Set against the backdrop of the 1916 war against Pancho Villa, They Came to Cordura stars screen icon Gary Cooper (High Noon) as Thomas Thorn, a career Army officer given the humiliating task of leading five Medal of Honor candidates to the military base of Cordura, Texas. Branded a coward during battle, Thorn hopes to learn what these men, each of whom performed heroically under fire, possess which he lacks. But as the grueling journey through the desert progresses, the “heroes” panic, attempting murder and mutiny as the quest for survival reveals their true characters. The brilliant Rita Hayworth (The Lady from Shanghai) co-stars as the seventh member of the group, an American expatriate who gradually comes to appreciate Thorn’s quiet integrity as he leads his mutinous charges through a desperate odyssey. Filled with both exciting action and finely tuned drama, their treacherous trek to the town of Cordura (which is also the Spanish word for courage) is a rugged and riveting tale of bravery far more enduring than the fleeting heroics of battle. Co-starring Van Heflin (Shane) and Tab Hunter (Damn Yankees) under the stirring direction of Robert Rossen (All the King’s Men, The Hustler).
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Video Quality
They Came to Cordura debuts on Blu-Ray courtesy of Kino Classics with a digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer which does not hail from a new master, but it provides an enjoyable viewing experience. Instances of print damage such as nicks and scratches are visible from the earliest moments and never really let up, but it is not to a level that would distract from the film. Looking past these deficiencies, the overall clarity and detail looks quite pleasing.
This transfer maintains the natural film grain of the presentation with a refined look that only borders on noise. Colors are capably saturated with the warm hues of the western territory coming through. Image stability and delineation is quite firm which allows the presentation to look nice throughout most of the runtime. Skin tones are slightly warm but consistent with subtle facial features such as stubble easily noticeable in closeup. Black levels could be deeper, but there are no egregious instances of crush apparent. This presentation is an admirable effort that pleases despite the lack of a fresh master.
Audio Quality
This new Blu-Ray comes with a lossless DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix that does everything that is asked of it. The environmental effects are distinguished well along this journey with nothing ever sounding garbled. The score provides a baseline of support to the narrative which is presented with clarity and a strong fidelity. The audio track avoids most instances of age related wear and tear, hissing and distortion. Dialogue comes through without fail, as the track knows how to balance the levels of the score and sound effects. Kino Classics has done a pretty good job with this. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided on this disc.
Special Features
- Introduction by Filmmaker/Film Historian Bertrand Tavernier: A nearly 30-minute interview with the film historian in which he bluntly discusses the many failures of the film and why that still does not make it something that should be discarded. Tavernier gives a lot of great details about the creatives involved, the themes of the narrative, the ensemble and more.
- Trailers: The two-and-a-half minute trailer is provided for They Came to Cordura. There are also trailers provided for The Plainsman, Vera Cruz, Man Of The West, The Lady From Shanghai, Separate Tables, Tomahawk and Wings Of The Hawk.
Final Thoughts
They Came to Cordura is a really captivating film which does not quite make it to the finish line. This hellish journey reveals some of the darkest impulses of a desperate man, and it challenges the audience to debate what constitutes heroism. The performances are top notch across the board with Gary Cooper playing a flawed but relatable character and Rita Hayworth offering the type of nuanced performance you know she can nail when given the right material. The story feels a bit muddy as the credits begin to play you out, but the story we get is never dull. Kino Classics has released a new Blu-Ray with a solid A/V presentation and a useful supplemental feature. If you are a fan of any member of the ensemble, this is worth a watch. Recommended
They Came to Cordura is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.