or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
 
More Buying Choices
17 used & new from £2.75
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
The Horse Soldiers [DVD] [1960]
 
See larger image 
Share your own customer images

The Horse Soldiers [DVD] [1960]

DVD ~ John Wayne
3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
RRP: £12.99
Price: £4.98 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
You Save: £8.01 (62%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In stock.
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk. Gift-wrap available.

Want guaranteed delivery by Thursday, February 11? Choose Express delivery at checkout. See Details
15 new from £2.84 2 used from £2.75
Learn about Lovefilm
Amazon's choice for DVD rental.
With a 14 day FREE trial. Learn more

Frequently Bought Together

The Horse Soldiers [DVD] [1960] + Hondo [DVD] [1953] + War Wagon (John Wayne) [DVD] [1967]
Total RRP: £32.97
Price For All Three: £13.34

Show availability and delivery details

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

The Horse Soldiers [DVD] [1960]
83% buy the item featured on this page:
The Horse Soldiers [DVD] [1960] 3.9 out of 5 stars (7)
£4.98
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (John Wayne) [DVD] [1949]
5% buy
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (John Wayne) [DVD] [1949] 4.4 out of 5 stars (9)
£4.48
Fort Apache (John Wayne) [DVD] [1948]
4% buy
Fort Apache (John Wayne) [DVD] [1948] 3.4 out of 5 stars (7)
£4.48
The Searchers [1956] [DVD]
4% buy
The Searchers [1956] [DVD] 4.5 out of 5 stars (39)
£4.18
Explore similar items

Product details

  • Actors: John Wayne, William Holden, Constance Towers, Judson Pratt, Hoot Gibson
  • Directors: John Ford
  • Writers: John Lee Mahin, Martin Rackin, Harold Sinclair
  • Producers: John Lee Mahin, Martin Rackin
  • Format: PAL
  • Language English
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: PG
  • Studio: MGM Entertainment
  • DVD Release Date: 1 Mar 2004
  • Run Time: 115 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00015N588
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 10,514 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review

A crisp retelling of a true-life episode from the Civil War, The Horse Soldiers is a latter-day sorta-Western from John Ford, falling midway between The Searchers (1956) and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962). In 1863 a Union colonel named Grierson (Marlowe in the film, and John Wayne by any name) led his cavalry several hundred miles behind Confederate lines to cut the railway track between Newton Station and soon-to-be-embattled Vicksburg. Grierson's raid was as successful as it was daring, and remarkably bloodless. Never fear that the screenplay makes up for that un-Hollywood lapse--as well as supplying amatory distraction for the colonel in the form of a feisty Southern belle (Constance Towers) who has to be dragged along to protect secrecy.

There's a certain amount of bombast in the running arguments about wartime ethics between Marlowe and the new regimental surgeon (William Holden), who don't take to each other at all. But Ford more than makes up for it with such tasty scenes as an encounter with a couple of redneck Rebel deserters (Denver Pyle and Strother Martin), an ethereal swamp crossing led by a cornpone deacon (Hank Worden), and above all the famous skirmish with a hillside full of young cadets from a venerable military academy. The film ends rather abruptly because Ford abandoned a climactic battle scene--the veteran stunt man and bit player Fred Kennedy having been killed in a horse-fall. Golden-age cowboy star Hoot Gibson, who acted in Ford's directorial debut, Straight Shooting (1917), appears as Sergeant Brown. --Richard T. Jameson, Amazon.com

Synopsis

THE HORSE SOLDIERS, John Ford's only attempt at tackling the subject of the Civil War, is based on Grierson's Raid, part of the Union's assault on Vicksburg in April 1863. After a number of failed efforts at taking the Southern stronghold, Union leaders assign Col. John Marlowe (John Wayne), a railroad designer in civilian life, to lead a cavalry detachment to destroy a vital railroad hub at Newton Station, far behind Confederate lines. Marlowe's unit includes Major Kendall (William Holden), a cynical physician disgusted by the notion that there's glory in the carnage, and the politically ambitious Colonel Secord (Willis Bouchey). Marlowe temporarily appropriates the plantation of Southerner Hannah Hunter (Constance Towers) while in transit and is forced to take her along, in lieu of killing her, after she overhears his plans for Newton Station. As their journey continues, Marlowe realises that he is much more interested in Hannah than in her political sympathies. Wayne and Holden give gritty, soulful performances, and William Clothier's photography is outstanding in a film that delves beneath simplistic notions of heroism to reveal something more complicated, grisly, and real.

