In 1916, the American Army is hunting Pancho Villa down in Mexico. The awards officer Major Thomas Thorn (Gary Cooper) is assigned as observer in the battlefield to seek out heroes in the regiment of veteran Colonel Rogers (Robert Keith) during the attack to Ojos Azules villa to be nominated to the Medal of Honor with Pvt. Andrew Hetherington (Michael Callan) that is riding with him. The villa is owned by the American Adelaide Geary (Rita Hayworth), who welcomes Pancho Villa´s men after their raids. However, Colonel Rogers commands the attack and defeats them in Ojos Azules. Thorn identifies acts of heroism by Lt. Fowler (Tab Hunter), Sgt. Chawk (Van Heflin), Cpl. Trubee (Richard Conte) and Pvt. Renziehausen (Dick York) during the charge. When Colonel Rogers learns that was not nominated by Thorn for the Medal of Honor, he is furious with Thorn. Rogers unsuccessfully tries to change his position reminding Thorn that he was protected by him from an investigation of cowardice in respect to his father. Thorn rides with the five soldiers and Geary, who is accused of giving hospitality to Pancho Villa´s men to Candura. Along the difficulties of their journey, Thorn researches the feelings of the men during their heroic acts and learns that one heroic act does not turn men into heroes.
"They Came to Cordura" is a different Western, with a complex and confused lead character. Major Thomas Thron is a man haunted by a guilty complex since he was a coward in his first battle when he was a rookie soldier. He spends most of the story trying to understand heroism with a group of scums. It is not clear in the conclusion whether he learnt about human nature. My vote is eight.
Title (Brazil): "Heróis de Barro" ("Clay Heroes")
"They Came to Cordura" is a different Western, with a complex and confused lead character. Major Thomas Thron is a man haunted by a guilty complex since he was a coward in his first battle when he was a rookie soldier. He spends most of the story trying to understand heroism with a group of scums. It is not clear in the conclusion whether he learnt about human nature. My vote is eight.
Title (Brazil): "Heróis de Barro" ("Clay Heroes")