VeteranLight I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

Izzy Adkins The movie is surprisingly subdued in its pacing, its characterizations, and its go-for-broke sensibilities.

Mandeep Tyson The acting in this movie is really good.

Janis One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

MartinHafer Tonight I watched "Springfield Rifle" for the third time in my life--but it's the first time in over 25 years. The reason I wanted to see it again was to see if the movie was as enjoyable as I remembered.The film is set during the US Civil War and takes place out West in Colorado. Soon after the movie's start, an officer (Gary Cooper) makes a questionable decision in the face of the enemy and orders his men to run and abandon their horses. As a result, there is a court martial and he's thrown out of the Cavalry for cowardice. Afterwords, Cooper shows a lot of anger and contempt for his old unit and he gets himself arrested. However, he and two Confederate sympathizers escape jail and make towards a band of thugs who work for the South--stealing horses as well as raiding Union supplies and attacking the men.Now it's VERY obvious to anyone who's seen lots of westerns that Cooper is actually working under cover to infiltrate this band of irregulars (i.e., non-military men who fight). This is western movie plot #3--and it's been repeated many, many times--by the likes of Tim McCoy, Randolph Scott, Roy Rogers and many others. Can the film use an old and familiar plot and make it interesting? Well, yes. Cooper was quite good and the rest were fine, as it had a nice ensemble cast of excellent supporting actors (such as David Brian, Lon Chaney, Jr., Guinn Williams and Paul Kelly). However, the big star was the GORGEOUS color cinematography which really made a B-movie plot look into a solid A-picture.So is it a great film? Nah...but it certainly is enjoyable and fun--plus there are a few unexpected angles that manage to punch up an otherwise ordinary plot. Sometimes you don't need an earth-shattering plot--just a well-made film that manages to entertain--and this one sure does.

polynikes-969-125073 I had a problem with the film's contention that the Springfield rifle was such an effective and awesome weapon. Eleven years after the end of the Civil War, a later-model Springfield was issued to Custer's 7th Cavalry, a weapon that, when fired continually, overheated, causing the soft copper cartridges of that era to expand, thus jamming the ejection mechanism. As may be imagined, this manifestation was not a desirable one. Having to claw and dig out jammed cartridge cases from hot rifle breeches in the face of overwhelming hordes of hostile Lakota and Cheyenne tribesmen, armed with better and more reliable rifles, was a major contributing reason that Custer's command was wiped out.

Dave The fight scene between Gary Cooper and Lon Chaney Junior has a sad conclusion. It is supposed to be funny, given the musical score, but climax is a sad reflection of Lon Chaney Junior's career.Seven years before "Springfield Rifle," Chaney Jr. was a leading man for Universal studios. In this film, he is a bumbling villain who gets beat up by Gary Cooper's hero. Chaney's Pete Elm garners more sympathy as a tragic hero when the last shot of "Springfield Rifle" is fired."Springfield Rifle" is a grand movie with an involving story. After his Oscar win earlier in the year (costarring Chaney Jr. again), "Springfield Rifle" is a worthy follow up.

bkoganbing Springfield Rifle is the film Gary Cooper made after his much acclaimed performance in High Noon. Not that it's a bad film, but a fairly routine western which even kind of gives away who the inside man is way too early in the film. It would have been better had their been more suspense.Gary Cooper goes undercover to find a ring of rustlers who are working in cahoots with the Confederacy during the Civil War, stealing horses meant for the Union cavalry.To do this he gets himself courtmartialed and drummed out of the army. And he gets the full Chuck Connors treatment, that Connors received on his series Branded. This enables Cooper to join the renegades led by David Brian and Lon Chaney, Jr. Things do get complicated when Coop's wife, Phyllis Thaxter, shows up to tell him about their son who has run away. Her concern nearly derails the mission and her husband.Some good western action is in Springfield Rifle, a couple of pitched battles with the renegades and Cooper finally uncovering the inside man in the rustling ring.Three good performances besides the players mentioned are Guinn Williams as the sergeant who saves Cooper from a hangman, Paul Kelly as the post commander, and Philip Carey as a rival officer to Cooper on the post.Springfield Rifle is good action entertainment for those who like their westerns action filled.