Shenandoah

Rating:
Summary: James Stewart at his very best
Review: I have seen thousands of films and I would put Shenandoah well up my top ten. The film is full of love, sadness, joy and heartbreak. It is impossible not to feel these emotions as the story of the family's attempt to live their lives in isolation from the civil war unfolds. Jimmy Stewart is brilliant as the head of the family whose love for his deceased wife Martha is a major factor in his life and that of him family. The film is highly enjoyable with a great musical score.

Rating:
Summary: A Civil War movie for its time--and this
Review: It may be an instance of precognition on the part of its producers, but this film, which was released in the same year in which combat ground troops were sent to Vietnam, not only concerns itself with a similarly divisive war but has a distinctly anti-war tone. (At a moment when the world seethes with debate over the proper response to Saddam Hussein, it comes again into its own as an echo of current events.) There's nothing of the "glory" of war in it, though it's nowhere near as gritty and graphic as some later war films, and its main focus, like that of any good story (whether written or filmed), is on the people who make the events happen.

Though often filed under Westerns, it actually takes place during the Civil War, probably in the late summer and fall of 1864 (Gettysburg and Vicksburg are mentioned as past events). Stewart plays Charley Anderson, a Virginia farmer, whose 500 acres at Shenandoah Gap are and have always been farmed without the aid of a single slave. Instead his work force consists of his six sons, Jacob (Glenn Corbett), John (James McMullen), James (Patrick Wayne), Nathan (Charles Robinson), Henry (Tim McIntire), and "The Boy" (Philip Alford), aged 16 (Charley's wife Martha "died the night he was born"), daughter Jenny (Rosemary Forsyth) (who says she can "outrun, outride, and outshoot" any of her brothers), and daughter-in-law (James's wife) Ann (Katharine Ross). Though the war rolls back and forth around him, Charley stoutly maintains that it "is not mine, and I take no note of it." Jacob keeps asking, at each apparent provocation, "Does it concern us now?", but even when a Confederate patrol is ambushed and massacred on his land, Charley refuses to get involved. Not till 51 minutes into the movie, when the Boy is mistaken for a Rebel and picked up as a POW by a small Union patrol, does he say, "Now it concerns us." The remainder of the movie follows the adventures of himself, Jenny, and four of the boys (James and Ann have stayed behind at the farm), shortly joined by Jenny's Confederate-officer husband Sam (Doug McClure), whom they've rescued off a prison train, to find their missing kinsman, with intercut segments showing the Boy's escape from his captors and brief experience of battle.

As mentioned, there's very little pageantry or glory in this video, which, given that when it was made going to war as a volunteer was still considered "the thing to do," seems almost incongruous. And though it's marred by a few minor historical inaccuracies (a black soldier would not be serving in the same unit with white troops in that war, and it seems surprising that the Andersons seem to have not only plenty of food and all their livestock but no refugeed relatives sharing it with them), it manages to give something of the very spirit of noncombatant life at the time. There's an element of romance in Jenny and Sam's courtship and wedding (she has memorized her half of the vows before she's asked to speak them), which goes unconsummated when a courier brings word to Sam that the Yankees have "broken through at Winchester." There are also moments of humor, like the suspension of a pending battle while the Rebs try to take a "Union cow" prisoner (she ultimately dodges back behind the Federal lines and escapes). Though opposed to the war, Charley is not portrayed as unpatriotic; he asks his old friend Doc Witherspoon, in a concerned tone, "Virginia's losin', isn't she?" And the story might almost be called a fable, since it goes so far as to articulate, through Charley, its moral: "I knew...we weren't likely to find him...But if we don't *try*, we don't *do*. And if we don't *do*--why are we here on this earth?!"

