The Horse Soldiers (1959) Reviews

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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, Rovi

Starring:: John Wayne, William Holden, (more)

Director(s):: John Ford

Format(s):: DVD | Digital SD
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(5 member reviews)

Member Reviews

	Thomas B.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

The Horse Soldiers is another John Ford cavalry film. This time John Wayne must lead Union troops from Tennessee to Newton Center to destroy the South's main railroad supply route to Vicksburg followed up by a 300 miles journey through the deep South to Baton Rouge to escape.. This movie, in color, is based on true events. Although there are several battles with Confederate troops the main antagonists in this picture are William Holden and Constance Towers. We learn that Wayne has a bitter distrust of doctors and Holden plays a Union doctor who treatments of the injured are constantly slowing down Wayne's march. Towers is a Southern belle who learns of Wayne escape route. He must therefore force her to accompany the troops on the their long journey. This is not one of John Ford's best pictures but it certainly will appeal to John Wayne fans and civil war buffs who do not mind a lot of fiction tossed in with some history.