The Charge Of The Light Brigade (1968)

Set at the outbreak of the Crimean war in 1853, a young officer (David Hemmings) and a veteran of the British Indian Army is stymied by the outdated ideas and class prejudices of his aristocratic superiors. He also falls in love with his best friend's (Mark Burns) wife (Vanessa Redgrave). Directed by Tony Richardson (THE ENTERTAINER). Despite the film's title, it has nothing to do with the famous poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson or the 1936 film with Errol Flynn. Far from the patriotic heroism of Tennyson's poem or the heroic jingoism of the 1936 movie, Richardson's film is distinctly anti war as it portrays the incompetence of the British Army's leaders and the blunders they commit which results in a massive loss of lives. If that sounds a bit heavy handed, the film is actually a satire on the romanticization of war. Akira Kurosawa was a great admirer of the movie but despite favorable reviews, it was a major box office flop. The film fudges on accuracy for some of the film's real life characters for dramatic effect as well as eliminating certain battles. Did I like it? Well, it's worth watching but I can see why the public stayed away. With Trevor Howard, John Gielgud, Jill Bennett, Harry Andrews, Corin Redgrave and Peter Bowles.