The Glory Guys (1965) User Reviews (23)

Some things never die do they Harrod?

[hitchcockthelegend · 6/10 · 6 April 2011]

The Glory Guys is directed by Arnold Laven and written by Sam Peckinpah who adapts from the Hoffman Birney novel, The Dice of God. It stars Tom Tryon, Harve Presnell, Senta Berger, James Caan, Andrew Duggan, Slim Pickens and Michael Anderson Jr. It's shot in Panavision with colour by Deluxe, with James Wong Howe the photographer, and music is scored by Riz Ortolani.

The Glory Guys are young recruits to the 3rd Regiment of the United States Cavalry, film follows them as they live and love thru their initial training and onwards to impending war with the Indians. They be at the mercy of a warmongering general, their passions and fate, cruel avoidable fate.

It's one of those War Westerns that cried out for some quality actors to tell the tale. For the story is a great one, no doubt inspired by the Custer legend from Battle of Little Big Horn, the scenery (Durango, Mexico) is first rate and the score is suitably perky and rousing: with the title song tremendous in its power. There's even some terrific action, especially for the major battle in the last quarter, where the use of 100's of extras provides excitement as the bloody carnage convincingly unfolds. But getting to that last third in the company of wooden lead actors is not that easy to do, Pickens, Duggan and Caan aside (tho Caan's Irish accent fluctuates), the principal actors are unable to put real urgency into the drama. Laven's pacing is questionable too, but the director comes out in credit because his final flourish, the battle construction, really is worth the wait. But one can't help wondering what Peckinpah in his pomp could have done with his own script.

A very mixed bag when put under scrutiny, but with a glorious and potent final third bringing it to closure, The Glory Guys is safely recommended to fans of the Custer legend, and indeed, fans of film's like Major Dundee & Fort Apache. 6.5/10

A replaced Sam Peckinpah Cavalry Western!

[lostinaction · 7/10 · 31 December 2008]

GLORY GUYS is a beautifully photographed Cavalry Western. The Story reminds a lot on John Ford's "Fort Apache". Like in John Fords Masterpiece Glory Guys retells the battle on Little Big Horn but with fictional names and changed locations. Like in Fort Apache the audience see the life in the Fort and the training of the young soldiers. All the Military Aspects and the battle at the end are really a joy to watch. There is another TV- Soap storyline too in that movie. A Woman named Lou Woddard played by the gorgeous Austrian Actress Senta Berger has a love liaison with two men: a Captain Demas Harrod (Tom Tyron) and the scout Sol Rogers (Harve Persnell). Lou Woddard is a very attractive and self confident woman and it's no wonder that two hard guys are fighting for her. Next to this Soap plot line there are some comedy elements with the young recruits. As one of the young soldiers we see a young and good James Caan. So before the battle starts you see a lightweight movie. The battle itself is really amazing and I have to say one of the best Indians against Cavalry Battles ever seen. The Movie is wonderful photographed by James Wong Howe and the Music Score by Riz Ortolani is good too. James Wong Howe was also the photographer for Hud, The Old Man and the See, Funny Lady and many others. Italian Composer Riz Ortolani is still a very active composer mostly for European Productions. Not to forget the realistic looking design and equipment. The Movie is very beautiful and a joy to watch.

The Scriptwriter is by nobody else than Sam Peckinpah after the novel of Hoffman Birney and he did some directing too but was replaced later by Arnold Laven. So he is not credited as Director. No wonder this movie has some similarities to Major Dundee. Maybe because of the change of the Director GLORY GUYS have some flaws in the directing style. Next to the training of the recruits and the Love Story there is another Plot line in Glory Guys too: Capt. Harrod has a troubled past with his commanding officer General McCabe. McCabe should represent General Custer and as in the real Battle of Little Big Horn McCabe is making a some mistakes. Andrew Duggan is doing a good job as McCabe but his role is underused in this Movie. IMO the story should have focused more on the McCabe/ Harrod relation and the Military Aspects as on the Love Story.

