The Undefeated (1969)

Director:

Andrew V. McLaglen

Writers:

James Lee Barrett (screenplay)
Stanley Hough (story)

Release Date:

27 November 1969 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

After the Civil War, ex-Union Colonel John Henry Thomas and ex-Confederate Colonel James Langdon are...

Plot Keywords:

American Civil War | Bandit | Horse | Mexican Revolution | Mexico

Cast

John Wayne	...	Col. John Henry Thomas
Rock Hudson	...	Col. James Langdon
Antonio Aguilar	...	Juarista Gen. Rojas (as Tony Aguilar)
Roman Gabriel	...	Blue Boy (John Henry's Cherokee Indian adopted son)
Marian McCargo	...	Ann Langdon
Lee Meriwether	...	Margaret Langdon
Merlin Olsen	...	Cpl. Little George, CSA
Melissa Newman	...	Charlotte Langdon
Bruce Cabot	...	Sgt. Jeff Newby CSA
Jan-Michael Vincent	...	Lt. Bubba Wilkes CSA (as Michael Vincent)
Ben Johnson	...	Short Grub
Edward Faulkner	...	Capt. Anderson, CSA (Col. Langdon's aide)
Harry Carey Jr.	...	Soloman Webster (Thomas rider)
Paul Fix	...	Gen. Joe Masters
Royal Dano	...	Maj. Sanders, CSA (one-armed major)

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish | French

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

West Germany:16 (f) (original rating) | West Germany:12 (f) (re-rated) | Australia:G | Australia:PG (TV rating) | New Zealand:PG | Finland:K-12 | South Korea:12 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:G | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

According to director Andrew V. McLaglen, his first choice for the role of Colonel James Langdon was James Arness, who was willing to do it but backed out just before shooting began. Rock Hudson was brought in as his replacement.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Looking closely, you can see the rifle of the tenth member of the firing squad. Also you can plainly see his shadow on the ground at a 10 o' clock position. There are several other shots that confirm the number.

Quotes:

Col. John Henry Thomas: [Thomas and Langdon are talking to the Mexican bandit] Is the flap on your holster snapped or unsnapped, my Confederate friend?
Col. James Langdon: Snapped, my Yankee friend.
Col. John Henry Thomas: Then, I guess I'm his pigeon.
[Draws and fires as the Mexican goes for his gun]

Movie Connections:

Featured in Rock Hudson's Home Movies (1992)

decent but hampered by odd casting

This movie is a good time passer but certainly cannot be ranked among the better John Wayne films. That's because of an odd casting decision--pairing John Wayne with Rock Hudson. Hudson is just all wrong, as he's way too pretty and sophisticated to be in a western. He's really much more in his element wearing a tux and drinking martinis with a pretty lady---not cast as a Confederate officer just after the conclusion of the Civil War. Plus, the chemistry just seemed a little lacking between them. Unfortunately, this lack of chemistry is apparent in several of the films towards the end of John Wayne's career. Still, despite its shortcomings, this is a watchable film and you could certainly do a lot worse than watch this flick.