People are voting emotionally.

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Union cavalry officer John Wayne leads his men through Confederate Mississippi hoping to reach Baton Rouge. Along the way, he has to deal with Rebel soldiers and spies, as well as clashing with doctor William Holden. While not one of director John Ford's best, this is an interesting movie for a few reasons. First it's a film about the cavalry's role in the Civil War, which is rarely discussed. Second, it takes place largely in Mississippi. Most Civil War movies that take place in the South generally focus on Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, etc. This is one of the few that I can think of to deal with the war in Mississippi. Third, this is John Ford's only Civil War film. He did direct a small segment of How the West Was Won that took place during the war and he certainly had many characters affected by their Civil War experiences in his westerns. But this is the only full movie of his that actually takes place during the war itself.Duke is fine. It's not one of his more memorable roles, though that's more the fault of the script than his performance. William Holden plays an army surgeon Duke is forced to take along with him. In all honesty, Holden's character seems completely tacked-on to the plot. He could've been removed entirely without upsetting the film much. It might have even improved it. Constance Towers is fun as a Southern belle the soldiers have to take with them on their march. At first she seems flighty but soon shows there's more to her. She also has one of the most provocative scenes from any Ford film, where she bends down in front of John Wayne with her cleavage exposed, offering him some chicken and saying "Would you like a leg or a breast?" She's probably the only standout in the film. It's not one of Ford's best. It's watchable and interesting enough, but also overlong and familiar in tone to other cavalry movies I've seen, despite the change in locale. Obviously Wayne and Ford buffs will want to check it out.

"The Horse Soldiers" is an average secret mission war movie about the Union cavalry. Principally, the casting of John Wayne and William Holden, who are at each other's throats throughout most of the action, is reason enough to watch William Clothier's gorgeously photographed American Civil War epic. "Fort Apache" director John Ford and his long-time lenser Clothier present the eponymous Union troops and occasional Confederate cavalry strung out in formation and skylined against horizon. As with most Ford films, the soldiers warble familiar war-time, folk songs to stress the difference in their nationality. This colorful adventure opus concerns Grierson's historic, 600-mile raid through central Mississippi on the eve of the siege of Vicksburg. Naturally, Wayne plays Colonel John Marlowe, a fictional alter ego of the real-life Colonel Benjamin Grierson, the gung-o leader of the Union Army who led a cavalry brigade on a hell-bent-for-leather foray from northern Mississippi down across the state to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Grierson's objective was to cut the railroads that provided supplies to Vicksburg on the western side of the state. Interestingly enough, Grierson was a music teacher in real-life before he suited up in Union blue. Comparably, Marlowe is a former railroad construction engineer who rose up the ranks of his profession by the sweat of his brow. Presumably, the author of the novel, Harold Sinclair, must have felt it would be far more appropriate for Marlowe to be a railroad man, since he was ordered to destroy a railroad and all the rolling stock. When the film unfolds, General Grant informs our protagonist that things aren't going well for the Union. Grant complains, "To put it mildly, with less men and less resources, the South has whipped us to a standstill." As sensational as the raid was, the action itself was virtually bloodless. The first skirmish with the Confederates occurs about 17 minutes into the raid, with a few of Marlowe's men ambushed. This disturbs Marlowe considerably because the ambush could mean that 'the cat is out of the bag' and every Confederate for miles around will know about this so-called secret mission. No Hollywood movie from the 1950s would be complete without the presence of a heroine. About ten minutes after the initial skirmish, the most memorable scene occurs when Colonel Marlowe and his command ride into Greenbriar Plantation. Plantation mistress Miss Hannah Hunter (Constance Towers of "Sergeant Rutledge") arranges a sumptuous repast of southern fried chicken for Marlowe and his officers. During this splendid meal, she offers Marlowe a chicken breast while she hovers above him with his low-cut dress revealing her magnificent breasts. Marlowe blushes in humiliation. The crafty Miss Hunter arranges matters so when Marlowe and his men confer over strategy, she and her maid Lukey (one-time-only-actress Althea Gibson) can eavesdrop. Again, Marlowe cannot afford to leave Miss Hunter behind, so she is forced to accompany them for the remainder of the raid. Not surprisingly, Miss Hunter makes a terrible nuisance of herself. She tries to escape on horseback at one point and her horse spills her in a swamp. Later, she tries to warn a cavalry patrol, but Kendall thwarts her, and she has to give her word of honor to Marlowe to refrain from such activities.The biggest action set-piece occurs about an hour into "The Horse Soldiers" when Marlowe and his command arrive at Newton Station and receive a surprise when a Confederate troop train trundles in and scores of soldiers pour out of the boxcars. Confederate Colonel Jonathan Miles (Carleton Young of "Reefer Madness") is a sneaky, one-armed officer who coordinates the attack and eventually charges down Newton's main street carrying the Stars and Stripes with his men behind. After they repulse the attacking Confederates, Marlowe's men rip up the railroad tracks and twists the rails into bowties. During the lull in the action, we learn the source of Marlowe's rage against Kendall because two surgeons cut into Marlowe's wife in search of a tumor that they never found. When Marlowe's men aren't torching the railroad ties, they are sending contraband cotton up in smoke. In a last ditch effort, the Confederates assemble cadets from a nearby military academy to coordinate with a cannon battery. This takes place when Marlowe and Kendall tangle for a knuckle-buster in the middle of the woods. Rather than ride against the cadets, Marlowe and his men skedaddle away from them after they cadet give them a volley or two. Naturally, forty miles from their Baton Rouge objective, Marlowe and is command encounter Confederates at a wooden bridge. After Marlowe is wounded in the leg, he leads a charge across the bridge and routes the Confederates. For the record, Marlowe and Hunter fall in love, and Kendall remains behind after the bridge is blown up to tend the wounded. Whatever "The Horse Soldiers" lacks in spectacular action, it struggles to compensate with the friction between Wayne and Holden. Major Henry Kendall, William Holden brings his liberal sensibilities to the fore as the Union surgeon to plies his trade and vents his wrath at the stalwart Marlowe. Despite William H. Clothier impressive cinematography and robust performances by a seasoned cast, the story is just a little too humdrum. Nevertheless, mediocre John Ford is better than no John Ford.

