I first saw this film in 1959 at our local cinema in Sydney aged about 12. Even then I felt there was something odd about an officer accused of cowardice, Major Thomas Thorn played by a very serious Gary Cooper, who becomes the awards officer for the U.S. Punitive Expedition against Pancho Villa in Mexico in 1916. During a battle that is the reverse of the Alamo, Mexicans inside, Americans outside, Thorn observes acts of bravery (through binoculars from a distance) and recommends five men for the Medal of Honor. He is then detailed to take them to the town of Cordura. He also escorts an American woman accused of helping the enemy, Adelaide Geary, played by Rita Hayworth, still stunning at 40 with a glowing mane of red hair. As they journey, Thorn is obsessed with the true meaning of courage and questions the men endlessly about their actions. He begins to see another side to the five heroes who seem either weak or criminally inclined.John Wayne hated this movie, feeling that it had denigrated the Medal of Honor - he had a point. Other IMDb reviewers have pointed out historical inaccuracies including the fact that no Medal of Honor was awarded during the campaign.The last two thirds of the movie sees the group wandering in the wilderness with Thorn the most determined and heroic of the men.There were a lot of issues going on around this movie, which may have distracted director Robert Rossen from delivering a more appealing film. He had named names during the HUAC investigations, and questions about the true nature of courage and cowardice were no doubt playing on his mind.Then again, maybe his biggest mistake was to start the film with its most spectacular sequence. A lot of filmmakers would be wary of doing that.And it is spectacular. "They Came to Cordura" contains one of the best cavalry charges on film. Directed by second unit director James Curtis Havens with John Ford-like panache, it features a regiment of U.S. Cavalry emerging from the dust, followed by changes in formation before the remarkable scene as the horsemen form a "line of troopers boot to boot" and charge. Accompanied by Elie Siegmeister's forceful score, this is masterful cinema.Unfortunately, "They Came to Cordura" is ultimately mangled by its message, and it was Darryl Zanuck who once said, "If you want to send a message, use Western Union".

In 1916, an army major leads a woman prisoner and a disagreeable group of soldiers through rugged terrain near the Mexican border. This is a standard Western that takes a while to get going and then goes on a bit too long, but is helped by a good cast. Cooper, who was ailing at the time and would make only two more films, is solid as a cowardly officer tasked with finding candidates for the Congressional Medal of Honor. Hayworth is quite alluring as an American accused of abetting Mexico against her country. The familiar cast includes Heflin and Conte as the villains, Keith as a colonel seeking glory, as well as future TV actors York and Platt. This was the only Western for Rossen, an uneven director.

A really good movie. Ultimately a redemption movie. Heroes can also be villains. A single act of cowardice or an act of courage does not mark the measure or the destiny of a man. Also, confidence in people can change them and reform them.The acting is superb throughout, and Gary Cooper captures wonderfully the gradual decline as he leads his motley crew on a trek to survival through the desert. An heroic performance to match the hero he portrays.This is movie that deserves more acclaim than it has received. In my book this is a must see. Great fare for Sunday afternoon on the couch!

Never viewed this film until recently and was completely surprised by the role Gary Cooper, (Maj. Thomas Thorn) played as a rather soft spoken Army Awards officer who was in charge of giving out Congressional Medals of Honor to a group of men. These men fought in the war of 1916 against Pancho Villa and Maj. Thorn rounded up all these men and one woman, Adelaide Geary, (Rita Hayworth) who befriended Pancho Villa's men at her ranch and was being brought back to Cordura for a trial. The story revolves around all these soldiers, Sgt. John Chawk, (Van Heflin), Cpl. Milo Trubee, (Richard Conti) and Lt. William Fowler, (Tab Hunter) who were all awarded this high military award. However, there is a great deal of trouble among the men as they find out about each others hidden past and dark secrets. The men lose their self-control with only one woman among them and there are many problems that occur through out the film. This is a very unusual Gary Cooper film with him being labeled as a coward and good for nothing.