One Man’s Hero 1999 Full Movie fmovies

One Man’s Hero: A Tale of Sacrifice and Honor

Riley’s Bold Stand for Freedom

Winfield Scott, Chief Commanding Officer of the U.S. Army, orders that sixteen Irish immigrant soldiers be illegally whipped for “desertion” after they are caught entering Mexico to attend Catholic religious services. Then-Sgt. John Riley frees his men at gunpoint and leads them towards Veracruz only to be violently captured by Juan Cortina as enemies of Mexico. Riley, wounded in his thigh, is nursed by Cortina’s woman Marta.

A Heroic Choice to Fight Against Injustice

News arrives that the U.S. and Mexico are now at war. Riley volunteers himself and his men to fight for the Mexican armed forces in exchange for passage back to Ireland. Bolstered by other Irish deserters fleeing anti-Catholic persecution, he forms the Saint Patrick’s Battalion.

The Harsh Realities of War

After several major engagements, during which Riley and his unit distinguish themselves by exploiting their knowledge of American tactics, a cease-fire is reached. Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate is threatening to impeach President Polk as public opinion increasingly turns against what is perceived as an unjust war. The cease-fire is soon violated and hostilities resume.

An Act of Heroism in the Face of Death

As it becomes increasingly evident that Mexico will be defeated, Riley and his men face the harsh reality that they will likely be put to death for desertion. They willingly stay behind to hold off American forces so the Mexican army can escape, a heroic act that leaves most of them dead. Scott refuses an attempt by the Mexican government, represented by Col. Nexor, to recognize the survivors as prisoners of war.

The Final Stand and Unwavering Courage

Protests come in from all the nations of the world denouncing their punishment as barbaric and an utter contradiction of the principles of the American Revolution. Scott refuses to hear any appeals, and at court-martial sentences the condemned to be hanged in the direction of Chapultepec Castle so that they may witness the final defeat of the Mexicans.

An Enduring Legacy of Freedom

On the day of their execution, in sight of the men on the scaffold, Riley is lashed with a cat-o-nine-tails fifty times. He is then forcibly branded with a “D” (for deserter) and made to watch the executions. He proudly sees them defy their captors and refuse to beg for mercy as the sentences are carried out. Sent to be worked to death in a stone quarry for military prisoners, Riley is told by his former U.S. commander that he has been freed, to which he responds, “I have always been free”.

Embracing a New Life of Freedom

Returning to Mexico, he reunites with Cortina and Marta, and departs with Marta to make a new life in the wilderness. The epilogue notes with irony that it was Taylor, not Scott, who was elected president after the Mexican war.

Watch “One Man’s Hero” Now for a Tale of Sacrifice and Redemption

Experience the bravery and sacrifice of John Riley and his men in “One Man’s Hero” full movie on fmovies. Witness their unwavering courage in the face of injustice and their enduring legacy of freedom. Don’t miss this powerful story of honor and sacrifice.