Review of The Horse Soldiers (1959) by David F — 28 Feb 2014

I had a hard time finishing this film which didn't do justice to the magnificent acting talents of William Holden. The plot involving a Union detachment heading south into Mississippi during the Civil War could have provided tension, excitement and thrills but instead it falls flat at every turn.

Plus there's a love story involving a plantation dwelling woman who's brought along with the army that just made no sense at all. John Wayne struts about and the production values are quite high but script, ideas, invention, coherence, all are lacking.

For a while there is a growing conflict between the commanding officer played by Wayne and the doctor played by Holden over priorities and policy but that, like everything else in this poor film, ends up going nowhere.