GLORY GUYS is a beautiful and very rare movie. It reminded me a lot on the John Ford Cavalry Western and all the other older Cavalry Movies like "They died with their boots on". Because this Movie includes Aspects of War many would believe in a connection to the Vietnam War. I'm not sure about it and wouldn't say Glory Guys wants to make a statement about it. The Indians are like invisible but very scary enemies. The Soldiers and Officers are just following Orders even if these orders are stupid and would cause their deaths. I liked that they tried to show that even in that period how Soldiers are trying to survive in such a conflict. If you see this movie somewhere screening try to watch it.

What Might Have Been Had Peckinpah Directed It (But He Didn't)

[virek213 · 7/10 · 14 May 2015]

The story of how General George Armstrong Custer led his troops to their deaths at the Battle of Little Big Horn in 1876 is a textbook example of military megalomania writ large in American history, and clearly a story ripe for a budding writer, which is what Sam Peckinpah was in the 1950s, when, at the request of the production team of Arthur Gardner, Jules Levin, and Arnold Laven (for whom he would create the legendary TV western series "The Rifleman"), he was commissioned to write the screenplay for Hoffman Birney's novel "The Dice Of God", loosely based on the Custer story, and which was to become the basis for THE GLORY GUYS. But by the time the story went behind the cameras in mid-1964, Peckinpah, due to the fury that he had caused in Hollywood with the extreme production conflicts on MAJOR DUNDEE, was about to be virtually blackballed from Hollywood. And while the end result is nowhere near a terrible product, one has to wonder just how much further this film would have gone had Peckinpah been given the opportunity to direct his own script, which he in fact never did, contrary to what has been reported here at the Internet Movie Database (I for one would like to see corroborating evidence of that claim that he directed even a small part of it).

Even in the finished film, there are themes Peckinpah had broached upon that are still there--the conflict between two men (Harve Presnell; Tom Tryon) and their commanding officer, a steely-eyed, almost dictatorial Cavalry commander (Andrew Duggan) out to put the Sioux in their place. As this kind of scenario had loosely played itself out in MAJOR DUNDEE, however, Laven, who directed the film, seemed to shift the film away from this critical look at personal and military obsession to the love triangle between Tryon, Presnell, and a pioneer woman (Senta Berger, returning from MAJOR DUNDEE) at their fort. It was a point that Peckinpah strongly (and unsurprisingly) found highly disagreeable, since his focus was on the near-fundamentalist behavior of Duggan's character. In the meantime, Laven does stage plenty of good action scenes, including the attack on the Sioux, but they don't have the kind of raw (let alone bloody) energy that Peckinpah would have bought to them, and the editing of these scenes, while more than competent, isn't quite up to what was even done in the action scenes of the unfairly butchered DUNDEE.

Still, it's hard to say too many bad things about a film that is still as far removed from the old John Ford/John Wayne cavalry films as MAJOR DUNDEE had been; and Tryon and Presnell are extremely competent in their roles (though rumor has it that Lee Marvin and James Coburn were both considered first, before salary conflicts forced Laven to settle for the other two). There are also early roles for James Caan as an Irish-born cavalryman; and Wayne Rogers, later to star in the long-running TV series M*A*S*H, as another cavalry officer. Slim Pickens, who is never anything less than memorable, also does a good turn as one of the members of the cavalry. Perhaps the best thing about THE GLORY GUYS, besides those moments when the film lays Duggan's military megalomania bare, is the superb cinematography, most of it done on location near Durango, Mexico, of James Wong Howe, who had won an Oscar in 1963 for HUD.

All in all, THE GLORY GUYS does hold up as an extremely competent film. But it still leaves one to wonder just how much further up the ladder of quality sagebrush film making it would have gone had Peckinpah been the one in the director's chair, as opposed to the more workmanlike direction of Laven. One can, unfortunately, only speculate.