John Ford dismissed this movie but in vain, this is a very decent work, a very dynamic and even humorous take on Civil War. John Wayne did a very good job here as Colonel Marlowe, and his performance is very deep, convincing,often wild, often touching. This is not his best work, as say, in The Longest Day, but still, John did a very candid work in here. Another highlight is William Holden as a military medic Henry Kendall - his play here is one of the real crowning achievements of the whole movie. I was surprised to learn that John Ford somehow rued the work, as the movie is really very enjoyable, a good and healthy combination of war and romance, espionage and cowardice, hate and compassion. The battle scenes are incredibly fine, too, the Confederate Railroad station attack is deeply moving and worth Maxwell's grandeur. Watch this movie and you won't be really disappointed, this take on the War is good, honest and rather dry, but realistic

Based on the true-life of Col. Benjamin H. Grierson and a real incident during American Civil War ; it deals with a Union Cavalry army is sent behind confederate lines in strength to destroy a rail/supply post. Along with them is sent a pacifist medic (William Holden, the producers originally wanted Clark Gable for the leading role) who causes instant antipathy between him and the commander-in-chief (John Wayne). As Union Colonel leads sabotage party deep into rebel territory and carries out attacks ans contra-attacks , being accompanied by the doctor who heals wounded people . The secret plan for the mission is overheard by a southern woman (Constance Towers) who must be taken along to assure her silence . The actual deeds are the followings : In the Spring of 1863, Grierson left bases in northern Mississippi, taking 1,700 troopers with him. The film is based on the true raid by Col. Benjamin Grierson who, as shown in the movie, began his expedition--known as Grierson's Raid--from LeGrange, Tennessee, in April of 1863. Grierson "drove through central Mississippi, tearing up railroads and upsetting Confederate General Pemberton's troop deployments before reaching Union-held Baton Rouge.This is the following to trilogy cavalry : ¨She Wore a Yellow Ribbon , Rio Grande , Fort Apache¨ , and including glorification of military life , drama , love and sentimental nostalgia with interesting character studio of a varied assortment of individuals . It was considered a minor job , however this classic picture nowadays ranks as one of the best of John Ford's work . It contains Ford's usual themes as good feeling , a little bit of enjoyable humor , friendship and and sense of comradeship among people . Interesting screenplay portraying in depth characters and brooding events with interesting issues running beneath script surface . Spectacular scenes as when the Confederate troops spontaneously attack the town in its last stand and when takes place the final confrontation on the besieged location , surrounding the bridge . The film marked the beginning of mega-deals for Hollywood stars , as John Wayne and William Holden received $775,000 each, plus 20% of the overall profits, an unheard-of sum for that time . The film , however , was a financial failure, with no profits to be shared in the end. Excellent film featuring a magnificent performance by whole casting . Awesome John Wayne in a larger-than-life character along with William Holden. Enticing and intimate Constance Towers in an enjoyable role , giving a sensational acting . Agreeable co-starring cast, as in the movie appears all habitual Ford's friends as Hoot Gibson as Sgt. Brown , Ken Curtis as Cpl. Wilkie , Willis Bouchey as Col. Phil Secord ,Hank Worden as Deacon and Strother Martin as Virgil . Good cinematography by William H. Clothier , John Ford's usual , reflecting splendidly marvelous outdoors .Vivid score by David Buttolph and including an emotive military parade of the boys academy .The movie was stunningly written and produced by John Lee Mahin and Martin Rackin ; of course , magnificently filmed by Ford , being John Ford's only feature film set during the Civil War, although he did direct a segment of ¨How the West Was Won¨ that was set during the Civil War . Director Ford suggested the scene with the boys' military academy, and according to the producers, he ad-libbed it . Rating : Better than average worthwhile watching .