“In Pursuit of Honor” is a well-intentioned HBO film
about the U.S. Army’s horse cavalry in the bleak days of the Depression. It purports to tell the tale of the rescuing
of a herd of cavalry horses scheduled to be exterminated as the Army makes the
transition to mechanized units. The
movie claims to be “based on a true story” and seems reasonably believable upon
viewing. It was filmed in Australia and
no horses were harmed in the production – just like in reality.
The movie opens with the Bonus March in Washington,
D.C. in 1932. Hundreds of veterans were
in the capital hoping to get their WWI bonuses early due to the
Depression. The doughboys had set up a
shantytown and when Congress turned them down, the Army was ordered to clear
them out. A unit of cavalry was lined up
to carry out Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s strong-arm tactics. Sgt. Libbey (Don Johnson) and three of his
comrades (all named after characters in John Ford’s “Fort Apache”) refuse to
participate and they are relieved by Maj. Hardesty (Bob Gunton). Flash forward to a dingy Western post where
Libbey and his buddies are in limbo. A
new arrival is Lt. Buxton (Craig Sheffer) who is there for assaulting an
officer. The officer deserved it, of
course. It is not Hell until the Devil
arrives in the form of Lt. Col. Hardesty.
Hardesty brings with him the new cavalry in the form of some tanks. The hand-writing is on the stable wall. The men are told to turn in their sabers and
get rid of their excess horses, which means all the horses. Libbey: “There’s nothing left. No horses. No cavalry. No honor”.
Hardesty twirls his mustache as he orders the horses
herded to Mexico to be machine gunned in a pit.
You know those Mexicans and their love of horse carcasses. After a horrific scene depicting the machine
gunning of the first hundred horses, Buxton convinces Libbey and his buddies to
abscond with the rest of the herd. For
some reason they decide to make a run for Canada instead of simply going deeper
into Mexico. Huh? The villainous Hardesty is in luke-warm
pursuit and manages to catch up with them right at the border.
On first thought, the movie appears to be a nice
little curio about a forgotten episode in American History. The acting is good with Johnson dominating
and Rod Steiger harrumphing in a slumming role.
The rest of the cast is B-movieish, but adequate. Gunton is well cast as the cartoonish
Hardesty. Most nudge-worthy is an early
career turn by Gabrielle Anwar of “Burn Notice” fame. Her character has a lame romance with Buxton. Someone has to love humans. The movie
has the inspirational music to match the theme. The scenery is not as awesome
as one would expect and there is not a lot of action to compensate for it. It’s just a nice little movie that is
unfortunately marred by the fact that it has no facts.
It will come as no surprise to history buffs that
Hollywood sometimes stretches the truth with its “based on a true story”
claim. In this case, I would have to cry
“shenanigans” on that claim for this movie.
Sometimes I am pleasantly surprised to find that seemingly unbelievable
stories have some basis in fact. This
movie is the rare opposite. It turns out
virtually nothing that happens in the movie is true. The Army did transition to tanks, but not as
suddenly and not that early. There is no
evidence to support the events in the film.
No horses were killed to reduce the force. That would have made no sense economically or
humanely. Also making no sense was
taking the horses to Mexico to kill them and then all the way to Canada to save
them. If you are going to get your
script ideas from a drunken retired cavalryman, you should be more
circumspect. Worse, the movie defames
MacArthur. Now I am not a big MacArthur
fan, but I draw the line at accusing him of being a mass murderer of horses.
My research definitely colored my opinion of the
movie. It’s a C+ first impression and a
D upon further review. More importantly,
I’ll never trust Hollywood again.
Happy to read your review debunking this story. My father was in the US Cavalry about this time and in about that area, so naturally I was drawn to research the story's truth. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMe too. My dad also.
DeleteYou "draw the line" at MacArthur killing horses??? He had troops fire on Vets and used thousands of Marines as disposable units in WWII. He was deranged, arrogant and an egomaniac, and would do anything that could bring him glory and fame, no matter what the cost in human lives. And you think he'd worry about Horses???
DeletePFFFFT!
Good point.
DeleteEnjoyed the movie and the story, but the opening line about “Based on a true story” led me to search for the validity of that statement and that should have been left off since there is no basis in truth except the “ Bonus march” and MacArthur’s role in that situation. Enjoy the movie for the fiction and the action. Most “historical” movies stretch the truth like a rubber band.
DeleteDon't understand the 'D'. It was a damned good movie. It depicted the Government in the light it deserved.
