Springfield Rifle (1952)

Good movie but grossly overrated

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

Tonight I watched "Springfield Rifle" for the third time in my life--but it's the first time in over 25 years. The reason I wanted to see it again was to see if the movie was as enjoyable as I remembered.The film is set during the US Civil War and takes place out West in Colorado. Soon after the movie's start, an officer (Gary Cooper) makes a questionable decision in the face of the enemy and orders his men to run and abandon their horses. As a result, there is a court martial and he's thrown out of the Cavalry for cowardice. Afterwords, Cooper shows a lot of anger and contempt for his old unit and he gets himself arrested. However, he and two Confederate sympathizers escape jail and make towards a band of thugs who work for the South--stealing horses as well as raiding Union supplies and attacking the men.Now it's VERY obvious to anyone who's seen lots of westerns that Cooper is actually working under cover to infiltrate this band of irregulars (i.e., non-military men who fight). This is western movie plot #3--and it's been repeated many, many times--by the likes of Tim McCoy, Randolph Scott, Roy Rogers and many others. Can the film use an old and familiar plot and make it interesting? Well, yes. Cooper was quite good and the rest were fine, as it had a nice ensemble cast of excellent supporting actors (such as David Brian, Lon Chaney, Jr., Guinn Williams and Paul Kelly). However, the big star was the GORGEOUS color cinematography which really made a B-movie plot look into a solid A-picture.So is it a great film? Nah...but it certainly is enjoyable and fun--plus there are a few unexpected angles that manage to punch up an otherwise ordinary plot. Sometimes you don't need an earth-shattering plot--just a well-made film that manages to entertain--and this one sure does.

The dates of the civil War stem from 1861 to 1865. In between, half a million men fought and died on both sides. Then Hollywood introduced the Western and then writers quickly retold the history depicting the many facets within the ranks of the two opposing camps. Here is one such story which if you don't look too closely, is interesting and confusing at the same time. The movie is called " Springfield Rifle " and stars one of the most enduring actors to filled the Silver Screen. Gary Cooper plays Maj. Alex 'Lex' Kearney a Union Officer who is cashiered out of the U. S. Army and branded a traitor. The audience however understands his cover as he joins the renegade outlaws who have been stealing herds of horses for the Confederacy. With danger threatening him on both sides, Kearney walks a tight-wire as he seeks out the ringleader of the outlaws. The movie is a cat-and-mouse game and Cooper is aptly supported with other notable western stars like. David Brian, Paul Kelly, Lon Chaney Jr. Alan Hale Jr. and Martin Milner as Pvt. Larsen. The entire cast assembles to provide real shoot-em-up action with the new Springfield Rifle and plenty of hair-raising excitement. Excellent western fare. ****

I had a problem with the film's contention that the Springfield rifle was such an effective and awesome weapon. Eleven years after the end of the Civil War, a later-model Springfield was issued to Custer's 7th Cavalry, a weapon that, when fired continually, overheated, causing the soft copper cartridges of that era to expand, thus jamming the ejection mechanism. As may be imagined, this manifestation was not a desirable one. Having to claw and dig out jammed cartridge cases from hot rifle breeches in the face of overwhelming hordes of hostile Lakota and Cheyenne tribesmen, armed with better and more reliable rifles, was a major contributing reason that Custer's command was wiped out.

Quite enjoyable-as the others have said, it's an obvious answer movie to 'Winchester 73', while not as good-you still can't go wrong here. Check the cast-Gary Cooper, Martin Milner(!), the skipper on Gilligan(!), Clark Kent's Mom(!) and of course, the recently departed Phillip Carey-who not to speak ill of the departed, was sort of a block of wood here-but no matter. He did his routine stuff here okay too. Oh and Fess Parker shows up too as the 'I had you in my sights once Coop' reb.Thaxter had the token woman role, really doesn't have much to do, Cooper shows his years some but is sturdy, Paul Kelly is great as the Real Villain of the piece Col Hudson (see Spoiler Warning at start of review for more!), and of course there's the terrific scenery.The plot-well it has Cooper going under cover to stop some Reb horse-thieves who are trying to short-circuit Yankee war-efforts East. And there's an Inside Man(Kelly!) in league w/ Lon Cheney and co. gumming things up.This has all the great horse stunts, riding and shootouts you could ask for, to go w/ the familiar faces and great Big Sky vistas. Well worth your time.*** outta ****