A decent Western film

[dabumster · 6/10 · 18 July 2008]

I cringed when the opening credits started and some horrible song invaded my ear drums, but then things got better and I was pleasantly surprised while watching this film in its widescreen version. The acting was very good, the Calvary life on a dusty western post was well depicted, and the direction, albeit cheesy in some of chivalry scenes between the two leading men and typical bar fights of the genre, was pretty good considering the simple and predictable plot line.

I think James Caan's part of Pvt. Anthony Dugan was well acted and gives us a hint to his impending stardom. Beautiful Senta Berger was just okay in her part of Lou Woddard but there wasn't much for her to do except officiate the battle between Tom Tryon and Harve Presnell for her hand. The other parts weren't that special either but what made the film play out well in my eyes was the appearance of authenticity of a western Calvary company. From the initial gathering of a bunch of green troops through their training and drilling, and complaining, to the final well oiled product that had at least a fighting chance of survival in a big campaign against the Indians.

I would recommend this film for those who like westerns and give it 6.5 stars out of 10.

Great western with Sam Peckinbaugh's touch

[kidsrock101 · 7/10 · 15 September 2010]

I originally saw this movie back in 1965 when it first came out and I have always had fond memories of it . It is definitely not as substantial as Wild Bunch, Sam P's masterpiece western, but it is an intelligent movie that builds great characters who make up the film.

Tom Tryon is good as the maverick Captain who worries more about the lives and survival of his men then the prime directive of the General, played in his great evil fashion by Andrew Duggan. Harve Presnell,as Sol the scout makes a good foil for Tryon as they compete for the love interest,the widow Woodward, played by Senta Berger The standout characters to me are Slim Pickens as the long-suffering sergeant who must mold the misfits into a fighting troop, and a very young, brash James Caan as Dugan, the Irish ne'er do well, who becomes a soldier after all.

Because of the time period the Indians are pretty one dimensional and uniform, unlike later movie representations like Little Big Man, but they do pull off clever fighting tactics and the hand to hand combat is fierce for its day.

Like later war movies, the enemy is often the high brass or the law, just as much as the opposing forces.

I could only find this movie in VHS, so I recorded it on my DVD recorder so I could keep it for posterity.

A gripping and moving Cavalry/Indian Western with glimmering colour cinematography and spectacular scenes

[ma-cortes · 7/10 · 15 September 2018]

Nice example of the Cavalry and Indians from the sixties, it is full of action, thrills, emotion and good characterization. It is set during the Sioux war in which the third US cavalry regiment under command of the stiff and egoistic General Frederick: Andrew Duggan, is recruiting new soldiers for the upcoming battle against Indians. Captain Harrod, Tom Tryon, is in charge of the naive troops. He is also in love with Lou Woodard, Senta Berger, who equally is in love with a frontier scout, Sol Rogers : Harve Pesnell, as she claims to be attracted to both suitors. Rogers exudes the quiet authority and natural casual humor that makes one instantly identify with him . Both rivals go into conflict that often times finishing into brawls and fist fights. As both of whom battle each other for the same woman.

Good Western , one of the best of the 60s , with plenty of noisy action, colour, military parades, impressive soldier charges, and firm characterization . This is a tale about Cavalry as a master rather than about individual people .Stars the tough Tom Tryon well accompanied by the gorgeous Senta Berger and the sympathetic Harve Pesnell. There are well-grafted support cast with interesting portrayals from the rugged James Caan as a garrulous Irishman , the ruthless and proud General Andrew Duggan , Slim Pickens who gives a magnetically sincere acting , Peter Breck, Wayne Rogers, Claudio Brook, Jeanne Cooper, Walter Scott , Michael Forest, and Michael Anderson Jr as a very young private , among others .

