The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936)

Been watching this for last 65 years and it is a guilty pleasure. Great performances by Olivia DeHavilland (in one of her few "bad giel" roles) and of course Errol Flynn (Robin Hood, Sea Hawks,Captain Blood and Santa Fe Trail are my other favorites). Look for Nigel Bruce (before he was Dr Watson). Epic cinematography, epic battls, real stunts and huge cast of extras before there was CGI. Keep the tissues handy. There's one point where I still tear up after seeing at least 150 times. (No spoilers in my reviews! You must see it. Leave your phone in the other room

The Charge of the Light Brigade was released by Warner Bros. in 1936 (during the Great Depression) and was directed by the superb Michael Curtiz. It stars the young Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland, with an equally young David Niven. This is the second of nine movies made by Warner Brothers' with the romantic couple, Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn. When the look into each other's eyes, their on-screen chemistry is unmistakable (despite the love triangle story line).Although the movie is supposed to be about the Crimean War (1853 ~ 1856), the plot is almost a total work of fiction. It is based on Alfred, Lord Tennyson's poem about the Light Brigade's glorious charge at Balaklava. The poem was published in October 1854:"Half a league, half a league,Half a league onward,All in the valley of Death,Rode the six hundred......Theirs not to make reply,Theirs not to reason why,Theirs but to do and die:Into the valley of DeathRode the six hundred......When can their glory fade?O the wild charge they made!All the world wonder'd.Honour the charge they made!Honour the Light Brigade,Noble six hundred!"However, even though this movie takes total poetic license (fiction), it is still a great story with the dashing Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland.The plot surrounds Geoffrey Vickers (Errol Flynn) who is a Major in the British 27th Lancers (although he starts out as Captain at the beginning of the movie). Surat Kahn's (C. Henry Gordon) soldiers attack the lightly guarded garrison at Chukoti. The deceitful Surat Kahn offers safe passage for the surviving soldiers, women and children if they agree to turn the garrison over to Surat Kahn. He then proceeds to massacre the defenseless British women and children as they leave the fort. Of course, Geoffrey Vickers vows to avenge the fallen.As a sub-plot, Geoffrey Vickers has fallen for the beautiful Elsa Campbell (Olivia d Havillad) but unknown to Vickers, Elsa has fallen in love with his brother Captain Perry Vickers (Patrick Knowles) and he with her.Major Vickers and the men of the 27th Lancers get their chance at revenge on the Crimean Peninsula when England goes to war with Russia. Surat Khan has sought protection of his Russian allies. Vickers leads the men in the famous charge into the valley of death.Muchael Curtiz's directing style is unmistakable. The use of shadow in the opening scenes, where you see the Court dancers, is reminiscent of the use of shadows in the famous sword duel in Robin Hood. During the hunting scene, the camera shots of the elephants and the leopards are terrific. However, if you are an animal lover (I own 3 cats, who are truly loved as a part of the family), the scene is hard to watch.Curtiz was born in Hungary and immigrated to the U.S. He was known for his "creative" use of the English language. During filming, Curtiz exclaimed "Bring on the empty horses!", meaning "riderless horses". David Niven would later use this phrase as the title of his autobiography.There are a couple of goofs in the movie. The British Flag is being carried upside down by the Lancers as they are about to go into "the valley of death". In all the subsequent shots the flag is the correct way up. During the charge scene, Surat Khan first holds the telescope to his right eye, and a few moments later uses his left eye. The trip wires that kill the horses are totally visible during the charge. This occurs multiple times during the action sequence. The film states that it is dedicated "to the officers and men of the Light Brigade who died victorious in a gallant charge at Balaklava for Queen and Country - A.D. 1856." However, the battle at Balaklava and the Charge of the Light Brigade occurred in October 1854. Humorously, after the massacre, Flynn sympathetically listens to Major Singh crying over the body of his murdered son (Prema) who is clearly wiggling his toes in the foreground of the scene.The DVD is so superbly sharp and crisp that it could be mitaken for a a Blu-ray. The pearls on Surat Kahn's head and neck shimmer in the light during the close-up shots. You feel like you can reach out and touch the pearls. The white marble walls and the reflective marble floors in the palace are incredible. look at the reflection of te British Officers as they walk in. The British dress uniforms are fantastic. It is a terrific transfer to DVD.I enjoyed this movie very much (how can you not like early vintage Errol Flynn movies) and would rate this film 4.5 stars. For the price, you can't beat it!

