The Glory Guys ** (1965, Tom Tryon, Harve Presnell, Senta Berger, James Caan, Harve Presnell, Senta Berger, Andrew Duggan, Slim Pickens, Michael Anderson Jr) – Classic Movie Review 9811

Director Arnold Laven’s 1965 film The Glory Guys is a sturdy Sam Peckinpah-scripted glossy Western about an ill-prepared US cavalry attack on the Sioux.

Tom Tryon stars as Captain Demas Harrod, the soldier unwilling to send his youngsters (who include the young James Caan, as Private Anthony Dugan) into battle.

The Glory Guys is entertaining Western fare, with a strong screenplay (based on Hoffman Birney’s novel) and a solid cast but uninspired, pedestrian direction. James Wong Howe shoots in colour on Arizona and Mexico locations, a further asset. Senta Berger is stuck with the dull role of love interest fought over by Tom Tryon and Harve Presnell. Nobody’s heart is in this aspect of the movie.

Also in the cast are Harve Presnell, Senta Berger, Andrew Duggan, Slim Pickens, Michael Anderson Jr, Peter Breck, Jeanne Cooper, Laurel Goodwin, Adam Williams, Erik Holland, Robert McQueeney, Wayne Rogers, and William Meigs.

Caan was a 1966 Golden Globe nominee as Most Promising Newcomer – Male.

Peckinpah was the original director, but replaced by Laven. Peckinpah claimed his screenplay was ruined by the miscasting of the three stars. Ironically, Peckinpah risked his life to save the screenplay from a huge fire at his Malibu house.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9811

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