Brilliant and colorful cinematography by expert veteran James Wong Howe. Rousing and gutsy musical score by the Italian Riz Ortalani, including enjoyable leitmoti. Screenplay by prestigious Sam Peckinpah, Sam not only wrote the original script but he partially directed but he was subsequently replaced by Laven. Sam directed the best Westerns of the sixties such as Wild Bunch , Bring me the head of Alfredo Garcia, Ride the high county, Deadly companions , Ballad of Cable Hogue and Major Dundee that bears remarkable resemblance to this one, in fact , Peckinpah used at least 3 actors as Senta Berger, Slim Pickens, Michael Anderson and both of them were shot around the same time. Lavishly produced by Jules V Levy, Arthur Gardner, Arnol Laven. When they were discharged from wwII resolved that they would start their own production company, the first was a Thriller titled Without warning. In the decades since they have produced dozens of additional features and several Tv series. As Arnold Laven has produced or directed a lot of Tv films such as Rifle man, Law of the Plainsman, Detectives , The big valley, A Team, Hunter, Mike Hammer, Hill street blues, Chips, Back to the planet of the apes, Alfred Hitchcock presents, Dan August , Dog and cat. Laven also directed some movies such as Vice squad, The rack and this Glory guys.

Lots to offer in top Western

[drystyx · 7/10 · 26 September 2015]

For the time being, this is a hidden gem of a Western.

Most of you probably already know that there are some big name actors in this, and some that would be big names later. Also, you probably already know the Custer scenario here.

Perhaps the most obvious aspect of this Western is that the lead character is the stoniest of the lot. It's not uncommon for directors and producers to use the most gifted thespians around a stoic "observer" character. Usually, it's a well motivated character who observes and reacts. That's what happens here.

The romance story here is very well developed. Personally, I didn't care for the macho bravado Hollywood rivalry of the two men, but the rival's charisma overcomes that, as well as the heroine's beauty.

This isn't a puzzler. You'll guess the fates of every character from the onset. If there's one that may be up in the air, it's Slim Pickens, so I'll leave you to question his fate.

There's lots to like in this action packed cavalry film, and I won't spoil it any more.

Rather Silly

[beezwax-42493 · 5/10 · 27 June 2022]

I watch tons of Westerns so am no snob to watching some B horse operas, which are often really good and entertaining. This picture was pretty boring and silly. It seemed older than a film from the mid-1960s. The fight scenes were over done and the love triangle seemed to go nowhere with no winner in sight. So I turned it off. The highlight of this movie was watching James Caan. His character nuances were superb and his acting so real and remarkable. It gave me a whole new appreciation for this budding actor from 1965.

Standard western, but with some unusual elements. A curiosity.

[norbert-plan-618-715813 · 7/10 · 18 March 2023]

These companions of glory are recruits of the Bluecoats who are quickly trained, because very quickly they will have to face the Sioux Indians in revolt. The film shows us the recruiting, the quick training, then the pursuit of the Amerindians and the massacres. The last sequences are quite spectacular, especially concerning the number of deaths.

The film is distinguished by the important presence of female elements, the woman courted by the commander, the fiancee of the scout, the wife of the general, or of some soldiers: the girls in the saloon or the one who treats the soldier. With Senta Berger in the lead, coveted by Tom Tryon and Herve Presnell. This does not necessarily give more density to the male characters, but to the group as a whole. Probably, because the screenwriter (Sam Peckinpah) knows what will happen to them when they confront the Sioux. Besides, the film does not have a main character, even if we follow Tom Tryon, but he is not really the main character: it is the group that is.

Even if it has the appearance of a serial western, it contains different elements that make it stand out. Not extremely brilliant, but still interesting.

Exceptional Acting, but Plot To Nowhere

[jon-890-677060 · 4/10 · 16 March 2020]

Having grown up on westerns, so far back that, many a time would one of us brothers, fall asleep, w our head, in our father's lap, only to be awaken once it was over & long past our bedtime.

So, now at the age of 57, it's a fairly safe assumption that, spotting a quality western, isn't all that difficult to do.

'The Glory Guys', is such a film, full of exceptional acting, and at least the makings of a storyline that, initially grabs one's attention.