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

War Wagon (John Wayne) [DVD] [1967]

War Wagon (John Wayne) [DVD] [1967]

DVD ~ John Wayne
3.5 out of 5 stars (6)  £4.48
Comancheros, The / The Undefeated [DVD] [1961]

Comancheros, The / The Undefeated [DVD] [1961]

DVD ~ John Wayne
4.2 out of 5 stars (4)  £5.88
Chisum [DVD] [1970]

Chisum [DVD] [1970]

DVD ~ John Wayne
4.3 out of 5 stars (7)  £4.98
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (John Wayne) [DVD] [1949]

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (John Wayne) [DVD] [1949]

DVD ~ John Wayne
4.4 out of 5 stars (9)  £4.48
Fort Apache (John Wayne) [DVD] [1948]

Fort Apache (John Wayne) [DVD] [1948]

DVD ~ Henry Fonda
3.4 out of 5 stars (7)  £4.48
› Explore similar items

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 
(1)
(1)
Agree with these tags?

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags
 

Customer Reviews

7 Reviews
5 star:
 (2)
4 star:
 (4)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.9 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars John Ford's (slightly) flawed Civil War effort, 15 Jan 2009
By Kentspur - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)      

John Ford only made one film about the American Civil War; this 1959 offering which gives a fictionalised version of Colonel Benjamin Grierson's raid through the Western Confederacy during the Vicksburg Campaign of 1863.

John Wayne plays the Grierson character - called Marlowe in the film - while William Holden - in laconic good form - plays a doctor Marlowe (Grierson/Wayne) is forced to take with him down south.

Early on the raiders stop at the plantation of a Southern Belle - played by Constance Towers - who learns of their objectives and has to come along for the ride. Ms Towers - in a risque scene for the time - thrusts her impressive decolletage at Wayne and enquires whether he wants more breast or leg - chicken that is.

The three leads are fine and many of the famed 'John Ford Company' are working 'in the ranks,' but the film never achieves the granduer or urgency of the director's other three US Cavalry Westerns. Partly this is because the locations are not Monument Valley, but mostly, I feel, this is because this is NOT the US cavalry, but the Union cavalry. Hollywood Civil war films have an obvious problem; no bad guys. Sure the South were the baddies in historical reality - they're the ones with the slaves - but many of the audience watching this in 1960 were from Southern states, proud enough of their confederate heritage to have the Stars and Bars in the State flags. Hardly good for box office to paint them too badly.

With Indian westerns, however sympathetic you might be to native americans, the identification is going to be with cavalry for the overwhelmingly non-native american audience. This one isn't so clear cut.

As a result there are surprisingly few Civil War adventure films.

There are a number of excellent set pieces in this film; the attack by confederate troops jumping out of a train (which does kind of imply they are monumentally stupid - more concerned with the flag flying than shooting back) and the advance of military school kids against Wayne's veterans.

The plight of the black slaves is not really addressed, though Tennis star Althea Gibson got her acting run-out as the Southern Belle's ill-fated maid.

Holden, as stated, is pretty good. His tension with a doctor-hating Wayne is as ersatz as the coffee the Confederacy is left with, but he's laugh out loud funny on occassions. His little aside about 'southern people having their own help,' nodding at Ms Gibson is probably the best line in the film.

His quips are not as funny, however, as Wayne when he declares love for the Southern Belle - who has now seen the horror of war and is a better person (yawn) - right at the end. It's a real where-in-Hell-did-that-come-from moment.

