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The Glory Guys
Though a fictionalized Western based on George Armstrong Custer's 7th Cavalry Regiment at the Battle of the Little Big Horn, the film is almost a generic war story covering the enlistment, training, and operational deployment of a group of recruits that could take place in any time period.
Release : | 1965 |
Rating : | 6.1 |
Studio : | Levy-Gardner-Laven, |
Crew : | Production Design, Director of Photography, |
Cast : | Tom Tryon Harve Presnell Senta Berger Michael Anderson Jr. James Caan |
Genre : | Drama Action Western Romance |
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Wow! Such a good movie.
So much average
How sad is this?
The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.
Although producer Arnold Laven got the directorial credit he did this film along the lines laid out by Sam Peckinpah who wrote the script and started directing the film. The usual 'creative differences' were the official reason given for Peckinpah leaving the film, but more than likely it had something to do with Sam's undisciplined nature.The Glory Guys is a wonderful cavalry western with a plot borrowed partially from Fort Apache and part from the story in the Bible about David, Bathsheba, and Uriah the Hittite. Uriah in this case is Captain Tom Tryon and not because of jealousy, but because of his lust for glory and medals, General Andrew Duggan has decided that a troop of raw recruits is to be the Judas Goat led to the slaughter, a troop which Tryon commands and has a month to whip in some kind of shape so they can have a fighting chance against the Sioux.Fort Apache itself is a southwestern version of the Custer and the Little Big Horn story and The Glory Guys takes much of its tone about the camaraderie of the soldiers from those Ford westerns. The characters you see played by Slim Pickens, Michael Anderson, Jr., and James Caan could easily have been found at and in Fort Apache.Romance is a rough thing at this army post as Tryon and scout Harve Presnell have a nice rivalry going for Senta Berger. But when it comes to the business of the cavalry, these two bury the hatchet lest an Sioux hatchet be buried in them.Without the presence of some big box office stars The Glory Guys tends to get overlooked. But if you see it broadcast, don't you overlook it.
From the original script of director Sam Peckinpah, who first penned this rousing western tale of Calvary vs Indians arises this movie called " The Glory Guys ". Contrary to other films of the genre, this film allows the Native Americas to win an occasional battle. But other credits supplement it as well. The beautiful outdoors, the exciting bar-room brawl and the spacious land conflict called for by a good script. Within the story of myopic Gen. Frederick McCabe (Andrew Duggan) who seeks a glorious victory over the southwestern tribes at any price, is an inner one dealing with two men Capt. Demas Harrod (Tom Tyron) and Chief of Scouts Sol Rogers, (Harve Presnell) who love the same lovely woman named Louisa Woddard (Senta Berger). Although rivals, they bear a mutual respect for each other. Demas is an experienced officer carrying a bitter grudge against General McCabe who sacrifices his men without compunction. His main concern are his raw recruits who he feels deserve better than to be sacrificial fodder for the general. Rogers seeks to settle down, marry and become a farmer. Slim Pickens plays Sgt. James Gregory and rightly garners much praise for his convincing, steadfast role. James Caan and an equally young Wayne Rogers are impressive and complementary characters in the movie. Their fine acting and the film's dramatic action makes for excellent viewing. The musical score is patriotically stirring and further enhances the movie. Recommended for all interested viewers***
GLORY GUYS is a beautifully photographed Cavalry Western. The Story reminds a lot on John Ford's "Fort Apache". Like in John Fords Masterpiece Glory Guys retells the battle on Little Big Horn but with fictional names and changed locations. Like in Fort Apache the audience see the life in the Fort and the training of the young soldiers. All the Military Aspects and the battle at the end are really a joy to watch. There is another TV- Soap storyline too in that movie. A Woman named Lou Woddard played by the gorgeous Austrian Actress Senta Berger has a love liaison with two men: a Captain Demas Harrod (Tom Tyron) and the scout Sol Rogers (Harve Persnell). Lou Woddard is a very attractive and self confident woman and it's no wonder that two hard guys are fighting for her. Next to this Soap plot line there are some comedy elements with the young recruits. As one of the young soldiers we see a young and good James Caan. So before the battle starts you see a lightweight movie. The battle itself is really amazing and I have to say one of the best Indians against Cavalry Battles ever seen. The Movie is wonderful photographed by James Wong Howe and the Music Score by Riz Ortolani is good too. James Wong Howe was also the photographer for Hud, The Old Man and the See, Funny Lady and many others. Italian Composer Riz Ortolani is still a very active composer mostly for European Productions. Not to forget the realistic looking design and equipment. The Movie is very beautiful and a joy to watch.The Scriptwriter is by nobody else than Sam Peckinpah after the novel of Hoffman Birney and he did some directing too but was replaced later by Arnold Laven. So he is not credited as Director. No wonder this movie has some similarities to Major Dundee. Maybe because of the change of the Director GLORY GUYS have some flaws in the directing style. Next to the training of the recruits and the Love Story there is another Plot line in Glory Guys too: Capt. Harrod has a troubled past with his commanding officer General McCabe. McCabe should represent General Custer and as in the real Battle of Little Big Horn McCabe is making a some mistakes. Andrew Duggan is doing a good job as McCabe but his role is underused in this Movie. IMO the story should have focused more on the McCabe/ Harrod relation and the Military Aspects as on the Love Story.GLORY GUYS is a beautiful and very rare movie. It reminded me a lot on the John Ford Cavalry Western and all the other older Cavalry Movies like "They died with their boots on". Because this Movie includes Aspects of War many would believe in a connection to the Vietnam War. I'm not sure about it and wouldn't say Glory Guys wants to make a statement about it. The Indians are like invisible but very scary enemies. The Soldiers and Officers are just following Orders even if these orders are stupid and would cause their deaths. I liked that they tried to show that even in that period how Soldiers are trying to survive in such a conflict. If you see this movie somewhere screening try to watch it.
This movie combines a reasonably good movie and a mediocre one in the same film. On the surface, it is an average 1960's vintage western involving the US Cavalry, Indians, saloon fights, one woman loved by two men, etc. However, on a second level, the backdrop of the movie is actually a fairly accurate depiction of the 1876 campaign against the Sioux which resulted in the defeat of Custer at the Little Big Horn. Even though the movie characters are given fictitious names (i.e. Gen. Frederick McCabe rather than Col George Custer), and is presented as a fictional story, the basic facts of the campaign were accurately re-created.Some artistic license was taken, for example, the real scout was killed in the river crossing after the initial attack and not by going to fill water canteens. The trek to the river to get water was done by enlisted volunteers during darkness for which they were awarded the Medal of Honor. The main character of the movie, Capt Harrod, is actually a composite of several officers under Custer's command, including Capt Benteen who effectively took command of the defense of the ridge when the ranking officer, Maj Reno became too rattled to command decisively.So, for people who are interested in Custer and the battle of the Little Big Horn, this is one of the better movies made on the subject even though actual names and places have been changed.