But sad to say that, once the cavalry starts riding off into the sunset & the final credits, start rolling up the silver-screen, don't be alarmed, should the past (almost two-hour-film), leave some bewildered & perplexed, w regard, to the film's overall plot & loosey-goosey moral

Frankly, this film has to many exceptionally good actors that, bring their 'A' Game to the movie set & refuse to try & call in their performance

" If I might feel the warmth and light of the sun, just one more time "

[thinker1691 · 8/10 · 17 April 2009]

From the original script of director Sam Peckinpah, who first penned this rousing western tale of Calvary vs Indians arises this movie called " The Glory Guys ". Contrary to other films of the genre, this film allows the Native Americas to win an occasional battle. But other credits supplement it as well. The beautiful outdoors, the exciting bar-room brawl and the spacious land conflict called for by a good script. Within the story of myopic Gen. Frederick McCabe (Andrew Duggan) who seeks a glorious victory over the southwestern tribes at any price, is an inner one dealing with two men Capt. Demas Harrod (Tom Tyron) and Chief of Scouts Sol Rogers, (Harve Presnell) who love the same lovely woman named Louisa Woddard (Senta Berger). Although rivals, they bear a mutual respect for each other. Demas is an experienced officer carrying a bitter grudge against General McCabe who sacrifices his men without compunction. His main concern are his raw recruits who he feels deserve better than to be sacrificial fodder for the general. Rogers seeks to settle down, marry and become a farmer. Slim Pickens plays Sgt. James Gregory and rightly garners much praise for his convincing, steadfast role. James Caan and an equally young Wayne Rogers are impressive and complementary characters in the movie. Their fine acting and the film's dramatic action makes for excellent viewing. The musical score is patriotically stirring and further enhances the movie. Recommended for all interested viewers***

excellent film could have been better

[kevcoady · 7/10 · 24 April 2012]

whilst it is always a pleasure to see senta berger on screen the film takes too much time developing the love interest. however when it gets to the point of the relationship between duggan and tryon it improves tremendously there are 2 scenes which are superb. the passing in review with the forming of the parade order is a classic and the charge by tryon and his troop chasing the decoy indians is one of the great spectacles of any western movie. historically it is very accurate especially the quest for water although factually the descent was down a 300 ft bluff.despite this being another take on custers last stand it compares very well to some of the other offerings

The Guys of Glory

[osloj · 5/10 · 29 March 2019]

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

*Plot and ending analyzed*

A near-tedious film about the "great" U. S. cavalry regiments attempting to fight the native American tribes. It spends most of its time in the town and barracks, with an idiotic side story plying two dumb oafs against some beautiful woman.

Most of the time is spent on idiotic chatter, oft-repeated brawls and military posturing. Unlikable recruits fill in the ranks of the unsympathetic characters. Especial to note is James Caan doing his awful impression of an Irishman. Slim Pickens, Andrew Duggan, and Wayne Rogers are just a few of the familiar faces.

The battle with the native American tribes is wholly preposterous, as it has them fill in the role of "cannon fodder" and nothing else. They charge rifles, sit on their horses and five of them get taken out by the aforementioned dumb oafs.

A stale and average Western.

They drink, they act macho, they punch, they die...all elements you expect in a Peckinpah film.

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 19 July 2022]

"The Glory Guys" was written by Sam Peckinpah and originally was to be directed by him. However, for some reason I am not aware of, the film was instead directed by Arnold Laven.

The story is a fictionalized version of the events leading up to the massacre of US Cavalry men at the Battle of Little Bighorn. However, inexplicably, the names have all been changed...which is odd since it is based on a real event.

One of the fictionalized portions concerns the rivalry between an officer and a scout over a widow....and it makes up much of the film. For the most part, I wasn't thrilled with this because it seemed overly macho...with lots of punching, breaking things and the like. The portions of the story AFTER this were much better...less histrionic and more factual.

So is this any good? Yes, though as I stated above, I have no idea why names were changed and there is no mention of General Custer! The bad choices Custer made were in the film but are blamed on the fictional commander, Gen. Frederick McCabe. On the positive side, the music was great, the scope of the film lovely and the battle itself well handled. Worth seeing...but inexplicably fictionalized.

Solid under rated Peckinah penned Cavalry western

[info-5918 · 7/10 · 30 December 2021]

I watch a lot of westerns and was quite suprised to come across this Peckinpah western which I hadn't heard of.