Modern families may find Charley's advice to the hopeful Sam ("Women are like that...[Just] hug her a bit. 'Cause that's all they really want when they're like that, Sam--a little lovin'.") mildly chauvinistic, even though it's closely followed by very similarly toned advice from Ann to Jenny. Still, it should be kept in mind that in this the script is being true to the era portrayed, and that women in those days were considered more or less second-class citizens. Younger children may ask an awkward question or two regarding the deaths of James and Ann, murdered by a trio of "scavengers." But on the whole the movie has a very strong pro-family tone, and the older generation, especially those raised on TV Westerns, will also enjoy picking out the familiar faces in the cast: Denver Pyle as Reverend Bjorli, Paul Fix as Witherspoon, Dabbs Greer as neighbor Abernathy, Tom Simcox as Lt. Johnson, George Kennedy as Union Col. Fairchild (a small part but very well done), Edward Faulkner as a Union straggler, Strother Martin as a railroad engineer, James Best as the Boy's fellow escapee Carter, Harry Carey, Jr., as one of their comrades, Kevin Hagen as Mule, Lane Bradford as scallywag Tinkum. Stewart is, of course, the heart and soul of all that goes on, displaying a range of acting talent that varies from warm fatherly sympathy through cynicism to his famous "insanity" phase; indeed, this may be one of the definitive parts of his long career. The humor, tragedy, and simple family warmth are nicely balanced, and despite its moments of violence and grief, Shenandoah is by no means too intense for the younger kids. It should also serve as the starting point for some penetrating discussion, especially if the parents watching are old enough to remember the divisions engendered by Vietnam. This is a highly recommended video on every count.

Rating:
Summary: Is It Possible To Remain Neutral
Review: James Stewart is the irascible but devoted family man and Virginia farmer trying to keep his family together during the dying days of the Civil War. He forbids his boys (and he has lots of them!) from joining the War, despite the pressures being put on them by others. But in the end, despite his best efforts, Stewart can't keep his family from being touched by the tragedies of the War. It's hard to remain neutral when the world is falling apart around you.

The movie starts out in a light-hearted way, with Stewart's stubborness coming across with humour. But the film's tone changes throughout its running time and becomes darker, as his stubborness becomes more like arrogance, and the realities of war penetrate the family's isolation. Stewart learns some hard lessons. He can't control everything and everyone.

James Stewart dominates the film, with a forceful performance that anchors the film. The supporting cast is good, but no one is given enough time to really standout. There is enough action mixed with the human drama to keep the film moving along. Shenandoah isn't a landmark film or a great example of a western, but it succeeds very well in presenting a moment of crisis in a man's and his family's life.

Rating:
Summary: Is It Possible To Remain Neutral
Review: James Stewart is the irascible but devoted family man and Virginia farmer trying to keep his family together during the dying days of the Civil War. He forbids his boys (and he has lots of them!) from joining the War, despite the pressures being put on them by others. But in the end, despite his best efforts, Stewart can't keep his family from being touched by the tragedies of the War. It's hard to remain neutral when the world is falling apart around you.

The movie starts out in a light-hearted way, with Stewart's stubborness coming across with humour. But the film's tone changes throughout its running time and becomes darker, as his stubborness becomes more like arrogance, and the realities of war penetrate the family's isolation. Stewart learns some hard lessons. He can't control everything and everyone.

James Stewart dominates the film, with a forceful performance that anchors the film. The supporting cast is good, but no one is given enough time to really standout. There is enough action mixed with the human drama to keep the film moving along. Shenandoah isn't a landmark film or a great example of a western, but it succeeds very well in presenting a moment of crisis in a man's and his family's life.

Rating:
Summary: Civil War Takes Away Man's Sons - Powerful Historical Drama
Review: Jimmy Stewart is superb as Charlie Anderson, the aging family man who choses to ignore the Civil War raging around his farm in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. When Rebel officers mistake his young son for an enemy Union Soldier and take him prisoner, the furious Anderson rides off with his older sons, determined to get the boy back.

The dangerous adventure demands the lives of two sons and one of their wives. Only after the chastened Anderson reluctantly abandons his search does his beloved "Boy", who had been safe all along after escaping, return home to him.

This perfectly cast, acted and photographed film likely held the finest role of Jimmy Stewart's career. At last the ever-mature actor was allowed to play an age-appropriate character who was NOT romantically linked to a woman who could have been his daughter (i.e. "Rear Window"/"Vertigo"/"The Man Who Knew Too Much"). - The theme song "Shenandoah" is an enduring favorite and very collectable as 45rpm vinyl record/LP.

