Throughout every conflict and era, sustenance has often been overlooked as a tool of power. Edward Dmytryk’s Alvarez Kelly features William Holden and Richard Widmark. The screenplay comes from Elliott Arnold & Franklin Coen, with Dan Taradash receiving uncredited assistance in polishing the writing; Joseph MacDonald handled the cinematography (using Panavision) for filming that took place in Baton Rouge and Clinton, Louisiana. The narrative seems to be inspired by a real event during the US Civil War of 1864, depicting how Alvarez Kelly (Holden) is taken captive by Confederate forces under Tom Rossiter (Widmark) and compelled to deliver a herd of cattle belonging to the Union to starving Rebel soldiers in Richmond. The film progresses at a measured pace and suffers from a lackluster script, so Alvarez Kelly depends on its performers and visuals to prevent it from being entirely unremarkable. It appears those involved intended to create a socially aware piece centered around a historical occurrence. However, what results is an overly verbose movie with stretches of pointless dialogue, occasionally brightened by an action-filled conclusion. Even then, one could argue that the "battle for the bridge" and the ensuing "stampede" aren't worth the wait of ninety minutes. The performances are dependable; Holden seems to be playing a familiar type of character, while Widmark, wearing an eye patch, is believable as a gruff Colonel. Joseph MacDonald’s photography stands out as particularly impressive, not only for portraying the starkness of the Southern landscape in Baton Rouge but also for his lens choices, which showcase the excellent costuming (a nod to Seth Banks) and highlight the female characters (Janice Rule & Victoria Shaw). The film looks wonderful; presented in High Definition, the colors are vibrant. Dmytryk (Broken Lance/Warlock), Holden (The Horse Soldiers/The Wild Bunch) & Widmark (The Last Wagon/Cheyenne Autumn) have already given Western enthusiasts plenty to appreciate, but this is one of their collaborations that’s likely to be easily forgotten once the credits finish rolling. 5/10

Source on TMDB