In Pursuit of Honor (1995)

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

Enjoyed it immensely, however; it left me to consider the logistics of driving 400 horses over 2000 miles. At max the drive can move at about 3 miles an hour for 10 hours a day. No time line was provided in the movie. At 30 miles a day it would take between 2 to 3 months to get the horses to Canada if driven in a straight line without having to search out water. There was no mention of any supply line. What did the men and horses eat? How did they cross fence, the Rocky Mountains, and rivers? Since the story is based on a myth, it is obvious that the HBO researchers were unable to find any evidence that there is any substance behind the tale. It would have been much more likely, had the Army rid itself of surplus horses, that they would have been sold off either as working stock or to meat packers. At any rate, even during the depression, horses had significant value and it is doubtful that the Army would have overlooked that fact. All this aside, it is still a great story and a well done flick with good performances by human and animal actors. I would have loved a "How they did it" segment included on the DVD, especially on the horse slaughter with 50 cal. machine guns.

As a horseman I was caught up in the emotions of the story, but that is exactly what it was. It claims to be based on true events, but it is completely made up (except a small part of the Bonus Army material in the beginning and the part of the cavalry men turning in their sabers). So as a history buff I was quite upset that anyone would try to pass this off as actual history. It smears the name of Gen. MacArthur and the Army. If anyone takes a little time to research he/she will find the Army never did this and this is a made up story told by some cowboys to a dude in Montana. The acting is not bad. Don Johnson does a pretty good job and is convincing in his role. Rod Steiger is terrific. When the element of killing trusting horses is mixed with the over the top villain, Bob Gunton, and the cold blooded MacArthur (played by James Sikking) the potion is enticing. I was pulled in to the story and cheered for the "horse thieves". However, remember it is not true - shame on the producers for indicating so.

I was reminded of this movie again when reading a brief note about a lawyer who, among other things, investigated and prosecuted persons who committed the killing of horses for profit. This movie raises several difficult issues. When is it our duty to act to protect those who are in no position to act for themselves? The story sets up a clear conflict of conscience: Who wouldn't want to prevent the slaughter of 500 innocent horses who have performed the involuntary duty of carrying soldiers into war? Yet, how many of us would have had the courage to completely undo their lives in order to stand for such a principle? The soldiers involved in the rescue of the horses in question chose to actively prevent the carrying out of a direct order, at great risk to themselves. The effect of the telling of the story is to serve as inspiration; stories of courage are more thought-provoking when based on an actual event.I felt this movie was well acted, well told, and at times wrenchingly realistic. I haven't seen its reappearance on cable since it was first shown in the late 90's, but it's worth seeing by a new generation of viewers because its story is timeless.

I'm biased: I love horses; I love movies with and about horses. I've seen horse-related movies good, bad, & indifferent. But there was nothing bad or indifferent about In Pursuit of Honor. The first time I watched it, I cried like a baby and swore I'd never watch it again, it devastated me so. But it draws me back again and again, and I've watched the movie probably a dozen times. To my mind, In Pursuit of Honor is one of that rare breed: the perfect movie. The writing, filming, and acting all combine to create the kind of movie that, like a good book, you want to experience over and over again. And if nothing else, it showed me that Don Johnson is not the shallow, pretty face I'd always considered him; he gives a wonderfully restrained performance, as does Craig Sheffer. An entertaining, educational, historically accurate movie that my husband and I will enjoy at least another dozen times.