4 Star

Brutality Out West

Who doesn’t love a classic western, well that was the way until 1970 when Theodore V. Olsen (The Stalking Moon) and John Gay (Run Silent Run Deep, Separate Tables) adapted Olsen’s novel “Arrow in the Sun” for the big screen, telling the tale of the massacre in 1864, and to mirror the atrocities going on in Vietnam. Directed by Ralph Nelson (Lilies of the Field, Once a Thief) who brings the harsh brutality of man upon his fellow man. This is not your typical western, be prepared to be shocked. As ever, old views may offend.

Soldier Blue starts with a rousing song, written and sung by Buffy Sainte-Marie (An Officer and a Gentleman (soundtrack, Moulin Rouge! (soundtrack) (“Elephant Love Medley”)), that sets the scene for the whole film, which also comes with a warning about the final scenes and the darker side of man’s soul.

Private Honus Gant (Peter Strauss, The Secret of N-I-M-H, xXx²: The Next Level) is quietly waiting for Capt. Battles (Dana Elcar, The Sting, MacGyver (TV Series)), the paymaster to join the company as his friend talks lewdly about the woman sat in the paymaster’s carriage. She is Cresta Maribell Lee (Candice Bergen, Miss Congeniality, Sweet Home Alabama) and for the past two years she has been living with the Cheyenne. Now she and the company are headed to fort Reunion, where the troops will get paid and Lee will be reunited with her fiancée.

Just outside the way station, the captain sends Honus to be an outrigger to keep an eye out for the Cheyenne, as Capt Battles thinks the Injun’s are after their gold, much to the amusement of Lt. Spingarn (Martin West, Assault on Precinct 13, Family Plot), but unfortunately, Battles is right and soon they company is under heavy fire as bodies hit the floor.

Lee is quick on her feet and gets out of the way as Honus tries to get back to his company, but he is attacked and knocked out by the flying dead body of his attacker.

In the end Honus and Lee are the only survivors, and that’s where their troubles start, as Honus is prudish and Lee swears like a trooper and calls a spade a spade much to the annoyance of Honus. Also, they have to avoid the natives and the hundred-mile journey to fort Reunion.

With Donald Pleasence (Halloween, The Great Escape) putting in a creepy performance as a dodgy salesman, the pair’s journey is going to be fraught with danger and foul language.

Soldier Blue is a class film and should be seen by all, and now that it is on 4K and Blu-ray it looks better than the day it came out at the cinemas. Don’t forget, this shows the dark side of man’s soul.

“A hundred miles ahead of us, and you’re going back?! Back!

What the hell am I doing? Twenty-One soldiers, and I got you.”

SOLDIER BLUE is available to buy on 4K UHD SteelBook, Blu-ray, DVD and Digital from 15th July 2024.