stan Jones	Gen. U.S. Grant
Carleton Young	Col. Jonathan Miles
Basil Ruysdael	Boys School Commandant
Willis Bouchey	Col. Phil Secord,Col. Phil Secord
Ken Curtis	Wilkie
O.Z. Whitehead	Hoppy Hopkins
Judson Pratt	Sgt. Maj. Kirby
Denver Pyle	Jagger Jo
Strother Martin	Virgil
Hank Worden	Deacon
Walter Reed	Union Officer
Jack Pennick	Sgt. Maj. Mitchell
Fred Graham	Union Scout
Chuck Hayward	Capt. Woodward
Charles Steel	Newton Station Bartender
Stuart Holmes	Train Passenger
Major Sam Harris	Confederate Major
Richard Cutting	Gen. Sherman,Gen. William T. Sherman
Bing Russell	Dunker
William Forrest	Gen. Steve Hurburt
Fred Kennedy	Cavalryman
William Henry	Confederate Lieutenant
William Leslie	Maj. Richard Gray
Ron Hagerthy	Bugler
Donald Foster	Dr. Marvin
Cliff Lyons	Sergeant
Jan Stine	Dying Man
Dan Borzage	Actor,Ned
Sarge Allen	Union Officer
Charles Seel	Newton Station Bartender
William Wellman Jr.	Bugler
David Buttolph	Composer
Duke Fishman	Prisoner at Newton
Michael Jeffers	Prisoner at Newton

Technical Credits

Martin Rackin

John Lee Mahin

Martin Rackin	Screenwriter,Producer
John Lee Mahin	Screenwriter,Producer
Augie Lohman	Special Effects
Walter Mirisch	Producer
Jim Burk	Stunts

Editorial Reviews

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.