Yes, a big budget. A lot of extras in Civil War uniforms, most of whom on horseback. There were a lot of bullets flying and plenty of explosions. John Wayne was a Union commanding colonel in Confederate territory. William Holden was the Union surgeon. Constance Towers was the pretty southern belle Hannah Hunter who was caught overhearing critical Union officers discussing strategies. So, do they execute her or bring her along so as to not spill the beans? They bring her along, naturally.
There are a couple of relatively small battles, skirmishes really. But men are wounded and killed. Holden's surgeon character performs medical operations, including amputations, all the while criticizing the colonel for one reason or another. Towers' belle assists in the medical procedures, making her seem compassionate. Meanwhile, Wayne is giving orders and kicking anything, or anyone he doesn't like.
Speaking of Wayne, my one criticism of him in these types of roles is that he is constantly, endlessly rough and aggressive. There is no let-up in any activity. He talks aggressively, lights his cigars aggressively and eats aggressively. It makes his characters seem pretty much one dimensional.
My one "WHAT!?" moment of utter disbelief came at the end when the southern belle confesses her love for Wayne's colonel. She is attractive and in her mid-20s, he is gruff and past 50. I think it was the same year (1959) in Rio Bravo, when a young, pert Angie Dickinson movie character fell for John Wayne's gun-slinging cowboy. That too strained any semblance of plausibility.
Anyway, I gave The Horse Solders a "7". Taking everything into consideration, it's a pretty good film.
There are a couple of relatively small battles, skirmishes really. But men are wounded and killed. Holden's surgeon character performs medical operations, including amputations, all the while criticizing the colonel for one reason or another. Towers' belle assists in the medical procedures, making her seem compassionate. Meanwhile, Wayne is giving orders and kicking anything, or anyone he doesn't like.
Speaking of Wayne, my one criticism of him in these types of roles is that he is constantly, endlessly rough and aggressive. There is no let-up in any activity. He talks aggressively, lights his cigars aggressively and eats aggressively. It makes his characters seem pretty much one dimensional.
My one "WHAT!?" moment of utter disbelief came at the end when the southern belle confesses her love for Wayne's colonel. She is attractive and in her mid-20s, he is gruff and past 50. I think it was the same year (1959) in Rio Bravo, when a young, pert Angie Dickinson movie character fell for John Wayne's gun-slinging cowboy. That too strained any semblance of plausibility.
Anyway, I gave The Horse Solders a "7". Taking everything into consideration, it's a pretty good film.