DeleteThank you for this well rounded review. I got my dander up when I could find no factual basis for this movie. It really has no redeeming qualities. Typical officers are 'baaad' unless they have "problems with athority". Well I take that back. I was impressed with the overall authenticity of the tack and uniforms. I'm addition they used bays, sorrels, duns and black horses which is correct. There is some excellent horsemanship. Basically a fairy tale and a bad one at that.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your input.
ReplyDeleteMy father enlisted four months after Pearl Harbor into the 1st Calvary Division. They still had their horses. He actually rode border patrol along the Mexican/US border. Has many pictures with his horse. So obviously some of the Calvary still had horses in 1942. No sabers though, they were issued 45 cal. handguns instead. Of course their horses were left when he shipped out to fight in the Pacific. But as noted above, the tack and uniforms are spot on.
ReplyDeleteThe movie states that the horses to be slaughtered were considered extra. Not all the horses were slated for slaughter.
DeleteI was told the Cavalry ate their last horses in the Philippines.
DeleteThanks to your Dad for his service. I had a Uncle in the 1st Calvary also.
Deletemac wouldnt kill a horse but damn his comrades they were communists who wanted what they were promised damn him
ReplyDeleteI have no clue if this movie is based on true events or not .. But thousands of cattle were shot and left in holes in the 30's
ReplyDeleteI believe that the army would never admit to something as heinous as this and the media as shown in this movie is a prelude to the media today , and certainly would not keep records . Unless of course we find them in some old man's garage in Deleware ....makes one think doesn't it?
DeleteI suspected something was awry when the Lt. was a day's ride away from Tucson and yet headed north rather than south with the herd. Made no sense- Indian Res or not.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me that there was and still is, quite a bot the military does that it keeps off the record and out of the media.
ReplyDeleteI loved the movie. I am glad that it wasn't based on a true story, as that would have made our military look like ruthless killers. Was sad seeing those horses shot regardless. The movie was a nice change from what we see now days.
ReplyDeleteActually, it claims to be based on a true story - very dubious claim.
DeleteJudy, what rock have you been hiding under...our military is ruthless killers...
DeleteNot according to historian SLA Marshall. He found that the vast majority of American soldiers in WWII did not fire their weapons at the enemy.
Deletepffft what rock have you been hiding under....first of all that's total bullshit, second of all they got there when the war was already over
DeleteTwice
DeleteLoved the movie. Sure as hell beats what is offered these days. Glad to hear it wasn't true.
ReplyDeletein 1933 the 1st Cavalry Regiment at Ft. D A.Russel under the command of Col. Wm.A.Austin surrendered their faithful mounts. News reels and fotos are at the museum in Marfa, TX.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info.
DeleteTrue or not at least this movie was better than much of the trash that is in theaters today. We need movies that have happy endings. It was also nice to see realistic weapons and uniforms. I would rate it much higher than a D.
ReplyDeleteI have no problem with that.
DeleteYour review made me laugh....no horses were killed. I watched the movie because I love horses but hate war. I found it hard to believe that the US army would kill them especially back then, when men were men and not video game junkies like lots of soldiers are today. I was in the New Zealand Military so I do understand how modern soldiers think. Thanks for your review I enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteVery harsh comments, indeed. While there is not factual, there are some good messages in this story. Look for the good in the story and just attack it because you love Gen. MacArthur.
ReplyDeletemccarthur was a dickwad....he shot on his own people during the bonus marches!
ReplyDeleteAgree. He was a narcissist and a very overrated general.
DeleteHi Everyone! I've seen this movie several times on dvd since it came out. I have to say I think it's one of the best movies Don Johnson has starred in. All the Calvary men who save the horses are double tough and have grit. While it may not be based on actual fact, enjoy it for the loyalty and Code Of Honor the men portray. Feel free to dismiss your personal opinion of real MacArthur, after all, it's fiction.
ReplyDeleteI liked the movie because I thought it addressed some interesting points of change and principles. It could apply to a number of situations in our changing world, even now.
ReplyDeleteI had a difficult time believing it had any factual basis. Having grown up riding dirt bikes in Utah and surrounding states, my first thought was wondering how they found enough water for horses and men while crossing the most arid part of the U.S. The next thought was what were they all eating? There is little forage for horses and less for people, unless they took time to hunt game and let the horses graze over large areas. I also had a hard time with driving them to Mexico, then north. Why not further south? No logic. By the way, they rode right by one of the largest Indian Reservations in the country- Navajo Nation occupies portions of Utah, Colorado, Arizona & New Mexico. There are othet smaller reservations in these states too. Nothing about this story makes sense.
