Odd choice for an epic from Columbia, who were presumably influenced by the fact they could have one of their great old stars, Rita Hayworth, a legend star, Gary Cooper, and Robert Rossen, who'd made All the King's Men (and I guess Island in the Sun had been a big hit).
Set in Mexico during the Pancho Villa expedition, Gary Cooper is an officer who while supposed to have been a coward is shown to be brave and professional - but Cooper's inherent weakness and clear ill health (he looks crook) work for the part. Cooper is escorting a bunch of soldiers who have displayed bravery in battle and tries to figure out why they are brave.
It's an odd concept - I get what they were trying to go for thematically, the set up is just a little odd (pulling out top soldiers during a campaign... I know they're trying to make PR out of it, it just felt weird).
The troops include Richard Conte, Tab Hunter, Michael Callan (in his debut), Van Heflin. Robert Keith shines as an officer desperate for medals and promotions, willing to blackmail Cooper - he gives the film a dash of venality and I missed him when he left early on.
This movie was so dull. Truding along in the desert. All the uniforms made everyone look alike. Cooper was creepy. I kept forgetting what the characters did.
I appreciate its ambition. It failed to live up to that.
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