This is not a Western classic, but it's well worth watching.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


 
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars not wayne and ford"s best but still excellent , 1 Feb 2008
By Graeme Scott "graemescott4" (edinburgh) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
The previous reviewer is being very unfair to this film.(sure it"s not as good as the searchers or the cavalry trilogy)but how many westerns are?. the film is based on a true event fom the spring of 1863 when a unit of union cavalry was sent behind confederate lines to destroy a vital rail depot.wayne and holden"s characters clash along the way while constance towers overhears the plan so has to be taken captive.the film is very enjoyable for western buffs,and how about ford"s cheyenne autumn starring richard widmark finally coming out on region 2 dvd?.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


 
4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars John Wayne and William Holden saddle up for this fact-based All-Action Horse Ride!, 30 Jun 2007
By Robert J. Evered - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
THE HORSE SOLDIERS (1959) directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne this is their penultimate Western together, sandwiched neatly between the vastly superior THE SEARCHERS (1956) and THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE (1962). Nevertheless this is fine film, which returns once again to Ford's beloved US Cavalry that was depicted so wonderfully in the so-called Cavalry Trilogy some ten or so years earlier.

This American Civil War story is based on a true successful incident in 1863 known as Grierson's Raid. General Ulysses S. Grant sent a brigade of Union Cavalry under Colonel Benjamin Grierson though enemy-held territory from southern Tennessee through Mississippi to Louisiana to the union-held city of Baton Rouge. The purpose was to destroy enemy rail infrastructure so creating a diversion from the Union's main attack on Vicksburg. Ford has taken some poetic licence with the story but is pretty even-handed in his story telling of a period in American history that set North against South and brother against brother, that resulted in the loss of over 620,000 men.

Ford's version is taken from a novel "The Horse Soldiers" by Harold Sinclair and has a former railroad builder Colonel John Marlowe (John Wayne) leading his mini-brigade through enemy territory to attack the Confederate held Newton Station, along the way at Greenbriar he picks up "southern belle" Hannah Hunter (Constance Towers) who has overheard details of the forthcoming raid also frustrating his efforts is his new Regimental Surgeon Major Henry Kendall (William Holden). Other contentions are his second in command Colonel Philip Secord (Willis Bouchey) is more interested in securing an election victory than a military one. The rest of the cast is made up of many of Ford's regulars including Ken Curtis, Hank Worden and former cowboy star Hoot Gibson.

This may not be John Ford at his very best, but the film does contain some excellent sequences in the directors' best manner including: The horse soldiers on the skyline, The aftermath at Newton Station, The young cadets advancing on the Union troops, The charge over the bridge at the end and last but not least the scene where Towers is serving supper to Wayne and his men at Greenbriers, she asked an embarrassed Wayne "What is your preference leg or breast?" during which time Ford gives us a daring (for the 1950's) view of Miss Towers cleavage!

The filming on location in Louisiana came to an unsatisfactory conclusion when one of Ford's regular stuntman Fred Kennedy was killed whilst falling from his horse during the final battle scenes at the bridge. Ford was very upset and lost interest in the film, so they packed up and went home. Later additional footage was shot back in The San Fernando Valley, California to complete the film!

Transfer to DVD is just about okay; included are the original theatrical release trailer with interactive menu screens and chapter selections. All Ford / Wayne Westerns are worthy of treatment to the highest standard available in Restoration and Presentation. Still pretty good value for money though!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars The Horse Soldiers
one of John Waynes really good films. Plenty of action, with a mix of a bit of comedy, and a little romance. A good buy.
Published 6 months ago by R. Lake

5.0 out of 5 stars horse soldiers
one of john wayne's best westerns set during the civil war he leads a company of latter day commando's through enemy lines to disrupt their lines of supply he is accompened by... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Eric TONGUE

5.0 out of 5 stars Good story and plenty of action
Yet again the Ford/Wayne team deliver the goods. Loosely based on a factual action during the U.S. civil war, Wayne leads his union troops deep into the conferacy, the supply... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Mark Kibble

1.0 out of 5 stars One of the Dukes WORST films
It may sound hard to believe but this film starring the superb John Wayne and William Holden, directed by the legendary John Ford is SO boring and despite my being a big fan of... Read more
Published on 17 Jun 2007 by P. D. gray

Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
   
Related forums

Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Look for similar items by subject








i.e., each product must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ...

Feedback


Your Recent History

 (What's this?)

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.