They Came to Cordura

19591959
ApprovedApproved
2h 3m

Gary Cooper, Rita Hayworth, Van Heflin, Richard Conte, Tab Hunter, Michael Callan, and Dick York in They Came to Cordura (1959)

Adventure Drama History

An army major, himself guilty of cowardice, is asked to recommend soldiers for the Congressional Medal of Honor during the Mexican Border Incursion of 1916.An army major, himself guilty of cowardice, is asked to recommend soldiers for the Congressional Medal of Honor during the Mexican Border Incursion of 1916.An army major, himself guilty of cowardice, is asked to recommend soldiers for the Congressional Medal of Honor during the Mexican Border Incursion of 1916.

Director
- Robert Rossen
Writers
- Ivan Moffat(screenplay)
- Robert Rossen(screenplay)
- Glendon Swarthout(novel)
Stars

See production, box office & company info

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Awards
- 2 nominations

Gary Cooper, Rita Hayworth, Van Heflin, and Tab Hunter in They Came to Cordura (1959)

Gary Cooper, Rita Hayworth, Van Heflin, and Tab Hunter in They Came to Cordura (1959)

Rita Hayworth in They Came to Cordura (1959)

Rita Hayworth in They Came to Cordura (1959)

Gary Cooper and Rita Hayworth in They Came to Cordura (1959)

They Came to Cordura (1959)

Gary Cooper and Rita Hayworth in They Came to Cordura (1959)

Rita Hayworth and Michael Callan in They Came to Cordura (1959)

Gary Cooper, Van Heflin, Richard Conte, Tab Hunter, and Dick York in They Came to Cordura (1959)

They Came to Cordura (1959)

They Came to Cordura (1959)

Gary Cooper and Van Heflin in They Came to Cordura (1959)

Director
- Robert Rossen
Writers
- Ivan Moffat(screenplay)
- Robert Rossen(screenplay)
- Glendon Swarthout(novel)
All cast & crew
See more cast details at IMDbPro

The Wreck of the Mary Deare

6.8

The Wreck of the Mary Deare

The Hanging Tree

7.1

The Hanging Tree

Miss Sadie Thompson

6.0

Miss Sadie Thompson

Distant Drums

6.5

Fire Down Below

6.0

Fire Down Below

Alvarez Kelly

6.3

Springfield Rifle

6.6

Springfield Rifle

The Law and Jake Wade

6.8

The Law and Jake Wade

The Passage

6.0

Two Rode Together

6.8

Two Rode Together

The Naked Edge

6.7

Riding Shotgun

6.5

After a cavalry charge during the 1916 U.S. "war against Pancho Villa," unheroic awards officer Tom Thorn (who is obsessed with the nature of courage) recommends 4 men for the Medal of Honor. He is ordered back to Cordura with them...and prisoner Adelaide Geary, gringo who sheltered the enemy. On the arduous journey, Thorn's heroes show a different face, and Thorn may have one last chance to prove he's no coward. —Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>

cowardice mexican rurale u.s. cavalry violence bandit 63 more

Taglines
- Slashing Story of a Desert Warrior Who Fought His Way From HELL TO GLORY !
Genres
Certificate
- Approved
Parents guide
- Add content advisory

Trivia
Although Gary Cooper was 57, his character Major Thorn was supposed to be about 30. Early in the film it is mentioned that Thorn's father had recently been killed while still on active service.

Goofs
Major Thorn improperly salutes Colonel DeRose in the opening scene when he is dismissed. He should have saluted and held his salute until it was acknowledged. Instead, he lowers his arm even before Colonel Rose acknowledges it.

Quotes
Major Thomas Thorn: Did you ever see the Medal of Honor?
Private Renziehausen: No, Sir.
Major Thomas Thorn: It's the most beautiful decoration of all, as it should be. I'd trade an ear for one any time, two in fact.
Private Renziehausen: Excuse me, Sir, but I'd rather have the ear.

Crazy credits
Opening credits prologue:

On the night of March 8th, 1916, a large mounted force of Mexican rebels under Pancho Villa crossed the American Border and attacked the town of Columbus, New Mexico, killing and wounding both American civilians and soldiers.

As a result of this action,the United States Army sent an expedition into Mexico with orders to capture Villa and disperse his forces.

It was during this campaign that one man, an United States Army officer,was forced to come face to face with two of the great fundamental questions that affect mankind:

What Is Courage? What Is Cowardice?

This is the story of his search for an answer.

Connections
Featured in Stars of the Silver Screen: Rita Hayworth (2011)

Top review

6/10

faux flaws?

This is in response to comments on 'They Came to Cordura' regarding its dramatic weakness and flawed camera work and editing.

The flaws may be real, but they might not be the fault of the filmmaker (writer-director Robert Rossen).

Reportly, the film was taken out of Rossen's hands by the studio and drastically cut and re-cut. The director's original version, about 1/2 hour longer, was apparently much better, making much more dramatic sense.

Further, the movie was shot in CinemaScope, and comments on its poor cinematography and editing are likely based on viewing a crude pan & scan video copy. Such artificial flaws are common with panned & scanned widescreen movies.

.

helpful•31

10

rtravis
Mar 26, 2005

Release date
- August 20, 1959 (Japan)
Country of origin
- United States
Language
- English
Also known as
- Dosli su u Korduru
Filming locations
- St. George, Utah, USA
Production companies
See more company credits at IMDbPro

Budget
- $4,000,000 (estimated)

See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

Runtime
2 hours 3 minutes
Color
- Color
Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1

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Gary Cooper, Rita Hayworth, Van Heflin, Richard Conte, Tab Hunter, Michael Callan, and Dick York in They Came to Cordura (1959)

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