{"id":82709,"date":"2022-04-03T15:46:16","date_gmt":"2022-04-03T22:46:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=82709"},"modified":"2022-04-03T15:52:18","modified_gmt":"2022-04-03T22:52:18","slug":"horse-soldiers-the-1959","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=82709","title":{"rendered":"Horse Soldiers, The (1959)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;War isn&#8217;t exactly a civilized business.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Poster-194x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"194\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-82710\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Poster-194x300.png 194w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Poster-83x128.png 83w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Poster-174x270.png 174w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Poster.png 537w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 194px) 100vw, 194px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nDuring the Civil War, a cavalry brigade led by Col. Marlowe (John Wayne) is sent behind Confederate lines to destroy a railroad, accompanied by a surgeon (William Holden) who Marlowe has issues with. When the unit stops at a plantation owned by Miss Hunter (Constance Towers), she and her slave Lukey (Althea Gibson) are caught spying and taken along as prisoners during the rest of the raid.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cavalry<\/li>\n<li>Civil War<\/li>\n<li>Deep South<\/li>\n<li>Doctors and Nurses<\/li>\n<li>John Ford Films<\/li>\n<li>John Wayne Films<\/li>\n<li>Westerns<\/li>\n<li>William Holden Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nLoosely based on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.historynet.com\/griersons-raid-during-the-vicksburg-campaign\/?f\">Grierson&#8217;s Raid<\/a> during the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War, this wartime-western by director John Ford gave John Wayne and William Holden their sole opportunity to co-star in a feature &#8212; and is notable for a brief (albeit interrupted) fist fight between the two when they try to &#8220;duke it out&#8221; (sorry, couldn&#8217;t resist that one).<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Duke-it-Out2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Duke-it-Out2-1024x612.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"383\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-82714\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Duke-it-Out2-1024x612.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Duke-it-Out2-300x179.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Duke-it-Out2-128x76.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Duke-it-Out2-768x459.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Duke-it-Out2-452x270.png 452w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Duke-it-Out2.png 1113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s also noteworthy for featuring color-line-breaking tennis star <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Althea_Gibson\">Althea Gibson<\/a> as Towers&#8217; slave Lukey: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Eavesdropping.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Eavesdropping-1024x608.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"380\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-82715\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Eavesdropping-1024x608.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Eavesdropping-300x178.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Eavesdropping-128x76.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Eavesdropping-768x456.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Eavesdropping-455x270.png 455w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Eavesdropping.png 1132w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and for affording Towers &#8212; probably best known by film fanatics for her starring roles in Sam Fuller&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=27388\"><em>Shock Corridor<\/em> (1963)<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=27426\"><em>The Naked Kiss<\/em> (1964)<\/a> &#8212; her breakthrough leading role. Ford&#8217;s direction and cinematography (with support from DP William Clothier) is as top-notch as always: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Still5.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Still5-1024x608.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"380\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-82717\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Still5-1024x608.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Still5-300x178.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Still5-128x76.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Still5-768x456.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Still5-455x270.png 455w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Still5.png 1113w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; but the storyline isn&#8217;t particularly memorable (other than showing us how very, very young &#8212; or old &#8212; so many Confederate soldiers were). <\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> Watch for Anna Lee in a bit part as a Confederate mom desperate for her young son to stay behind when the only &#8220;men&#8221; left in town are sent to fight. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Anna-Lee.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Anna-Lee-1024x611.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"382\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-82712\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Anna-Lee-1024x611.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Anna-Lee-300x179.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Anna-Lee-128x76.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Anna-Lee-768x458.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Anna-Lee-452x270.png 452w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Anna-Lee.png 1121w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Fine direction and cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Still4.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Still4-1024x613.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"383\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-82718\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Still4-1024x613.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Still4-300x179.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Still4-128x77.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Still4-768x459.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Still4-451x270.png 451w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Still4.png 1105w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Cinematography-1024x595.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"372\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-82719\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Cinematography-1024x595.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Cinematography-300x174.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Cinematography-128x74.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Cinematography-768x446.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Cinematography-464x270.png 464w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Cinematography.png 1137w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Mirror.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Mirror-1024x602.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"376\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-82722\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Mirror-1024x602.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Mirror-300x176.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Mirror-128x75.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Mirror-768x452.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Mirror-459x270.png 459w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Horse-Soldiers-Mirror.png 1127w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, though it&#8217;s worth a look. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0052902\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s268horse.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/3658\/the-horse-soldiers#articles-reviews?articleId=30040\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;War isn&#8217;t exactly a civilized business.&#8221; Synopsis: During the Civil War, a cavalry brigade led by Col. Marlowe (John Wayne) is sent behind Confederate lines to destroy a railroad, accompanied by a surgeon (William Holden) who Marlowe has issues with. When the unit stops at a plantation owned by Miss Hunter (Constance Towers), she and her slave Lukey (Althea Gibson) are caught spying and taken along as prisoners during the rest of the raid. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Cavalry&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=82709\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-82709","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82709","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=82709"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82709\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":82733,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/82709\/revisions\/82733"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=82709"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=82709"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=82709"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}