let me state first that i love western and civil war story . i also consider john ford a an excellent director . i also have the same high feeling for john wayne and william holden act ability . i can not remember if i saw this film when it first come out in 1959. last night be the first time i saw it since then . a per my 4 rating and one can say i do not like the movie . i now will attempt to tell some of it shortcoming . john lee mahin who write the screenplay from harold sinclair novel and be a very gifted writer and write many fine script and this script be poorly write and badly research . they make mention of the awful condition of the andersonville prison and at the time of the movie andersonville be not in operation . they also use rifle that be not use at the time . john ford be direct film for over 40 year and win 4 oscar . he must have be ill during the making of this . his usual style be miss . it could be that this be film in the south and east and not in monument valley . he normally have a stock company of player he use in nearly all his film and most be miss this time . this time only minor cowboy star hoot gibson and ken curtis have role and of course anna lee have a small role . there be no other familiar face except for the 3 star . ( see below ) mr. ford stock company make most of his film the classic they be while sadly miss here . now we come to the main star john wayne and william holden . the duke also must have be ill and he seem out of place here . this sort of role usually fit his style perfectly and he be just adequate here . wiliam holden do the best he could and but nowhere as good a he usually be . it be require that there be an actress in this type of movie . here in her first major role ( second film ) be constance tower and a very beautiful person and but not really an actress and she be still have role on television . let me be kind and say she have have a long career and more base on her look than act talent . also in caas a ms. tower servant be tennis star althea gibson . i be glad she stick to tennis . the rest of the production credit be far from the usual high standard of other john ford film there be a few military type song supposedly do by the marching cavalry and not good at all . the action scene be good but come at the end of film . rating half ( out of 4 ) 47 point ( out of 100 ) imdb 4 ( out of 10 ) .