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Western

They Came to Cordura (1959): Cast & Plot

They Came to Cordura (1959) movie poster

They Came to Cordura is a 1959 western directed by Robert Rossen, starring Gary Cooper as Major Thomas Thorn, Robert Keith and Edward Platt. It runs 2 hours 3 minutes.

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They Came to Cordura (1959) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 3m (123 min)
Director
Robert Rossen
Genre
Western
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is They Came to Cordura About?

The premise of They Came to Cordura without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A hard‑charging tale of a desert warrior who battles from hellish conditions to triumph. An army major, haunted by his own cowardice, is tasked with recommending soldiers for the Congressional Medal of Honor during the 1916 Mexican Border incursion, forcing him to confront his past and judge true bravery.

They Came to Cordura Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • cowardice
  • mexican rurale
  • u.s. cavalry
  • violence
  • bandit
  • railroad hand car
  • guilty conscience
  • mexican revolution
  • based on novel
  • classical western
  • 1916
  • heflin and hunter
+38 more
  • medal of honor
  • cavalry
  • cavalry charge
  • hand car
  • bandolero
  • redheaded woman
  • four word title
  • commando mission
  • combat
  • old west
  • wild west
  • peasant army
  • rebel army
  • rebel
  • world war one
  • war hero
  • repeating rifle
  • henry rifle
  • winchester rifle
  • carbine
  • rifle
  • battle
  • revolver
  • semiautomatic pistol
  • beretta
  • pistol
  • siege
  • behind enemy lines
  • bolt action rifle
  • war violence
  • ambush
  • bandito
  • retirement
  • promotion
  • mexico
  • lancing a boil
  • desert
  • carbuncle
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Cast & crew

They Came to Cordura Cast & Characters

Gary Cooper leads the cast as Major Thomas Thorn, with Robert Keith as Col. Rogers and Edward Platt as Col. DeRose. Directed by Robert Rossen; 15 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in They Came to Cordura

· 11 more
From the director

More from Robert Rossen

More films directed by Robert Rossen, best-rated first: The Hustler, Lilith, Island in the Sun and Alexander the Great.

Full filmography
Plot

They Came to Cordura Plot Summary

What happens in They Came to Cordura from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

S. soldiers push after Pancho Villa, Major Thomas Thorn, Gary Cooper, is assigned to serve as a battlefield observer who discerns acts of heroism. His assignment is pushed by Col. Rogers, Robert Keith, a veteran officer who is 63 years old and eager for a promotion before a mandatory retirement a few months away. Rogers leads his regiment in an old-fashioned but poorly planned cavalry charge on Ojos Azules, a villa owned by Adelaide Geary, Rita Hayworth, where Villa’s men had retreated after a victory over Mexican government troops and were enjoying her hospitality. Thorn, excused from the fighting, watches through his binoculars as Lt. William Fowler, Tab Hunter, Sgt. John Chawk, Van Heflin, Cpl. Milo Trubee, Richard Conte, and Pvt.

Full summary

The whole story of They Came to Cordura, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Videos

They Came to Cordura Trailers & Videos

The trailer of They Came to Cordura.

They Came to Cordura - Trailer | Crackle
Quiz

How Well Do You Know They Came to Cordura?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Which actor portrays Major Thomas Thorn?

Cars

Cars in They Came to Cordura

2 cars on screen: the 1916 Dodge Brothers Four and the 1916 FWD Model B.

  • 1916 Dodge Brothers Four in They Came to Cordura 1916 Dodge Brothers Four Background role
  • 1916 FWD Model B in They Came to Cordura 1916 FWD Model B Background role
Details

They Came to Cordura Also Known As

15 alternative titles, including “Ceux de Cordura” and “Sie kamen nach Cordura”.

Also known as
  • Ceux de Cordura
  • Sie kamen nach Cordura
  • Llegaron a Cordura
  • A gyávák bátorsága
  • Heróis de Barro
  • Героите на Кордура
  • W drodze do Cordury
  • 황야의 탈출
  • آنها به کوردورا آمدند
  • 威震群雄
  • Přišli do Cordury
  • De kom til Cordura
+3 more
  • Van arribar a Cordura
  • Они приехали в Кордура
  • コルドラへの道

Seen They Came to Cordura?

FAQ

They Came to Cordura FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of They Came to Cordura, each answered in a sentence.

How long is They Came to Cordura?

They Came to Cordura runs 2 hours 3 minutes (123 minutes).

When was They Came to Cordura released?

They Came to Cordura was released on June 1, 1959.

Who directed They Came to Cordura?

They Came to Cordura was directed by Robert Rossen.

More films by Robert Rossen

Who is in the cast of They Came to Cordura?

They Came to Cordura stars Gary Cooper as Major Thomas Thorn, Robert Keith as Col. Rogers and Edward Platt as Col. DeRose, among 15 credited actors.

Does They Came to Cordura have a post-credit scene?

No. They Came to Cordura has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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