In Pursuit of Honor
Read other reviews about this film
Cast: Don Johnson, Craig Sheffer, Gabrielle Anwar, Robert Gunton, Rod Steiger , James B. Sikking, John Dennis Johnston, Neil Melville, Robert Coleby, Andrew Booth, Anthony Cocks, Terence Crawford, Peter Curtin.
While it may not be to everyone's liking, a finer illustration of the link between horses and honor probably won't be seen until Cormac McCarthy's novel "All the Pretty Horses" is lensed.
Handsome production takes full advantage of Australian scenery as a backdrop for the Marlboro man ethos. Don Johnson and Craig Sheffer deliver the authentic dialogue in a style that feels true to the time period.
It's 1934 and the Army is attempting to modernize. Sgt. John Libbey (Johnson) and three fellow cavalrymen have been exiled to a base in the Southwest after refusing Gen. MacArthur's orders to attack protesting veterans.
Sheffer's Lt. Buxton, also prone to insubordination, joins them. They briefly serve under Col. Stuart (Rod Steiger), who retires as the cavalry -- on its last legs -- is merged with the infantry. When their sabers are taken away it's an ego blow, but when they receive orders to dispose of excess horses, honor and conscience are at stake.
Seasoned Libbey and greenhorn Buxton try to lead their equine charges to safety, taking a 2,000-mile jaunt to the north. An Army unit with mechanized weaponry gives chase. Meanwhile, Col. Stuart and his journalist daughter (Gabrielle Anwar) campaign for the mutineers.
A sign of the story's times is that there's a lot of talk about insanity, the implication being that mechanizing the Army is close to madness. This is countered by MacArthur's prescient argument that unless it modernizes, the Army won't be able to stand up to Hitler and the Japanese.
They definitely shoot horses in this one, and, to the filmmakers' credit, it's hard to believe the disclaimer about no animals being harmed. Animal lovers won't want to watch as 100 crying horses are machine-gunned. Everything in the film, including this graphic depiction of violence toward horses, is beautifully photographed.
Outstanding script by Dennis Lynton Clark has some logistical holes but is well-executed by director Ken Olin. Pic climaxes in a bravura finale.
Performances by the two male leads and their cohorts are aptly rugged. Other Army officers, most notably Robert Gunton's Col. Hardesty, also evoke the period and relevant tensions. Less convincing are Anwar and Steiger, who is superb but miscast.
All in all, pic wins many points of honor.
Camera, Stephen Windon; editor, Elba Sanchez-Short; production designer, Stewart Burnside; art director, Eugene Intas; sound, Paul Brincat; music, John Debney. 120 MIN.
Variety is striving to present the most thorough review database. To report inaccuracies in review credits, please click here. We do not currently list below-the-line credits, although we hope to include them in the future. Please note we may not respond to every suggestion. Your assistance is appreciated.
