Based on a true incident during the American Civil War when a vast herd of cattle see-sawed between equally hungry opposing forces, this Western despite some colourful action, is still too often slow-moving. William Holden and Richard Widmark play vigorously in the leads but are out-acted by Patrick O'Neal, as an egotistic Union commander, and Richard Rust, as a leering confederate sergeant. The best moment comes when one side digs a massive tunnel towards the cattle, only to come, in an unnerving moment, face to face with the enemy underground. Director Edward Dmytryk quite rightly likes this bizarre confrontation and lets his camera linger on the scene. The theme song is a bit of a hoot.

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