So I'm watching the movie, and with the title in mind, I'm wondering what connection the story line had to an actual Springfield Rifle. You think maybe the film makers threw that in as an afterthought, presumably to capitalize on Jimmy Stewart's success with "Winchester '73"? That's what I've read anyway, and that might explain things. One thing for sure, after hearing it repeated a number of times, I think we all get the business about the rifle being effective on a ratio of five men to one.
Now if you've ever seen Chuck Connors in "Branded", the early scene of Lex Kearney (Gary Cooper) being courtmartialed and drummed out of the army for cowardice and gross neglect of duty will look familiar. What was unusual though was seeing him painted with a yellow stripe down his back! Did they really do that? Anyway, that's a pretty good set up for Kearney's turn as a counterintelligence officer for the Union Army once things get going.
You know, there was a very cool move that I'm willing to bet was unintentional during the battle with McCool's (David Brian) outlaw bunch. During the fight, Pete Elm (Lon Chaney) shoots Captain Tennick (Philip Carey), and because Tennick's horse was on a bit of a hilly incline, when the horse buckled, he fell on top of Tennick and rolled right over him! I bet they couldn't reproduce that scene in a million years again without hurting man or horse. I had to rewind that part a couple of times just to marvel at it again. There's another interesting point to made of that sequence as well. After the fight was over, Kearney has more greasepaint on his face than when he started!
Well be that as it may, the main point of the story had to do with establishing a counter espionage unit within the Union military, a point of contention early on when it was revealed the Confederate Army was using one during the Civil War, and it was thought beneath the dignity of the Union to do the same. I guess there's nothing like success to pave the way. In it's own little piece of the story, I guess the Springfield Rifle earned it's place in history too.
Now if you've ever seen Chuck Connors in "Branded", the early scene of Lex Kearney (Gary Cooper) being courtmartialed and drummed out of the army for cowardice and gross neglect of duty will look familiar. What was unusual though was seeing him painted with a yellow stripe down his back! Did they really do that? Anyway, that's a pretty good set up for Kearney's turn as a counterintelligence officer for the Union Army once things get going.
You know, there was a very cool move that I'm willing to bet was unintentional during the battle with McCool's (David Brian) outlaw bunch. During the fight, Pete Elm (Lon Chaney) shoots Captain Tennick (Philip Carey), and because Tennick's horse was on a bit of a hilly incline, when the horse buckled, he fell on top of Tennick and rolled right over him! I bet they couldn't reproduce that scene in a million years again without hurting man or horse. I had to rewind that part a couple of times just to marvel at it again. There's another interesting point to made of that sequence as well. After the fight was over, Kearney has more greasepaint on his face than when he started!
Well be that as it may, the main point of the story had to do with establishing a counter espionage unit within the Union military, a point of contention early on when it was revealed the Confederate Army was using one during the Civil War, and it was thought beneath the dignity of the Union to do the same. I guess there's nothing like success to pave the way. In it's own little piece of the story, I guess the Springfield Rifle earned it's place in history too.