Richmond is under siege, and with many Confederate soldiers going without food, Colonel Rossiter, portrayed by Richard Widmark, decides to seize a large cattle shipment typically delivered to the Union army by Mexican Kelly, played by William Holden. Convincing Kelly isn't easy; he’s not swayed by promises of money printed by Jefferson Davis. Complicating matters further, Major Stedman, commanding the surrounding Uni…

"Alvarez Kelly," released in 1966, is a Civil War Western centered on an event inspired by the Beefsteak Raid. It shares elements with "The Horse Soldiers," another film featuring William Holden, and "Major Dundee." While it doesn’t quite measure up to either of those films—"Horse Soldiers" stands out as the stronger one—it's still potentially enjoyable for viewers interested in the genre, though you shouldn't antici…

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 Clint…