Movies have be at least hour and a half to get substances into it. Mexico or Indian reservation would not have allowed that. The whole operation for entertainment is required. Well done Hollywood
DeleteI liked the movie because I thought it addressed some interesting points of change and principles. It could apply to a number of situations in our changing world, even now.
ReplyDeleteI had a difficult time believing it had any factual basis. Having grown up riding dirt bikes in Utah and surrounding states, my first thought was wondering how they found enough water for horses and men while crossing the most arid part of the U.S. The next thought was what were they all eating? There is little forage for horses and less for people, unless they took time to hunt game and let the horses graze over large areas. I also had a hard time with driving them to Mexico, then north. Why not further south? No logic. By the way, they rode right by one of the largest Indian Reservations in the country- Navajo Nation occupies portions of Utah, Colorado, Arizona & New Mexico. There are othet smaller reservations in these states too. Nothing about this story makes sense.
Thanks for the input.
DeleteI am the widow of a MILITARY OFFICER. I love our country, but I have seen so much deception, lies, and heart breaking things done by the people in power in our country. Facts are buried all the time. Power crazy evil people are often in charge! God help us all! A story like this would be buried and carefully hidden from everyone! It happens all the time. Look at the real history of our country!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your feelings.
DeleteOur country "retires" many animals in a similar manner. f you read about dairy cattle being retired, they are being slaughtered! Nice terms for the government paying dairy farmers to not produce too much milk or dairy products. The farmers are paid enough to stop dairy farming for a specified amount of time. These animals are slaughtered and disposed of because it would lower the price of meat to much to flood the market with the meat from the dairy cows
ReplyDelete. So, goes horses and other animals. This to me is another true story stomped down and hidden by the powers that be!! Check the facts yourself!
I don't really see your cattle analogy as being appropriate for this story, but thanks for sharing.
DeleteI just watched this last night. I know a little late since it came out in 1995. I like the movie and am glad it is not true. It didn't make sense to me that they would kill the horses just because the were going to a mechanized unit. MacArthur is getting some unreasonable bad press here. As the leader of Japan from 1945-48, he drafted the constitution which enfranchised women, guaranteed fundamental human rights, outlawed racial discrimination, strengthened the powers of Parliament and the Cabinet, and decentralized the police and local government. I'm sure he had faults, but he also seemed to have humanitarian traits.
ReplyDeleteWhile this movie, like most of the drivel out of Hollywoodland, is supposedly based on a true story (the beginning of the film depicting WW I vets) the fact is this never happened. The US Army/Calvary did not kill its horses or herd them up to Canada. Not that they never killed horses though. The US Calvary slaughtered hundreds, if not thousands of Indian tribes' ponies they captured, especially the Comanche.
ReplyDeleteIn this movie MacArthur talks of matching Japanese & German militarism : it’s 1932 , Hitler isn’t even in power. Did he use a crystal ball to predict WWll?
ReplyDeleteUmmmm. It opens in 1932, but then theres a thing that says like…6 years later… then the movie starts. Looks like you need to rewatch….
DeleteWell hitler was gaining power I think because of the depression.. And I'm sure japan had already invade China?
DeleteThere are people who believe this story to be true and you won't change their minds. One guy said he knew one of the soldiers involved years after he'd slipped back into the U.S. Read: War Horse by Livingston and Robert's.
ReplyDeleteI just finished watching this DVD and it really was very good. As a veteran and horse owner it really makes me wonder. Things are hidden from the public so we don’t really know do we? Our treatment of the Native American’s, the mustangs, the buffalo, all of it. This country has a violent history. All we can do is take care of what we have now.
ReplyDeleteI have my doubts about that considering that one Party could give a shit about the environment and wildlife.
DeleteI love the phrase "drunken calvary men" they where there. There are many things that happen in the military that don't make the history books. Most history books are written by politicians, one way or another. The fact that you disregard things as blown out of proportion, shows your ignorance.
ReplyDeleteIf you are going to quote me, please don't make it look like I don't know how to spell cavalry. It's pet peeve of mine since that is one of the most misspelled words in the English language.
DeleteI strongly disagree that most history books are written by politicians. That is way too cynical.
ReplyDelete