Springfield Rifle (1952)

With all the pomp and ceremony of a dishonourable discharge, "Kearney" (Gary Cooper) is drummed out of his regiment for having a much broader yellow streak on his trousers than usual. Leaving in disgrace, he is soon embroiled with some horse thieves, led by the aptly named "McCool" (David Brian), who have been helping themselves - thanks to a bit of insider information - to herds intended for the Union Army and selling them instead to some Johnny Rebs. It takes him a while, but gradually "Kearney" begins to earn a position of trust within this gang thanks to his considerable logistical skills - but is all as it appears to be? There's something of another 1952 film - "Against All Flags" to this, as we fairly quickly guess his motives and purpose and appreciate that this is a much more subtle Civil war movie extolling the virtues of espionage and subterfuge. Cooper thrives here as his character provides plenty of fisticuffs, but also just a little more of the cerebral for us too. It's probably Lon Chaney Jnr though who steals the acting plaudits as his odious henchman "Elm" quite successfully manages to get under just about everyone's skin and Phyllis Thaxter's game effort as "Erin", a wife with plenty of starch in her corset, has also a bit more substantial a role than many of the more damsel-in-distress parts usually assigned to women in westerns. It does sag a little in the middle and is perhaps a bit over-written, but as we build to the denouement there is plenty of action, lots of duplicity, some burning bushes and - of course - evidience that the newly designed Springfield Rifle is something the Yankee cavalry need to have.