They Came to Cordura (1959)

Expected more

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

it is finally so absorbing because it plays like a lyrical road odyssey that’s also a detective story.

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

I probably liked this film more than most, but I thought it had a great cast and a good story. The battle scenes are well staged and exciting to watch. The interplay between the various characters keeps the viewers interest throughout.The time is 1916 at the time of Pancho Villa where a U.S. army battalion has been sent into Mexico to "get Villa" who had previously led a raid onto American soil. Major Thomas Thorpe (Gary Cooper) is assigned the task of identifying American heroes to be recommended for the Congressional Medal of Honor. As American entry in WWI is immanent, the army needs American heroes to help in the recruitment of new recruits.A cavalry charge led by Col. Rogers (Robert Keith) on an enemy stronghold, results in the identification of four candidates: Lt. Fowler (Tab Hunter), Sgt. Chawk (Van Heflin), Cpl. Trubee (Richard Conte) and Pvt. Renzelhausen (Dick York) in addition to Pvt. Hetherington (Michael Callen) whom Thorpe had already identified. In addition American Adelaide Geary (Rita Hayworth) is arrested for aiding and abetting the enemy and "comforting" rebel leader Arreaga (Carlos Romero).Rogers, upset at not being commended for his victory by Thorpe orders him to escort the group alone to Army Headquarters in the town of Cordura. Along the way, they are attacked by Arreaga and are forced to give up their horses and walk the rest of the way. During the trek Thorpe is asked to withdraw his recommendations for medals for various reasons by each of the five men. And , Thorpe has a secret of his own. Gradually they become alienated from Thorpe and he is left alone to bring them in irregardless. Only Adelaide sticks by him. Also Hetherington becomes ill and the group is forced to carry him causing further tension. At last they reach the railway line and......................................................An obvious flaw in the casting has Cooper, who was in his late 50s, as Thorpe who would have been a much younger man however Coop gave a performance that reminded one of his Will Kane in "High Noon". Hayworth was also quite good as the "well travelled" Adelade. Van Heflin was never better as the bitter Chawk. The rest of the cast were equally as good including Hunter who was known more for his light comedies with the likes of Natalie Wood.

I always liked this movie, "They Came to Cordura". I've seen him several times and I have been following comments on it. Sometimes favorable, sometimes unfavorable (the majority), many of them criticizing the director Robert Rossen or the fact Gary Cooper be too old for the role. The film is about an unusual topic: the early twentieth century, in the times of Pancho Villa, U.S. military assigned to receive high honor Army, for bravery, form a squad under the command of Major Thorn (Gary Cooper) and will at desert, towards the base of Cordura. Along with them following the Mexican farmer, Adelaide Geary (Rita Hayworth), born American, to stand trial for treason, since it would collaborate with the enemy. Along the way discovers the fragility of Thorn, by knowing that he would have cowered in battle, causing mistrust of the group at his command, at the same time if the group shows, mostly, without character and capable of low and despicable acts. Here, then, it creates an interesting situation: the heroes reveal themselves men of bad character, unworthy, especially receiving a medal for bravery, while the coward becomes a hero, dignified, empathetic, courageous, generous. And the woman is a curious character: for she is dying as a mother; for decent still, a companion to the disqualified only object of desire, and Thorn, the woman he probably sought, able to understand it and understand the reasons that led him to be labeled a coward. Gary Cooper has a great performance. Would say that old for the role might even be true, but he plays with great skill. James Stewart also faced this problem in "The Man who shot Liberty Valance." They said it was old for the role, but spent so much time after shooting (1962), someone today would like to see another one in its place? Van Heflin has, with much certainty, the best performance of his career. The hero of "3: 10 to Yuma" and the bold and honest farmer "Shane" gave rise to negligible Chawk. Richard Conte (Trubee) and Dick York (Renziehausen) are great in their roles and Tab Hunter (Fowler), could have been better. An actor was booming at the time (1959) and I confess I expected more from him. Michael Callan (Hetherington) does little in the film, but has an understated performance, no compromises. Who stands undoubtedly is Rita Hayworth in late career. Still beautiful and huge screen presence, Rita, has a performance worthy of record. The story is rough, tough, as is the journey to Cordura, which reveals the hidden side of each, the true side of the supposed heroes, not as admirable as the moment of glory one lived. For Thorn, a sort of Christ, the journey is his redemption. When tying the rope "railroad handcar," the snared in her body and pulls, it's like finally carry his cross, even though it would only suffering. Gary Cooper does a great performance. They say that the film would be a reference source among homosexual characters of Gary Cooper and Tab Hunter. At least the copies I saw, never identified it. For me, a great movie. I want to see him still many other times.

In 1916, an army major leads a woman prisoner and a disagreeable group of soldiers through rugged terrain near the Mexican border. This is a standard Western that takes a while to get going and then goes on a bit too long, but is helped by a good cast. Cooper, who was ailing at the time and would make only two more films, is solid as a cowardly officer tasked with finding candidates for the Congressional Medal of Honor. Hayworth is quite alluring as an American accused of abetting Mexico against her country. The familiar cast includes Heflin and Conte as the villains, Keith as a colonel seeking glory, as well as future TV actors York and Platt. This was the only Western for Rossen, an uneven director.

This had the potential for a major impact movie. The story, the psychological theme, and the talented performers could have led to an iconic American film. Unfortunately, it doesn't deliver. Why not? Gary Cooper is just too old (and a character with too many years of military experience) to be as bewildered and naive as the character he is playing. As others have noted, if the character is to be a naif, then a much younger performer would have been required. Further, a performer who had played iconic American heros does not seem right in the character of a bewildered "coward" Since Cooper is the character the audience is to identify with, and since all of the other male characters have serious personality deficits and Rita Hayworth is a cipher for most of the film, there is no one the audience can identify with. Thus, it is hard for a viewer to get involved.The ending is ridiculous. Say a few words and the despicable characters all turn into the heros they are supposed to be. Huh? Is this the way the book ends? The movie is just sloppy in a lot of noticeable ways. After a trek in the dessert, Rita Hayworth still has a pristine, alabaster complexion. While Cooper is dragging the railroad hand cart up the hill, struggling Christlike against a load he can't manage, the other characters, looking hale, healthy and energetic are just loitering around the set apparently waiting for directions. The trek through the dessert was not sufficiently arduous. Neither the performers, the background music, nor the story line convey more than a long uncomfortable walk.The tension in the plot lessens. Some scenes just had the quality of "let get this scene shot and get outta here and have a beer).Important themes get mentioned but not followed up: the ridiculous calvary charge, use of military decorations for propaganda, ill-conceived foreign interventions, the deleterious effect of combat on the psychological balance of some soldiers, etc.Still, Rita Hayworth shines as an older, demoralized beauty. Conte is dead on. Heflin hams it up a bit. Hunter is inconsistent but when he is bad, he is very bad.If only....