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The Horse Soldiers

The Horse Soldiers

Western · War · 1959

A Union Cavalry outfit is sent behind confederate lines in strength to destroy a rail supply center. Along with them is sent a doctor who causes instant antipathy between him and the commander. The secret plan for the mission is overheard by a southern belle who must be taken along to assure her silence.

Movie details

The Horse Soldiers

“...rides where only the great ones do!”

1959 Western · War 1h 55m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.9 / 10

Community rating

A Union Cavalry outfit is sent behind confederate lines in strength to destroy a rail supply center. Along with them is sent a doctor who causes instant antipathy between him and the commander. The secret plan for the mission is overheard by a southern belle who must be taken along to assure her silence.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Horse Soldiers?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

John Ford

Written by

John Lee Mahin · Martin Rackin

John Wayne

John Wayne

Col John Marlowe

William Holden

William Holden

Major 'Hank' Kendall

Constance Towers

Constance Towers

Miss Hannah Hunter

Judson Pratt

Judson Pratt

Sgt Major Kirby

Hoot Gibson

Hoot Gibson

Sgt. Brown

Ken Curtis

Ken Curtis

Cpl. Wilkie

Willis Bouchey

Willis Bouchey

Col. Phil Secord

Court is in session

Put The Horse Soldiers on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Auteur Devotee

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.