Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

"Twentieth Century Fox was uncertain whether to feature Elvis in the film as a singer or as an actor. So they tried to have it both ways."This movie brings it's highs and lows. A trio of brothers fresh from a raid of a Union payroll find out that the war is over on their way to turn in the money to their General with the unit.Their commander Vance (Richard Egan) decides there is no Confederate Government to turn the cash in to. They split the dough and head home. The plot twists when the Union army decides to come after the former raiders, causing splits among the raiders and increasing the tension between the brothers. The movie is good, the acting is pretty good and the story moves along well. As far as Elvis goes, this movie proves he can act. Its a shame that we did't see him in later years in more conventional movies such as this one, its a pity Elvis never got that chance.Good movie! But then anything is good with Elvis in it!

Elvis' screen debut and he is not great... but the movie itself ain't too bad, except the huge error in geography -- this is a western portrayed with mountains and mountainous desert landscapes... but it takes place in Louisiana. Ummm, Mr. Director, ever been to Louisiana?! You could simply have looked in an encyclopedia at the time to see that Louisiana has NO terrain of the nature you chose to film around. NONE. Very bad. In any case, it sure was strange to see Elvis shaking' and twistin' in "1865." He had four songs and three were rockin' numbers, two with women swooning at him -- so out of place for this time period. His acting was stiff at times and so very plain. Really an amateur. But a decent western otherwise--The Kat Pirate Screener

I liked this film. I had never seen it until recently. Mr. Presley was a good actor; he had great potential. The entire cast does a fine job. Robert Webb was a solid director. Richard Egan and Debra Pagett did fine work. I found the narrative engaging. The story was complex as were the characters. I wish that Mr. Presley had had a chance to hone his craft with good instruction and other good material. He clearly had ability to create convincing, interesting, and well-rounded characters.The cinematography has a crisp look with good balance and tonalities. The locations don't remind me of Texas but that was common for westerns at the time this movie was filmed. I grant that the ending feels a bit forced, but the overall story works.The music did not have much, if anything, to do with the narrative but, heck, who cares. It is terrific.

I've seen this movie many many many times, and it is so good. would love to see this one AND King Creole colorized, WOW you have to admit that would be so cool, it would be like watching a movie ABOUT Elvis Presley with Elvis playing himself! especially this one, that or like watching a home movie of him with color and sound, im sorry guys I've seen what they did with Jailhouse Rock and WOWWWWWWlol! I also agree that if Elvis hadnt been involved with this movie it would have just went down as a B picture, it wouldn't have done well at the box office at all, and speaking of box office its a shame with all the fandom surrounding this picture at the time(56) its a wonder Elvis didn't at LEAST get an Oscar nomination! Michael Smith