Robert Rossen directed and co-wrote They Came to Cordura a psychological Western made in the last career phase of Gary Cooper, co-starring Rita Hayworth, Van Heflin and Tab Hunter.
Grade: B (*** out of *****)
They Came to Cordura | |
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Based on the 1958 novel by Glendon Swarthout, the tale is set in 1916, when U.S. soldiers are chasing after Pancho Villa.
Cooper plays Army Major Thomas Thorn, who’s assigned with observing the battlefield and reward heroism. He has been recommended for the position by the old Colonel Rogers (Robert Keith), who’s impatiently to be promoted to general before his retirement.
Rogers leads his regiment in poorly planned Cavalry charge on Ojos Azules, a villa owned by the hospitable Adelaide Geary (Rita Hayworth) where Villa’s men withdrew after victory over Mexican government troops.
Thorn, excused from fighting, observes various acts of heroism by Lt. Fowler (Tab Hunter), Sgt. Chawk (Van Heflin), Cpl. Trubee (Richard Conte) and Pvt. Renziehausen (Dick York) in defeating Villa’s men.
Rogers is furious when Thorn won’t nominate him for citation, claiming that leading his regiment was “in the line of duty,” but that the Medal of Honor is awarded for heroism “above and beyond the call of duty.” Rogers had protected Thorn from a investigation for cowardice, which he did out of respect for Thorn’s father.
The squabbling between Thorn and the men, who are hostile to him, threatens to destroy them all. Then, some harrowing incidents make it clear that the apparent heroes were motivated by ambition, terror, or chance, while it is the disgraced Thorn who possesses moral courage.
In the end, the men learn personal, not physical, courage from Thorn’s example.
The feature was William Goetz’s second film in a six picture deal for Columbia after Me and the Colonel.
With a budget of $4.5 million it was one of Columbia’s most expensive films at the time.
Parts of the film were shot at Snow Canyon and Harrisburg in Utah as well as Indio, California.
Author Glendon Swarthout got the idea for his novel after he had obtained eyewitness accounts for Medal of Honor citations while serving with the 3rd Infantry Division in Southern France during World War II.
A film tie-in song written by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen was recorded by Frank Sinatra and Robert Horton. It was composer Elie Siegmeister’s only Hollywood film score.
Gay Overtones
Cooper’s character was supposed to have been in a prior homosexual affair with the Tab Hunter’s character, but concerned with his screen image, he insisted that his character be “toughened up.”
For that reason, John Wayne hated the movie, and expressed his “disgust” in pubic.
Robert Rossen followed up this Western with the 1961 The Hustler, starring Paul Newman, which is considered by many critics to be his masterpiece, alongside the 1949 Best Picture Oscar winner, All The King’s Men.
Cast
Gary Cooper as Major Thomas Thorn
Rita Hayworth as Adelaide Geary
Van Heflin as Sgt. John Chawk
Tab Hunter as Lt. William Fowler
Richard Conte as Cpl. Milo Trubee
Michael Callan as Pvt. Andrew Hetherington
Dick York as Pvt. Renziehausen
Robert Keith as Col. Rogers
Carlos Romero as Arreaga
James Bannon as Capt. Paltz
Edward Platt as Col. DeRose
Maurice Jara as Mexican Federale
Sam Buffington as First Correspondent
Arthur Hanson as Second Correspondent
Credits:
Directed by Robert Rossen
Produced by William Goetz
Screenplay by Ivan Moffat and Rossen, based on Glendon Swarthout novel
Music by Elie Siegmeister
Cinematography Burnett Guffey
Edited by William A. Lyon
Production company: Goetz Pictures, Baroda Productions
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release date: October 21, 1959
Running time: 123 minutes
Budget: $4.5 million