Rating:
Summary: Away you rolling river
Review: Jimmy Stewart plays the cigar chomping patriarch of a Virginia family during the waning days of the Civil War in SHENANDOAH, an old-fashioned epic western. For half of the movie it ain't "his" war, and the movie lumbers ahead lethargically until something happens to throw him, and his brood, into it.
I remember seeing and enjoying SHENANDOAH a generation or so ago. I watched it again recently and was a little surprised how annoyed I was with it. One of us has changed.
To begin with, the small historical inaccuracies, although nothing in themselves, accumulated to critical mass and forced me to pay attention to them. Charles Anderson's (Stewart) brood would NEVER have been allowed to respectfully decline to join the Confederate army. The South was drafting men from 15-55 by the time this movie took place. A musketeer fires a minie ball into a covered cart and the cart explodes in a fireball. Minie balls were small lumps of lead, hot but not explosive or hot enough to cause an explosion. An integrated Union unit comes across a young pair of boys so the African-American soldier can tell the black youth that "he's a slave no longer." No Union units were integrated, save that most were commanded by white officers. At one point daughter Jennie (Rosemary Forsyth) tells Pa Anderson that "That's the last of coffee." Unless they were independently wealthy, or had been growing their own coffee, the Anderson's last cup of coffee was about three years earlier. Towards the end of the war, coffee was worth its weight in gold in the south....
Okay, I'm nitpicking and I'll stop, although I've still got more in my cartridge box and could carp about everything from costumes to a ludicrously improbable train hijacking. I wouldn't have been so critical if the movie had caught a spark sometime before the half-way point, but it wasted so much time establishing things. And I do mean wasted - a wedding that should have taken about a minute of screen time is blown up to about 8 minutes worth, with the married couple, for no discernable reason, reciting their vows en tote. Both of them.
Still, the movie picks up a bit when events conspire to make it Pa Anderson's war, as well. Stewart is a great actor, maybe the greatest screen actor ever, and it's fortunate for this movie that he's in it. Who else could read a line like this convincingly? "We have to try. If you don't try, you can't do. And if we don't do, why are we here on this earth?" Why, indeed?
Okay. Leaden pacing, historical inaccuracies up the wazoo, goofy script. Have I missed anything?
Yep. The director sheds some unnecessary blood at the end and shamefully manipulates the audience in the final scene. Two stars. One for the photography, one for Stewart.


Rating:
Summary: Great family movie.
Review: Movie is set during the civil war. The characters support neither side but are pulled into the conflict by just being there. Excellent movie for all ages. Recommend viewing with popcorn, Dr. Pepper and a towel - movie has some sad parts.

Rating:
Summary: One of the Greats in film.
Review: Okay, I'll make this short and sweet. I saw this movie when it was first released in 1965. I saw it at least ten times at the theater. I have the newspaper ads. I have the 33LP. I have a movie poster of this film. My daughter's middle name is Shenandoah. What more can I say.
This film makes a statement about the importance of family in times of crisis. In this case it deals with one man's (unsuccessful) efforts to keep his family out of a conflict which threatens to engulf them. The Civil War in shown in terms that do no finger pointing. But its horrors tear at one innocent family nonetheless with tragic results.
What a great movie. I hope film historians will elevate this classic to the position of respect it deserves.
The very best in my opinion.

Rating:
Summary: Not Our War
Review: Other reviewers have commented on the story so I'll not go into too much detail about Jimmy Stewart playing a widower looking after his family as the Civil War barks at his doorstep.

This film features a number of typical Andrew McLaglen scenes - for example the punch-up between the men of the family and some government officials who have come to take their horses.

I find it interesting that the film starts off with its tongue planted firmly in cheek and those scenes are generally amusing to watch. It is not long, however, before the film's tone changes when the youngest son (Boy) is taken prisoner simply because of an event that takes place near the beginning of the film (I won't spoil it for anyone who has yet to see the film). From that moment on the film becomes much darker in tone and events take their toll upon the family.

It is an enjoyable film, Jimmy Stewart (as ever) turns in a fine performance.

The picture quality is excellent with only one small scene looking slightly below par (I would rate it 95% in comparison with the rest of the film). There are no features bar a trailer.

This DVD release is ruined, however, by the fact that it is cropped. The film is 4:3 but for this release it has been matted to 1.85:1 and then enhanced. So come on, Universal - give us a proper print of this film for DVD.

4 stars for the film, 2 stars for the DVD release = 3 stars

Rating:
Summary: Jimmy Stewart at his best
Review: Shenandoah is a moving film and showcased the late Jimmy Stewart in what I have always felt was his best performance. Jimmy was convincing as a valiant, rugged individual and should have played more of those sorts of roles. The score is outstanding and adds to the pathos at the various emotional crescendos. The one weak area of the film is the cliche ridden nature of segments of the dialog.