One Man's Hero (1999)
2h 1m | PG-13
One Man's Hero tells the little-known story of the "St. Patrick's Battalion" or "San Patricios," a group of mostly Irish and other immigrants of the Catholic faith who deserted to Mexico after encountering religious and ethnic prejudice in the U.S. Army during the Mexican-American War. The plot centers around the personal story of John Riley, an Irishman who had been a sergeant in the American Army who is commissioned as a captain in the Mexican army and commands the battalion, as he leads his men in battle and struggles with authorities on both sides of the border
Director: Lance Hool
Studio: Arco Films S.L
Genre: Western, Action, Drama, History
Video: 720p
Cast
Tom Berenger
as Captain John Riley
Joaquim de Almeida
as Cortina
Daniela Romo
as Marta
Mark Moses
as Col. Benton Lacy
Stuart Graham
as Corporal Kenneally
Gregg Fitzgerald
as Paddy Noonan
Reviews
Terrific material; terrible movie. By the nineteenth century, Irish catholic soldiers had centuries of experience abroad, in the service of the British Empire, as well as in continental armies and across South America. Here, the St Patrick's Battalion, a largely Irish unit, defends Mexico in the Mexican-American War (1846-1848). There are complex subjects here – American imperialism and racism, patriotism and pan-religious loyalties – all in the period of the Great Famine (1845-1852). But the film is so melodramatic, so poorly produced, directed, and acted, that it’s difficult to trust any of it, even by the standards of historical accuracy in film.