Had searched for this colorization for two years. Totally worth the wait. The VHS cassette was in excellant condition and played great. The film. This cassette was colorized by Turner and is of great quality, considering the film was produced in 1936. Colors are very clear including skin tones and outdoor scenes. The charge is beyond belief. . I recommend to anyone who is an Errol Flynn fan to purchase. It will be expensive, mine was over $40.00 but truly worth every bit. Good Luck to all collectors.

A confusing movie, seems to jump from the desert to russia. however its nicely filmed in glorious black and white. Flynn slashes around with his sabre, then appears to have a desk job where he changes an order plan for battle to attack rather than retreat and gets several thousand of his comrades slaughtered by artillery he dies gallantly with them, however so its all good cheer! Fantastic music by a master, Max Steiner good god he was great!!!

Well, it wasn't called the golden age of Hollywood for nothing. If you love the grand style of a Hollywood epic, get this movie. First, it has Errol Flynn, who was born to be a star in the classic age of Hollywood. He was handsome, athletic, and had a tremendous energy and youthful spirit that faded all too quickly. There was also a strange quality to his screen presence that flashed whenever he smiled, a generous, happy style that wished only happiness for everyone. Also, he could actually be "heroic" in a grand way, which is a blending of valor, physical prowess, and blinding smile in the face of overwhelming odds. In short, here was someone men would follow into danger, even death (a quality very hard to find in any screen era).Flynn was also a better actor than many give him credit for. In this performance, and his acting in Dawn Patrol (Edmund Goulding, 1938), he has a convincing, sad resignation that never fails to be moving. In this film, he was directed by Michael Curtiz, who with his talent for epic action was the perfect director for Flynn. Curtiz, in fact, directed Flynn's best vehicles with Captain Blood and The Adventures of Robin Hood.The cast is also excellent: Olivia de Havilland plays is love interest, as she did in so many films, and Nigel Bruce shines as the wife-harried Sir Benjamin Warrenton. My favorite piece of acting comes from Henry Stephenson, who portrays the diplomat/soldier Sir Charles Macefield. Stephenson's performance sets just the right tone of authority, shrewdness, and military intractability (he is also given some of the best dialogue in the film). Patric Knowles is fine as the ramrod straight brother, and David Niven brings his usual panache as the friend of Flynn (a part he perfected a couple of years later in Dawn Patrol).Finally, this film has the greatest horse-soldiers in full charge ever put to film. The editing and physical energy of the scene has to be seen to be appreciated. This is filmmaking to give you chills, and I guarantee you, you will be cheering the brave 600 onward throughout the scene as they charge through the valley of death.This is a bit of a neglected classic and cries out for a DVD restoration.

Excellent

Super western avec eroll flint et Olivia de havilland.

Ottimo come sempre il servizio amazon prime che in un giorno consegna il prodotto, perfettamente imballato e quindi ben protetto nel trasporto . Oggetto integro e di qualita come descritto

I love this movie, and the charge at the end of the movie i watched it when I was a child on tv ,even though it wasn't exactly true, but it was brilliant one of my favourite films..

Though not historically accurate - as if any Hollywood Movie is - this is a very engerized picture as the world was in the first stages of the Greatest War in its History. Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland were in the days of their youth and their early film making together. Picture quality was satisfactory. No special effects here. Real people falling off real horses. Good turn-coat villian too.