It's certainly a pretty decent western, with the invovlement of big stars James Caab Slim Pickens, Michael Anderson and. Tom Tryon. The film takes a different tack in depicting a company training in the US cavalyr, from start to seeing combat. It covers the training aspects, drama around ego and disputes within the military. There is a romance sub plot which writers basically almost have to include, which isn't too bad but perhaps a bit obvious.

The film contains some of the best, and probably most realistic battle sequences. The plot and perhaps the choice of actors misses the mark a little bit, but I would definitely put this on the list of great cavalry westerns, along with "She wore a Yellow Ribbon" and "The Horse Soldiers".

Interesting to note, the movie basically revolves around the real life circumstances of Custer's last stand - it was originally meant to deal with the topic, but another movie covering Custer was released at the same time, so the characters names were changed to be fictitious.

A very underrated film worthy of note.

One of the absolute worst

[adxpitz · 3/10 · 19 September 2021]

If it wasn't for the big name actors, it would've been an unreleased piece. The storyline is boring, the unneeded triple thread romance is jaded and the action scenes are abominable.

This is actually two movies combined into one film

[jtsingleton · 8/10 · 3 October 2005]

This movie combines a reasonably good movie and a mediocre one in the same film. On the surface, it is an average 1960's vintage western involving the US Cavalry, Indians, saloon fights, one woman loved by two men, etc. However, on a second level, the backdrop of the movie is actually a fairly accurate depiction of the 1876 campaign against the Sioux which resulted in the defeat of Custer at the Little Big Horn. Even though the movie characters are given fictitious names (i.e. Gen. Frederick McCabe rather than Col George Custer), and is presented as a fictional story, the basic facts of the campaign were accurately re-created.

Some artistic license was taken, for example, the real scout was killed in the river crossing after the initial attack and not by going to fill water canteens. The trek to the river to get water was done by enlisted volunteers during darkness for which they were awarded the Medal of Honor. The main character of the movie, Capt Harrod, is actually a composite of several officers under Custer's command, including Capt Benteen who effectively took command of the defense of the ridge when the ranking officer, Maj Reno became too rattled to command decisively.

So, for people who are interested in Custer and the battle of the Little Big Horn, this is one of the better movies made on the subject even though actual names and places have been changed.

Good Cavalry Western

[bkoganbing · 8/10 · 20 November 2010]

Although producer Arnold Laven got the directorial credit he did this film along the lines laid out by Sam Peckinpah who wrote the script and started directing the film. The usual 'creative differences' were the official reason given for Peckinpah leaving the film, but more than likely it had something to do with Sam's undisciplined nature.

The Glory Guys is a wonderful cavalry western with a plot borrowed partially from Fort Apache and part from the story in the Bible about David, Bathsheba, and Uriah the Hittite. Uriah in this case is Captain Tom Tryon and not because of jealousy, but because of his lust for glory and medals, General Andrew Duggan has decided that a troop of raw recruits is to be the Judas Goat led to the slaughter, a troop which Tryon commands and has a month to whip in some kind of shape so they can have a fighting chance against the Sioux.

Fort Apache itself is a southwestern version of the Custer and the Little Big Horn story and The Glory Guys takes much of its tone about the camaraderie of the soldiers from those Ford westerns. The characters you see played by Slim Pickens, Michael Anderson, Jr., and James Caan could easily have been found at and in Fort Apache.

Romance is a rough thing at this army post as Tryon and scout Harve Presnell have a nice rivalry going for Senta Berger. But when it comes to the business of the cavalry, these two bury the hatchet lest an Sioux hatchet be buried in them.

Without the presence of some big box office stars The Glory Guys tends to get overlooked. But if you see it broadcast, don't you overlook it.

