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ShenandoahRating:
Release Date: 06 May, 2003 Retail Price: $9.99 OUR Price: $9.99 You SAVE: $0.00! Cast: Complete Cast (18 total) |
Shenandoah Reviews
Saved By Performances and Disney-esque Sentimentality
Replace the allegedly anti-Semitic, alcoholic ax wielder from "The Patriot" with taciturn Jimmy Stewart, and you've basically got "Shenandoah," a well-meaning film whose strength lies in its performances and sentimentality and certainly not in its plotting.
Cribbed a bit from the better "Friendly Persuasion," the plot concerns an irascible Southern farmer (Stewart) who stubbornly -- and correctly -- refuses to let his sons join the lost cause that is the American Civil War. His stand is less a moral than a selfish one, and there are several effective moments where is proven right, not the least of which is the slaughter of the command of a young officer who just minutes earlier challenges Stewart's stand. Stewart's point that Virginia didn't lift one finger to help raise his children is an economical and rational defense to the argument that their lives are nonetheless owed to the state.
There are other scenes that rather maddeningly come close to making this a better film than it is: an otherwise capable officer's (Doug McClure, who could be played by a prettied-up Matt Damon in a bio-pic) nervous asking for Stewart's daughter's hand in marriage, Stewart's demands of a sympathetic union colonel (a self-effacing George Kennedy), his fury at the young sentinel who shoots one of his sons, a brief but bloody battle, and the quiet horror when murderous scavengers inevitably invade his all-but-deserted home.
Unfortunately, they're blunted by some rather dopey elements, including Stewart allowing his youngest son (rather annoyingly referred to as "the boy") to trundle about the countryside wearing a discarded confederate cap along with his gray clothes (you can see where that's going), his leaving his home virtually defenseless when horrific battles are occuring just miles away, and the baffling conclusion son Glenn Corbett comes to upon seeing the decimated troop his father kept him from joining.
In fact, I found myself at the end less moved by the power of the story and more irritated as to how Stewart's character, despite his ego, determination, and self-righteousness could not see that had he simply told the kid to take that hat off, none of the tragedy in the story would have happened. I generally prefer older movies because they're so much smarter and more natural than newer ones -- but not this time.
Stewart and the rest of the cast are quite good, though Patrick Wayne is so toothy in his role that you might be torn between sorrow and relief by the ultimate fate of his character. And, despite its thematic heaviness, the film often has much lighter moments more appropriate for a Disney film, which ironically may be what finally holds everything together. Watch for a young Katherine Ross in a supporting role, and try to ignore some of the historical liberties. (While I'd give the film five stars for its performances, the brainlessness of the plot knocks it down to three.)
THIS TIME ANDREW MCLAGLEN IS JOHN FORD!
Victor McLaglen was a member of the famous"John Ford stock company",actors who appearred time and time again in Ford films(Francis Ford,Jane Darwell,Jack Pennick,John Qualen,Ben Johnson,Harry Carey jr.,Mae Marsh,and Russell Simpson,are just some of these actors).Victor's son Andrew was an assistant director on a number of Ford films(The Quiet Man).
Shenandoah,a Civil War drama starring Jimmy Stewart,as Charlie Anderson,a Virginia widower and opponent of war and slavery,could very well be taken for a Ford film because of its attitude,pace,actors,and and general tone of love of country and love of family and true patriotism,opposing a oppressive state,both Union and Confederate who want his sons and fruits of his family's labor to support the war.The state DOES NOT OWN his sons or his goods in order take part in a war fought to uphold the evil system of slavery or his family goods' to continue an immoral war,the Anderson character seems to believe that ALL WARS are UNJUST.When a troop of Confederate troops are massacred,shortly after leaving the Anderson farm,Charley asks his son "what do you do with dead soldiers".This movie was made during the VietNam war,though opposition to it had not peaked yet.
I first saw this film nearly forty years ago and I've had it on VHS or DVD for at least twenty years and it never fails to bring a tear to my eye,just as many Ford films have done to me over the years.
Jimmy Stewart was born to play Charley Anderson.Glenn Corbett,Denver Pyle,George Kennedy,Katherine Rose,Rosemary Forsyth and suprisingly both Doug McClure and Pat Wayne lend stellar support.NO COMMETARY-NO EXCUSE.
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