Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Inger Stevens | ... | Emily Biddle | |
Glenn Ford | ... | Maj. Wolcott | |
Paul Petersen | ... | Blue Lake | |
Timothy Carey | ... | Billy Cat | |
Kenneth Tobey | ... | Sgt. Cleehan | |
Richard X. Slattery | ... | Cpl. Paddy Darling | |
Harrison Ford | ... | Lt. Shaffer (as Harrison J. Ford) | |
Kay E. Kuter | ... | Owelson | |
Dick Miller | ... | Zollicoffer | |
Emile Meyer | ... | Col. Harries | |
Marshall Reed | ... | Stedner | |
George Hamilton | ... | Capt. Dorrit Bentley | |
Max Baer Jr. | ... | Sgt. Luther Liskell (as Max Baer) | |
Todd Armstrong | ... | Lt. Prudessing | |
Duke Hobbie | ... | Lt. Frist |
During the Civil War Confederate soldiers escape from a Union prison and head for the Mexican border. Along the way they kill a Union courier who has a message that the war is over. Keeping the message a secret, the Captain has his men go on and they soon find themselves in a battle with the Union search party who also is unaware of the war's end. Written by Maurice VanAuken <mvanauken@a1access.net>
During late Civil War some Confederate soldiers getaway from an Union prison and head toward Mexico. Then a battle of wits pits a tough Union captain (Glenn Ford) against sadist Confederate Major (George Hamilton) when the latter abducts his love interest (Inger Stevens) . After that, the infuriated woman seeks revenge on the man who raped her . Meanwhile , a confederate soldier kills an Union courier who holds a message saying that Civil war is over .
The picture contains action Western , continuous horse riding , shootouts and some violence . This violent cavalry-Western and hard on themes is full of noisy action , thrills , chills and results to be quite entertaining , though mediocre . The gratuitous violence brought quite criticism in the newspapers, though the director declared that it was utterly necessary . Harry Joe Brown wrote a personal check to Columbia Pictures for $1,000,000 to cover the costs of going over budget . Good duo protagonist as Glenn Ford and George Hamilton , though make exaggerated acting . It appears credited prestigious secondaries as Timothy Carey , a young Harry Dean Stanton and a youngest Harrison Ford , being his first credited film role . Furthermore , the veteran Kenneth Tobey and Dick Miller , Roger Corman's usual , who appears uncredited as director . Rare and thrilling musical score for an Old West movie . Colorful and atmospheric cinematography by Peach . The motion picture was regularly directed by Phil Karlson . There were no half measures in this filmmaker . He would make adventure movies or violent and noir films . As he directed Western as ¨Gunman's walk¨ , ¨They rode west¨, ¨Texas rangers, ¨Iroquois trail¨ and Gansters genre or Noir films as ¨Phoenix city story¨ and ¨Scarface mob¨ . Failure alternated with hits through his career, though Karlson's direction was more than successful in ¨ Walking tall¨ with invaluable help of Joe Don Baker . Rating : Acceptable Western ; George Hamilton and Glenn Ford fans will enjoy their idols .