The Horse Soldiers (1959)

Director: John Ford
Starring: John Wayne, William Holden, Constance Towers

Synopsis:
A military surgeon clashes with a cavalry officer during a mission deep behind enemy lines.

Impressions:
While the plot is a raiding mission deep into Confederate territory, the story is really about the conflict among the characters played by John Wayne, William Holden and Constance Towers. The actual fighting and stuff is fine but not nearly as compelling as the character drama. It's really cool seeing William Holden go toe-to-toe with the Duke. Colonel Marlowe is really bull-headed and full of hubris, so it's fertile ground for conflict. Even if you're not a fan of films set during the Civil War, this is a solid character study and definitely worth a watch.

Rating:
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