Alvarez Kelly (1966)

Alvarez Kelly: Directed by Edward Dmytryk. With William Holden, Richard Widmark, Janice Rule, Patrick O’Neal. During the Civil War, Mexican cattleman Alvarez Kelly supplies the Union with cattle until Confederate Colonel Tom Rossiter’s hungry men force Kelly to change his customers.

“Alvarez Kelly, Mexican national, has just sold a herd of cattle to the North during the American Civil War. Yankee Major Stedman insists he accompany the cattle all the way to Richmond where theyu0026#39;re to feed Grantu0026#39;s troops besieging the city. Only Confederate Cavalry hero Tom Rossiter has different ideas for the cattle and for Kelly.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWilliam Holden as Kelly and Richard Widmark as Tom Rossiter settle down in roles familiar to them. Ever since Sunset Boulevard Bill Holden has brought us a fine line of cynical protagonists to the silver screen. Holdenu0026#39;s good, but heu0026#39;s not breaking any new ground here.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eRichard Widmark as Rossiter is a bit more idealistic than Kelly, but only because he believes in a cause. Heu0026#39;s no less cynical than Kelly in his methods of getting Kellyu0026#39;s cooperation in his scheme. The scheme being to get the cattle passed union lines to Richmond. Weu0026#39;re not talking here about slavery and the causes of the Civil War. Just the prevention of disease and starvation.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe only other larger role of note is Patrick Ou0026#39;Neal as Major Stedman of the Union Army. He is such and unctuous and boring man and written deliberately so by the writers that we will understand why Kelly is tempted by the Confederate offer. Of course Widmark uses other forms of persuasion, but you have to see the movie for that.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eItu0026#39;s a nice action film by two very capable male stars who were passed the peak years of their respective careers in the Fifties. Also you will not be able to get the title song, sung by the Kingston Trio over the opening credits out of your mind. Very catchy indeed.”