Film: The Lighthorsemen?

[Hammers]

Can't find it on Amazon. Is it worth hunting down or is it too aged by now to be appreciated by a discerning viewer?

[Svennn]

Never seen it but where does this discerning business come from? 

[Plynkes]

Great action scenes, well worth watching for those. Cliched war-movie plot tacked on to it, not particularly interesting. The characters are dull and forgettable. They should have just played it as a straight historical movie in the style of "The Longest Day" or "A Bridge too Far." I think when making a film about historical events like this you should just show us what happened. Creating a fictional lead with his own drama to act out (like in "Titanic" or "Pearl Harbor")  doesn't do this kind of film any favours in my view. The personal story of the chap's inner conflict I thought was all a bit flat, but the telling of the military events is very exciting.


I have it on VHS, and would get it on DVD if I could find it though. The subject matter and the sheer visual spectacle of it are enough for me to happily ignore its other shortcomings.

[Hammers]

Great action scenes, well worth watching for those. Cliched war-movie plot tacked on to it, not particularly interesting. The characters are dull and forgettable. They should have just played it as a straight historical movie in the style of "The Longest Day" or "A Bridge too Far." I think when making a film about historical events like this you should just show us what happened. Creating a fictional lead with his own drama to act out (like in "Titanic" or "Pearl Harbor")  doesn 't do this kind of film any favours in my view. And they are all a bit wooden.

I have it on VHS, and would get it on DVD if I could find it though. The subject matter and the sheer visual spectacle of it are enough for me to happily ignore its other shortcomings.

Ok. Cool. Good WWI films are a bit thin on the ground so it is good to see that I have missed one. It seems like it is only available as imports on Amazon and that at prizes I do not care to pay. Maybe I shall ask Helen to get it for me.

[Plynkes]

There are plenty of clips on Youtube if you want to dip your toe first.


I must say the clunky expositional dialogue and wooden acting (with inexplicably dubbed voices of some of the actors) seem even worse than I remembered.

[joroas]

I got a copy on VHS, that may be the place to look..

[starkadder]

The Lighthorsemen was a severe disappointment when it was released in Australia. There was a sense that it was Gallipoli 2: Beersheba ("They're back and this time, they're on horseback").

It wasn't well received at the time and hasn't aged well. If you're looking at seeing the "charge", treat it like a basketball match (unnecessary to look at anything beyond the last five minutes).

The true tragedy of the film was the lead (Blake) who had a very bad car accident just after filming and has been in care ever since with severe brain damage. He was a soap star but with real potential as an actor.

There is a good film in the Australians in Palestine. It just hasn't happened stripped of the jingoism and rubbish that usually attends these things. My wife's first riding instructor was in the charge at Beersheba and he had dozens of stories about his experience. My own father served in the last units of the Bush Light Horse and had the stories drummed into him.

[Hammers]

I got a copy on VHS, that may be the place to look..

I aint got no VHS player. Nor do I ride to work on a pennyfarthing.

[Plynkes]

The "Young Indy" episode about Beersheba recycles the action footage from "The Lighthorsemen" for the big battle scenes. Maybe you could get that on DVD instead, Hammers. It has all the good bits from the Lighthorsemen with the added bonus of Catherine Zeta Jones as a baddie Boche spy lady.

[Lowtardog]

I seem to remember an older version of this was it the 10,000 horsemen or some such? B&W I think

[joroas]

I aint got no VHS player. Nor do I ride to work on a pennyfarthing.

Sadly, nothing disappeared in the 21st Century faster than VHS players................

As for Penny-Farthings, luxury! I still have to use a Boneshaker.  Still, other villagers near us don't have electricity, yet. 

[Hammers]

The "Young Indy" episode about Beersheba recycles the action footage from "The Lighthorsemen" for the big battle scenes. Maybe you could get that on DVD instead, Hammers. It has all the good bits from the Lighthorsemen with the added bonus of Catherine Zeta Jones as a baddie Boche spy lady.

Yes I remember that one quite well. I *am* contemplating the YIJ-series. i was very fond of it back then. Not sure how it holds up now. Lucas can sometimes be such a hack at plot twist and dialogue.

[Lowtardog]

Sorry it was the 40,000 horsemen

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033307/

I wonder if that means they would qualify as Imperial Guard  Rough Riders;)

[matakishi]

Light Horsemen was a mini series that was cut down to be a film, a kind of Middle East ANZACS.

Available on dvd from Australian suppliers, personally I like it but I'm easy to please

Everyone should own ANZACS btw, even if it is off topic.

[traveller]

I like the movie, bought a bucketload of TUrks and Aussies after watching it. I ordered my DVD copy from Australia. Couldn´t find it elsewhere. Hammers, PM me and maybe I can help you