The Charge of the Light Brigade [DVD]

As a boy, I thrilled to the 1939 film with Errol Flynn and I read Tennyson's "Charge of the Light Brigade" in class. As an adult, I studied the history of the Crimean War (along with other history). I don't know how I missed this film until now.More accurate by far than the 1939 film, this film examines the claim that glory can be extracted from a series of blunders, incompetences and personality conflicts in the field. Supported by a wonderful caste playing their roles imppecably, this 1968 remake is devoid of the romance or righteousness of the 1939 film. I still love the old one, but more for it's romance than accurracy. This remake does the exact opposite of the Flynn/de Haviland film. Romance is represented here by a desolate one night stand between Cardigan and one of his subbordinate officer's wives who plays the part of an empty headed beast, hungry for a thrill to the point of bloodthirstiness against Trevor Howard's parody of Cardigan as a ridiculous lover/cavalier.The cartoons are interesting in their style and meaning and their use here causes me to wonder if Monty Python was inspired by their use in this film as it criticizes the ideas of empire and glory. This is a film that could have only emerged from the compost of the Viet-Nam era. I wonder how it was received in England since it criticizes all the old ideas of Empire, Queen, country and British chauvanism. I wonder how much it contributed to the growth of permanent anti-war culture in Britain? I'd love to read a review of this film from 1968.Few films that claim to be historically based are actually very factual. There are only a few questionable incidents here. I am not sure if the note was written inacurrately, but according to this film, Raglan only ordered an andvance with support that he wasn't sure was there and only assumed Lucan would understand the intention to flank the guns not charge them. This film lays nearly the entire disaster on a Captain Norlan's head. Noland seems to have understood the intention to flank the guns but after goading his superior officers into a straight on charge, seems to have a change of heart once he sees the devastating reality of their course. He charges up and hysterically tries to force Cardigan to ride up the valley he seemed to know Raglan intended. One strength of this film is that it creates a question as to whether anyone attempted to prompt the orders on the field. Captain Noland was either a loose cannon or a scapgoat - we may never know. A good historic film should have this effect - to inspire the acquisition of more historical knowledge.As for the charge itself, it is done as it should be, with no soundtract so that the viewer may experience the event without any other emotional support. My only complaint is that the retreat was also fired upon and the impression is given here that once the cannon lines were reached all firing by the Russians ceased. Russian calvary did charge in once the guns were breached, but the Brigade was fired upon as it withdrew and the Russians did not pursue. Cardigan is unscathed, but little account is given the viewer as to how that luck transpired. A small group that held to him did reach the guns and retreat out. He must have ultimately been protected by the press of his own men around him. I think the charge itself should have lasted longer since the this is the climax and the film's title. A lot more story could have been portrayed such as Cardigan's ride and the 670 horses and men filmed represented more fully. Think of the effect of a charge that goes on and on to the point that the audience feels that there is no escape.Ultimately, this is an anti-war film and no surprise here. Perhaps it is a bit exaggerated in some of its scenes, but the point is well made. War is hell and not entertainment as the horrified spectators attending this expedition find. That scene, of the sobering of those who revile in the excitment of war, is well done. Still, the mystery of glory survives. The few men left on their feet volunteer to "go again" prompting Cardigan's gallant understated reply, "No,no, you've done enough today."

This is a great film. The disc has good quality picture and sound (remember it is from 1968), Captions (Eng, Fr, Sp), Audio in Eng. And Fr. MONO. Only extra is theatrical trailer. 2.35 : 1 wide-screen. I did not purchase the BD as it has a different running time (shorter).The film itself has great actors (T. Howard, V. Redgrave, J. Gielgud, D. Hemmings) good cinematography and good direction. The story is wonderful, it is based on historical research and the 1953 book “The Reason Why”, explaining how a military disaster like the charge of the light brigade could occur.It looks into the personalities of the commanders in charge of the troops (Lords Raglan, Lucan and Cardigan) and their ineptitude and their delusions of grandeur, of entitlement and their thin skinned reactions to ANY criticism. Those who, today, watch those “Victorian Dramas” and think that it was such a wonderful time in history should watch this film. These people and the ones in the dramas that hold “balls” and parties are the SUPER RICH of the age (similar to the Donald Trumps and Koch Brothers of today). At the start of the film Lord Cardigan exclaims that he clothes his battalion in his own designed uniforms at a personal cost to him of “10,000 a year”. 10,000 pounds in 1854 would be equal to over 1 Million in 2016. This film show how vain they were. The rest of us would have been the LOWER classes and never seen this side of society.These super rich bought their commissions in the military without have any battle experience (except Raglan) and actually looked down on offices that worked up through the ranks and felt only “gentlemen” should be officers. It seems amazing that England won any wars with that kind of leadership.There are animations interspersed in the film when they want to convey the Xenophobia and exaggerated patriotism of the era and the simple minded idea that a war was a spectator sport. The animations would use actual photographs and patriotic drawn illustrations from magazines and newspaper as their basis. They convey in a few minutes what live action would have a lot of trouble getting across while adding some humor.Do not be mistaken, this is NOT a parody of the attitudes of the time, these people actually thought and acted like this.At the end the military does what the rest of the government does when there is a failure, they try to scapegoat the next person and shunt all the blame away from themselves.A well done film. For a deeper understanding of this incident you should read the book, The Reason Why by Cecil Woodham Smith. For more on the Crimean War there are other full histories available.

What a magnificent movie--the acting is superb --and so "Inglish don"t you know "and the charge --hold on to your seat Bro and take a deep breath --and then the excuses --would be hilarious if not tragic --certaninly not like the other Errol Flynn movie "the Brigade"---would buy it again coz its well worth the coin Bro

If you like historical films, this is a must all characters have fantastic actors and no one gives a bad performance this is five stars all Day long

I've seen this film many times, I still havnt actually watched THIS dvd but I just love having it in my collection

finalmente un film che cerca di raccontare la vera storia della distruzione della brigata leggera britannica, sacrificata davanti ai cannoni russi dall'ignoranza e dalle rivalità fra comandanti. Una bella prova di trevor howard, qui più burbero e tracotante che mai, nella parte di un personaggio altamente riprovevole ma che se la caverà grazie alle sue altolocate amicizie. Per chi ha visto "la carica dei 600" con Flynn, un bel salto nella realtà di un conflitto che ha visto anche gli italiani partecipare.

L'illustration parfaite de la stupidité de l'homme quand il à du pouvoir.Une merveilleuse fresque pour l'éternité.