The Lighthorsemen (1987): cast, story & where to watch
1987 · Film · ★ 5.9
Released in 1987, The Lighthorsemen is a drama, war and history film directed by Simon Wincer, running about 131 minutes. “They did what they were told... They didn't know it was impossible!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Palestine, 1917. The British advance has been stopped by the Turkish line running from Gaza to Beersheba. The latest attack on Gaza has failed. The attacking forces included a regiment of Australian mounted infantry, the Light Horse... Lighthorseman Frank is wounded in a skirmish with Bedouin. He is replaced by a young soldier, Dave, who proves to be a crack shot, but reluctant to fire at the enemy. Dave proves himself during a German biplane attack. Recuperating in hospital, he meets a sympathetic nurse, Anne... The regiment is called upon for a bold flanking attack on Beersheba. But how do you convince the Turks the main attack will come at Gaza? And how do you attack across a desert without water?
Who’s in it. The Lighthorsemen stars Peter Phelps as Dave Mitchell, Nick Waters as Lighthorse Sargeant, John Larking as Stationmaster and John Haywood as Dave's Dad, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.9/10, The Lighthorsemen has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In AU you can stream it on Amazon Prime Video, Foxtel Now and Amazon Prime Video with Ads and rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Lighthorsemen page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Lighthorsemen tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Lighthorsemen (1987)?
- In AU, The Lighthorsemen is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, Foxtel Now and Amazon Prime Video with Ads, and rent or buy from Apple TV Store, Amazon Video and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Lighthorsemen worth watching?
- The Lighthorsemen holds an audience score of 5.9 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama, war and history. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Lighthorsemen?
- The Lighthorsemen stars Peter Phelps, Nick Waters, John Larking, John Haywood and Di O'Connor.
- When was The Lighthorsemen released?
- The Lighthorsemen was released in 1987, with a runtime of about 131 minutes.