At 137 minutes, a bit on the long side, though it plods along pleasantly enough. And just as action looms (along with the Confederate raiders), there are three protracted emotional "men-off-to-the war" scenes. When the action at the river finally happened, it was presented very well on screen.
A time-worn Gary Cooper looks too old for his role, and acting kudos go to Anthony Perkins and Richard Eyer as his sons - and to Sammy the Goose (apparently played by three different birds). And it was good to see Robert Middleton as an affable nice person - I associate him with "nasty-guy" roles.
I was not convinced by how easily the rag-tag raiders moderated their behaviour, even releasing the goose after Eliza's pleas. These scenes would have been more realistic had the troops been commanded and controlled by a Southern gentleman.
A time-worn Gary Cooper looks too old for his role, and acting kudos go to Anthony Perkins and Richard Eyer as his sons - and to Sammy the Goose (apparently played by three different birds). And it was good to see Robert Middleton as an affable nice person - I associate him with "nasty-guy" roles.
I was not convinced by how easily the rag-tag raiders moderated their behaviour, even releasing the goose after Eliza's pleas. These scenes would have been more realistic had the troops been commanded and controlled by a Southern gentleman.