Shenandoah

Rating:
Summary: The Civil War Hits Home
Review: This is a well-acted, well-written drama about a hard-working, independent, successful farmer (James Stewart), whose wife died sixteen years before the film begins and he has raised his six sons and one daughter to the best of his ability and in keeping with the last wishes of his dearly departed wife. The Civil War rages around Stewart's prosperous farm in the Shenandoah Gap of Virginia, but Stewart is adamant that the war is not his business. He is determined to keep his family out of it, and succeeds at this until his youngest son is mistakenly taken prisoner by a group of Union soldiers. Stewart and his family go on a quest to retrieve the youngest son, with mixed results.

This is a powerful drama about the reasons for the Civil War, about family values, about the horrors of war, and about common decency. What makes it different is that it tells the story from a neutral viewpoint: Stewart's character does not believe in slavery but also does not believe he should sacrifice his sons to someone else's fight. When the war forces itself upon him and his family, he still does not take sides, but does what he must for his children.

Most of the cast does an adequate to good job in this movie (B- to A-). The standout is (no surprise) Jimmy Stewart who portrays a rougher, grittier, less sophisticated character than is usual for him, and does it extremely well. He is the center and anchor and bedrock of his family, and of this film.

The scenery is beautiful, the cinematography is fine, the story flows well, the editing is flawless, and the musical score is beautiful and melancholy, like the film. The only complaint here is that the music could have been emphasized more, during the panoramic shots.

A powerful drama about the pain of war with a stellar performance by Jimmy Stewart. The credits list him as "James" instead of "Jimmy", possibly because of the seriousness and power of the character he portrays.

Rating:
Summary: FAMILY FIRST
Review: THIS MOVIE IS FOR ANYONE WHO HAS EVER THOUGHT THAT DURING THE CIVIL WAR PEOPLE DIDN'T CARE ABOUT FAMILY. IT IS WARM AND TENDER, AND WILL MAKE YOU SEE THAT EVEN THEN......PEOPLE COULD SEE BEYOND COLOR AND SHOW TRUE DEVOTION TO FAMILY......AS WELL AS FRIENDSHIP. CHILDREN EVERYWHERE SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO WATCH THIS WITH THEIR PARENTS AND TALK ABOUT IT AFTER.

Rating:
Summary: How do you keep war away from your doorstep?
Review: Well if you lived back then in the South you literally couldn't, and if you live during any crisis it's hard to do that in any way. Despite it's faults this film is one of my favorite Civil War films. It's sweet, it's very Jimmy Stewart, and it's nostalgic. It's really a tragedy about a patriarch who tries, temporarily succeeds, in keeping his sons out of the ever approaching Civil War, and in the end completely fails, in ways he never imagines. Kind of sad that this man can't stop fate, and at the expense of all that really matters to him, over his riches and ideals and lifestyle. It personifies the Civil War by stripping away the palabra and reducing it to the tragedy that it really was.

Rating:
Summary: Good Civil War Film for the whole Family
Review: What a film! I really love it. We don't get that many Civil War films when you think about it. This film really aims at the war and how it directly affects those caught right in the middle. Strong on emotion and character. I read once that Stewart considered this to be his favorite film. In any event it is a good one.

Rating:
Summary: A very good heartfelt movie for the whole family
Review: While this movie doesn't fit today's tastes for irony, cynicism, and action that is as violent and graphic as possible, I like this movie a great deal. Actually, it is because it isn't like today's movies that I appreciate it more. Some find its earnestness too sweet and the humor a bit ham-bone. But I am willing to transport myself into a time when such things were possible in movies. All movies have conventions and none are "realistic" - not even documentaries. So, if you can accept one set of conventions, you should be able to adapt to another and appreciate the movie for what it sets out to be.

This is not a movie about violence per se. It is about family and loss, and deals with the notion of trying to be in the world but apart from it and how difficult that can be because the world has a way of rolling over you. The Civil War is the backdrop of this question. Jimmy Stewart's character, Charlie Anderson, is a widower who still grieves for his lost sweetheart. He has a bunch of sons and one daughter. He tries to keep them out of the war, but cannot. His daughter is pursued by Lieutenant Sam (Doug McClure) who fights for the Confederacy. (If both armies are bad to Charlie Anderson - the Yankees are the worse army in this movie.)

My two favorite scenes are the family prayer over the meal where Charlie thanks God for the meal and food while noting without their hard work it wouldn't be on the table. The other is when Lieutenant Sam asks Charlie for Jennie's hand in marriage. Charlie asks Sam why he wants to marry Jennie. Sam say's its because he loves her. Charlie says that isn't good enough. Sam is nonplussed. Charlie asks if he likes her. Sam doesn't get it. And the explanation Charlie gives should be printed on a card and handed to EVERY young couple contemplating marriage. It is wonderful and true.

This is a good movie if not a great one. If you enjoy Jimmy Stewart, this is a very good performance. If you like heartfelt movies and enjoy something not laced with the bitter taste of modern movies, then this is one you will likely enjoy. I still like to watch it now and again.

Rating:
Summary: A very good heartfelt movie for the whole family
Review: While this movie doesn't fit today's tastes for irony, cynicism, and action that is as violent and graphic as possible, I like this movie a great deal. Actually, it is because it isn't like today's movies that I appreciate it more. Some find its earnestness too sweet and the humor a bit ham-bone. But I am willing to transport myself into a time when such things were possible in movies. All movies have conventions and none are "realistic" - not even documentaries. So, if you can accept one set of conventions, you should be able to adapt to another and appreciate the movie for what it sets out to be.

This is not a movie about violence per se. It is about family and loss, and deals with the notion of trying to be in the world but apart from it and how difficult that can be because the world has a way of rolling over you. The Civil War is the backdrop of this question. Jimmy Stewart's character, Charlie Anderson, is a widower who still grieves for his lost sweetheart. He has a bunch of sons and one daughter. He tries to keep them out of the war, but cannot. His daughter is pursued by Lieutenant Sam (Doug McClure) who fights for the Confederacy. (If both armies are bad to Charlie Anderson - the Yankees are the worse army in this movie.)

My two favorite scenes are the family prayer over the meal where Charlie thanks God for the meal and food while noting without their hard work it wouldn't be on the table. The other is when Lieutenant Sam asks Charlie for Jennie's hand in marriage. Charlie asks Sam why he wants to marry Jennie. Sam say's its because he loves her. Charlie says that isn't good enough. Sam is nonplussed. Charlie asks if he likes her. Sam doesn't get it. And the explanation Charlie gives should be printed on a card and handed to EVERY young couple contemplating marriage. It is wonderful and true.

This is a good movie if not a great one. If you enjoy Jimmy Stewart, this is a very good performance. If you like heartfelt movies and enjoy something not laced with the bitter taste of modern movies, then this is one you will likely enjoy. I still like to watch it now and again.