Charge of the Light Brigade

With that said, forget the history lesson and enjoy the movie. Flynn is predictably heroic as Captain, then Major, Jeffrey Vickers of the 27th Lancers. He begins the film in the far reaches of India, first sharing hunting excursions with and later hunting the duplicitous Surat Khan (very villainous and very ficticious).

His romantic interest is the ever beautiful Olivia DeHaviland who, strangely enough, actually falls for Flynn's younger brother, Percy. Ever gallant, Major Vickers ensures that his brother is out of harm's way and safe to return to the woman both love but he cannot have.

Of course, the climax of the film is the charge itself, brilliantly staged with mounting speed, tension and ferocity as the words of Lord Tennyson's immortal poem are superimposed over it. This is one of the most famous and breathtaking action sequences in the history of cinematography, and is well worth waiting through the movie for, although by far not the only piece of derring-do in the film.

If The Charge of the Light Brigade had not remained well known for its charm as a movie, it would have been remembered for a far different reason. The incredible realism of the climactic cavalry charge was achieved at a heavy cost. So many horses were seriously injured or killed in the making of this picture that humane organizations worldwide demanded that such excesses never again be undertaken. The next time you see the disclaimer "No animals were harmed in the making of the film," you now know why.

All that aside, The Charge of the Light Brigade is a wonderfully entertaining production. Like all the best films of its time, it mixes action, romance, adventure and a healthy serving of humor to provide a tremendously satisfying experience.

If you want to know the history, read the book. If you want to have some fun, watch the movie.


Rather dated, but quite interesting.   February 16, 2000
AJ (Delaware, USA)
13 out of 17 found this review helpful

As long as you do not expact historic correctness, this is quite an enjoyable movie. Flynn for once in a not so very sympathetic role does some of his best work ever in Charge of the Light Brigade. As a British officer, already soured by personal tragedy who orders his troops to make a spectacular, but suicidal charge against the Russian guns he is more of a living figure then in his usual roles. On the one hand you deplore his fanatism, that leads to the ruinous assault and his personal character is not very likable, on the other hand, one can always understand his feelings and when, during the final attack he desperately tries to get himself killed because he knows, that there is no way back for him after disobeying direct orders. His character rises to a level that is overwelming in its tragedy. The story has nothing whatsoever to do with the historical reality, but it does not need to. Instead, by giving the British a reason for their insane attack (A personal vengeance for the massacre of countless wemon and children by one of the enemy commanders) the creators have transformed a tale of foolish misunderstandings and tragic stupidity in a story that highlights the sadness and uselesness of war in a far more effective way. For Flynn in the end kills the man whose life he once saved, dying himself in the attempt displaying for all the world the complete futility of this sort of grandstanding, swordslinging heroism.


Epic Film From An Epic Poem   January 30, 2000
James L. (Toronto, Canada)
12 out of 14 found this review helpful

Following the success of Errol Flynn and Olivia deHavilland in Captain Blood, Warner Brothers quickly put them back together into another action film. But it's a surprising pairing, since deHavilland's character isn't in love with Flynn, but his brother instead. Actually, the deHavilland character and the love plot really arent' necessary, although they don't take away from the film. The movie is an action filled account of an ill fated charge by the British against a much larger Russian army in India. Tennyson wrote a famous poem about the incident, praising the British for their bravery. The movie explains the events leading up to the charge, and as someone who is not a history expert, I'll accept the views of others that say that the film is much more fiction than fact. To me, that doesn't matter, because it entertains nonetheless. The musical score is terrific (as any score by Max Steiner usually is), and Michael Curtiz's direction is excellent, particularly in his depiction of the sweeping action. One thing is surprising. Nowadays, as people have become more aware of protecting animals in film and television, the climatic scene in this film is sort of disturbing, given that you can see a number of horses being injured, if not killed. But overlooking that, Charge of the Light Brigade is an action filled epic that is most impressive.