The Horse Soldiers

With the exception of the Civil War segment in HOW THE WEST WAS WON, THE HORSE SOLDIERS was director John Ford's only film dealing with the War Between the States. The film is gorgeously photographed and contains many memorable images (the opening credits and breathtaking final shot) and moving scenes (one in which a Southern military school is forced to send its cadets--all children--into battle against the Union forces is a stunner), but this is not one of Ford's best efforts, suffering from a weak script and an overwrought performance from its female lead, Constance Towers.

Based on an actual mission known as Grierson's Raid, the film takes place in the sprin...