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John Ford's The Long Gray Line is running again on Tuner Classic Movies.

For those who haven't seen it, it's a heavily sentimental, but worth watching, film treatment of the life of Martin Maher. Martin Maher was a real individual, who enlisted in the Army in 1898 and served at West Point from 1899 until his retirement in the 20s, and then again as a civil servant until he retired from that in the 50s. I think Maher may even have had a brief period of employment at West Point prior to joining the Army. Maher was Irish, and so fans of John Ford's treatment of certain Irish tunes may like the movie for that reason, and will likely recognize Ford film variants of Garry Owen, Wearing of the Green, and other tunes from other films.

Not a horse movie, but a pleasant one to watch. Good actors in all the roles (Maher is played by Tyrone Powers). A reference to horses is made in that Maher indicates he was inspecting new purchases in one scene taking place in WWI. And the films shows campaign hats of the original M1911 type in a way very much matching what we see in period photographs.

Pat,
I agree, amovie well worth watching. If I remember correctly, many scenes in the movie were filmed at the Point. In fact the train station in one of the final scenes is still there. Unfortunatly since 911 the grounds are off limits except by guided bus tours.
George.

I know I'm dating myself, but I remember that movie from childhood. I'll be sure to watch it.

One of my favorites and not just because of John Ford (I'm USMA 81). I've had one too many and stumbled about in several of the places depicted in the movie

This is an interesting link to the writing of the book "Bringing up the Brass" upon which the movie was based: http://www.aogusma.org/Pubs/ASSEMBLY/020304/maher.htm

Red Reeder and Marty are part of an army that disappeared in WWII. Edward Coffman captures it pretty well in his social history "The Regulars."

I might point out, Brigadier General Harry Chamberlin, the army's greatest horseman, was also the star halfback of the Army football team in 1909 and 1910, and was ultimately one of Marty's "Brass."