Only The Valiant (1951)

A mix of the reasonably frequently used "cavalry officer fails to go on a mission through no fault of his own and everyone blames him" storyline and the band of misfits sent to do a dangerous mission storyline. I wasn't a huge fan of this, although it's by no means terrible. Gregory Peck is the title cavalry officer, Captain Lance, who is suspected of sending his friend on a suicide mission because of some love-interest rivalry.

There are two main problems with this I think. First, all the drama seems very contrived: the Indians somehow live behind a wall of mountains with a single pass they can get through that must be defended with a fort; the misunderstanding about why Lance ordered his friend away which could frankly have been solved with an explanation; the alcoholic sergeant somehow replacing the entire water supply with whiskey – none of it really rings true. Second, most of the characters are pretty much one-note, defined by their obvious failing: the alcoholic, the bully who's been passed up for promotion, the coward, the deserter, and the racistly stereotyped Arab (although not stereotyped in a slightly dated manner, now). Ward Bond's alcoholic sergeant comes off best—despite some over-acting—since he's at least portrayed as also being a loyal cavalryman too.

That said, it all makes sense, there's some entertaining action, and provided you don't think too much about it then it's not too bad. There's just much better cavalry themed Westerns to watch.