WesternActionDramaHistory

One Man's Hero

- One man's hero is another man's traitor.

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

Release Date : 1999-08-02

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Arco Films S.LHool/Macdonald ProductionsFilmaxSilver Lion FilmsProducciones San PatriciaTelevisa

Production Country : United States of AmericaMexicoSpain

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Captain John Riley

Original Name : Tom Berenger

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cortina

Original Name : Joaquim de Almeida

Gender : Male

Character Name : Marta

Original Name : Daniela Romo

Gender : Female

Character Name : Col. Benton Lacy

Original Name : Mark Moses

Gender : Male

Character Name : Corporal Kenneally

Original Name : Stuart Graham

Gender : Male

Character Name : Paddy Noonan

Original Name : Gregg Fitzgerald

Gender : Male

Character Name : Brian Athlone

Original Name : Don Wycherley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cpl. Schultz

Original Name : Wolf Muser

Gender : Male

Character Name : Seamus McDougherty

Original Name : Luke Hayden

Gender : Male

Character Name : Daniel Grzbalski

Original Name : Ilia Volok

Gender : Male

Character Name : General Winfield Scott

Original Name : Patrick Bergin

Gender : Male

Character Name : General Zachary Taylor

Original Name : James Gammon

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dominguez

Original Name : Carlos Carrasco

Gender : Male

Character Name : Captain Gaine

Original Name : Stephen Tobolowsky

Gender : Male

Character Name : Seamus Fitzgerald

Original Name : Dermot Martin

Gender : Male

Character Name : McFadden

Original Name : Mark Thomas

Gender : Male

Reviews

SPDonlan

@SPDonlan

2024-07-22

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.