Great Cavalry Western

[Mark Marcon · 9/10 · 19 January 2006]

Great acting and based on the Custer debacle. Peckinpah does a great job with little blood and gore but great scenes of combat. I note that a viewer says he saw additional scenes so let me comment on that; I saw the movie at the drive-in my first time and the version currently on video from MGM/UA is complete. TV versions cut out one specific scene for extra commercials, the entire scene where the troop leaves the fort with no weapons and suffers a simulated Indian attack, with Duggan nearly strangling one acting Indian (about 12-15 min.)The only thing missing is the widescreen version as the video is P&S. I also saw the movie in France, dubbed in French in widescreen and the many off-screen elements show that this movie needs a WS release. Of note is the historical accuracy of the weapons and uniforms. WIDESCREEN please!

One of the most underrated of all Cavalry pictures

[MOscarbradley · 8/10 · 30 July 2020]

A number of people believe that if Sam Peckinpah had directed "The Glory Guys" it might have been a masterpiece. Instead we get a Peckinpah screenplay with the directing duties handed to the little known Arnold Laven and yet as it stands this is one of the finest of all Cavalry pictures even if not too many people have seen it. It's magnificently shot in widescreen by the great James Wong Howe though it's indifferently acted. None of the leads, (Tom Tryon, Harve Presnell, Senta Berger), have much charisma though it's always good to see James Caan, (with a dreadful Oirish accent) but there are sequences here as good as anything Ford or Peckinpah might have given us, be it a bar-room brawl, an Indian massacre or a beautifully sustained scene on a parade ground. Peckinpah was the original director but was replaced by Laven and by 1965 the Western was no longer as popular as it had been a decade or so earlier. This one is ripe for rediscovery.

Good Story Well Told

[kcterrell-25046 · 8/10 · 21 July 2018]

I have to read Birney's novel, which is a deeply layered story of the recruits of the 3rd Cavalry facing almost certain death trying to subdue the "renegades" remaining on the high plains. The romantic interests in the story add to the drama and the emotional attachment to each soldier. No doubt, General McCabe (Duggan) became the inspiration of Custer's "Little Big Man". Although filmed in 1966, it captures the elements of the 50s westerns with the political statements of the later 60's westerns, where the authority makes decisions not in the best of interests of their own men. So, it is also a bit of a 'tweener, linking the old westerns to the new. Every actor rode his own horse, there didn't seem to be an overuse of stunt men. You have to wonder in the old westerns whether one of the first question of an actor was "can you ride a horse". Because these were expert horsemen, the entire cast. The acting is more than adequate to pull of the difficult multi-layered story. Slim Pickens, in particular, is up to his par in this film, but more serious than in most. A good tale, well crafted by Peckinpagh, and well filmed on location.

Pretty good

[SanteeFats · 8/10 · 13 June 2014]

While this is another rip on Custer's stupidity at Little Big Horn it is very well done. Starting with the competition between an army scout and a cavalry captain for a widow woman. They go about it in a semi-civilized manner, only slugging it out once. Both go noble when it comes to the woman and each says he will bow out of the others way. During the fighting with the Indians the scout comes back to aid the captain and gets killed. So I guess the field is clear for the captain. Sent out as a diversion the captain's troop survives, with casualties of course but the glory hunting general (who pushed to get there a day early) and his entire command are wiped out. Coming across the slaughter field the troop sees the approaching column of troops that are arriving as scheduled, they form up and the film then ends. Does Tryon get the girl? Who is found culpable? Who gets hung out to dry?

A very good U.S. Cavalry western.

[elcoat · 9/10 · 2 April 2022]

The title put me off, but then when I saw Senta Berger in it ... :-) And it is astonishingly good. Tom Tryon was an excellent, convincing officer, and Slim Pickens an excellent first sergeant.

The love triangle reminded me of Thunder of Drums with George Hamilton, although this was more honorable. Senta's character obviously did not want to end up a farmer's wife.

James Caan certainly got a lot of screen time.

General McCabe would have been over-ranked. He would have been a full colonel at most.

But Army post life was well depicted as well as the hen party officers' wives, some of whom were to become widows.

As others have observed, excellent action scenes with the proper tactical doctrine shown for our troopers.

Indeed magnificent scenery.