Directed by Robert Wise
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(Fox Movie Channel)
Intriguing story of Confederate prisoners of war recruited by the Union to fight Indians as members of the Cavalry. Although they wear Yankee uniforms, the Rebels are reluctant to cooperate with their former enemies with whom they sleep and fight. At a remote outpost in New Mexico, they plan to escape to Texas, until they become part of a bigger plan to link the South to California. An Indian attack on the Fort changes those plans. Jeff Chandler is the post commander who makes a series of critical mistakes in his judgment of the men as well as the Indians. Joseph Cotten is the southern commander, respected by his men but mistrusted by the others. Linda Darnell is the woman caught up in the middle of it all. The final battle scenes at the Fort are very well done, including a haunting act of self-sacrifice by Chandler. However, the romantic subplots with Darnell are an unnecessary distraction, as Chandler has a limited emotional range that hurts his character.
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