The Glory Guys

Nice example of the Cavalry and Indians from the sixties, it is full of action, thrills, emotion and good characterization. It is set during the Sioux war in which the third US cavalry regiment under command of the stiff and egoistic General Frederick: Andrew Duggan, is recruiting new soldiers for the upcoming battle against Indians. Captain Harrod, Tom Tryon, is in charge of the naive troops. He is also in love with Lou Woodard, Senta Berger, who equally is in love with a frontier scout, Sol Rogers : Harve Pesnell, as she claims to be attracted to both suitors. Rogers exudes the quiet authority and natural casual humor that makes one instantly identify with him . Both rivals go into conflict that often times finishing into brawls and fist fights. As both of whom battle each other for the same woman.

Good Western , one of the best of the 60s , with plenty of noisy action, colour, military parades, impressive soldier charges, and firm characterization . This is a tale about Cavalry as a master rather than about individual people .Stars the tough Tom Tryon well accompanied by the gorgeous Senta Berger and the sympathetic Harve Pesnell. There are well-grafted support cast with interesting portrayals from the rugged James Caan as a garrulous Irishman , the ruthless and proud General Andrew Duggan , Slim Pickens who gives a magnetically sincere acting , Peter Breck, Wayne Rogers, Claudio Brook, Jeanne Cooper, Walter Scott , Michael Forest, and Michael Anderson Jr as a very young private , among others .

Brilliant and colorful cinematography by expert veteran James Wong Howe. Rousing and gutsy musical score by the Italian Riz Ortalani, including enjoyable leitmoti. Screenplay by prestigious Sam Peckinpah, Sam not only wrote the original script but he partially directed but he was subsequently replaced by Laven. Sam directed the best Westerns of the sixties such as Wild Bunch , Bring me the head of Alfredo Garcia, Ride the high county, Deadly companions , Ballad of Cable Hogue and Major Dundee that bears remarkable resemblance to this one, in fact , Peckinpah used at least 3 actors as Senta Berger, Slim Pickens, Michael Anderson and both of them were shot around the same time. Lavishly produced by Jules V Levy, Arthur Gardner, Arnol Laven. When they were discharged from wwII resolved that they would start their own production company, the first was a Thriller titled Without warning. In the decades since they have produced dozens of additional features and several Tv series. As Arnold Laven has produced or directed a lot of Tv films such as Rifle man, Law of the Plainsman, Detectives , The big valley, A Team, Hunter, Mike Hammer, Hill street blues, Chips, Back to the planet of the apes, Alfred Hitchcock presents, Dan August , Dog and cat. Laven also directed some movies such as Vice squad, The rack and this Glory guys.

The Glory Guys is directed by Arnold Laven and written by Sam Peckinpah who adapts from the Hoffman Birney novel, The Dice of God. It stars Tom Tryon, Harve Presnell, Senta Berger, James Caan, Andrew Duggan, Slim Pickens and Michael Anderson Jr. It's shot in Panavision with colour by Deluxe, with James Wong Howe the photographer, and music is scored by Riz Ortolani.

The Glory Guys are young recruits to the 3rd Regiment of the United States Cavalry, film follows them as they live and love thru their initial training and onwards to impending war with the Indians. They be at the mercy of a warmongering general, their passions and fate, cruel avoidable fate.

It's one of those War Westerns that cried out for some quality actors to tell the tale. For the story is a great one, no doubt inspired by the Custer legend from Battle of Little Big Horn, the scenery (Durango, Mexico) is first rate and the score is suitably perky and rousing: with the title song tremendous in its power. There's even some terrific action, especially for the major battle in the last quarter, where the use of 100's of extras provides excitement as the bloody carnage convincingly unfolds. But getting to that last third in the company of wooden lead actors is not that easy to do, Pickens, Duggan and Caan aside (tho Caan's Irish accent fluctuates), the principal actors are unable to put real urgency into the drama. Laven's pacing is questionable too, but the director comes out in credit because his final flourish, the battle construction, really is worth the wait. But one can't help wondering what Peckinpah in his pomp could have done with his own script.

A very mixed bag when put under scrutiny, but with a glorious and potent final third bringing it to closure, The Glory Guys is safely recommended to fans of the Custer legend, and indeed, fans of film's like Major Dundee & Fort Apache. 6.5/10

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.

I must admit that I know very little about Director Arnold Laven, who reportedly stepped in to replace the famous Sam Peckinpah. In fact, the latter even wrote THE GLORY GUYS screenplay (not one of his finer achievements).

Reliable actor Tom Tryon does his best with a role that sees him appear and disappear from the action without relatable logic. Harve Presnell, who competes with Tryon for the attention of exquisitely sensual Senta Berger, was much younger and not as good an actor in 1965 than in FARGO (1996) where he shone as the tight-fisted father in law who refuses to loan the sum that William H Macy so needs in order to get his business shenanigans up and running.

Apart from some very good battle sequences toward the end, there is not much that I find worth remembering... and even those sequences arise from a very basic millitary error that sees the US Cavalry pinned down in a valley with Indians descending from mountain and hilltops to attack.

Famous cameraman James Wong Howe is the film's greatest saving grace - lovely cinematography, superb battle choreography, credible stunts. 6/10.

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.