Charge of the Light Brigade (1936)

80% of critics liked it
(5 reviews)
66% of users liked it
(668 ratings)

Of the many film versions of Alfred Lord Tennyson's narrative poem, 1936's Charge of the Light Brigade has the least relationship to the facts concerning the famous 19th century British military blunder in the Crimea. Reflecting the popularity of 1935's Lives of A Bengal Lancer, the film uses the… More Of the many film versions of Alfred Lord Tennyson's narrative poem, 1936's Charge of the Light Brigade has the least relationship to the facts concerning the famous 19th century British military blunder in the Crimea. Reflecting the popularity of 1935's Lives of A Bengal Lancer, the film uses the climactic charge as the culmination of events which begin in British India. Errol Flynn and Patric Knowles are cast as cavalry officers who are also brothers; both love Olivia De Havilland, but it is Knowles who wins out (this should tip us off that the rest of the film is pure fantasy). Indian potentate C. Henry Gordon, angered that the British government has cut off his subsidy, stages a revolt against the English settlements. Ordered on maneuvers, Flynn is unable to bring rescue troops to the besieged fort commanded by De Havilland's father. Gordon supervises the slaughter of every man, woman and child at the fort, then leaves India in the company of his Russian advisors. Flynn and his fellow Light Brigade lancers are then transferred to the Crimea--where, as luck would have it, Gordon is now ensconced with the Russians. Thirsting for revenge, Flynn falsifies an official order so that he and the Light Brigade can battle Gordon and his allies at Balaclava (thus are Britons Lord Cardigan and Lord Ragan, the actual instigators of the doomed charge, exonerated). As passages from the Tennyson poem are superimposed on the action, Flynn leads a suicidal charge against the Russians; he manages to kill the treacherous Gordon before being slain himself. Its dozens of historical inaccuracies aside, The Charge of the Light Brigade is rousing entertainment. Animal lovers be warned, however: several horses were killed during the climactic charge, a fact that compelled Hollywood (under the auspices of the ASPCA) to install safer and more stringent standards concerning the treatment of animals. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 56 min.
Directed By: Michael Curtiz
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Classics

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1936 Wide
On DVD: Mar 27, 2007

Critic Reviews

John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...when the final charge arrives, it is well worth the wait.... It is quite a spectacle, even by today's standards.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...what a grand piece of filmmaking it is, and as a pure adventure yarn, it's hard to beat.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It climaxes in a rousing battle scene of the famous Light Brigade charge.
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Great Flynn, great action sequences, but pretty dated.

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

First of all, movies like these are super boring, and this one is no exception. Of course there is a good cast, but I wasn't impressed by any of their performances enough to like the movie. The only good thing is that I learned about a war I'd never heard of before.
jay n

A good entry for Errol and Olivia even if they are not paired romantically. Dodge City is still their best but this has well done action scenes and a fine supporting cast with Spring Byington making something enjoyable out of a nothing part.
Phil H

One of Errol's early films in a time when shooting wild cats or even pretending to was seen as fine and displayed with glee, I was surprised how much of the film is quite dark to be honest, the massacre at Chukoti (made up) is not bloody of course but its pretty graphic as is the… More
One of Errol's early films in a time when shooting wild cats or even pretending to was seen as fine and displayed with glee, I was surprised how much of the film is quite dark to be honest, the massacre at Chukoti (made up) is not bloody of course but its pretty graphic as is the final charge where horses are clearly throw all over the place (200 actual horses were killed during filming) and the stunt men must have earned their pay phew!! Yes an earlier time for sure, animal rights stepped in to halt filming with the horrendous horse massacre on location but the fact they still got away with it and were able to even start shows a different attitude which does cast a nasty spell over this film. The final charge sequence is very good for a film of the this time but its clear where horses have died for the screen, impressive stunts and action but is it worth it?? As for the film its pretty dull throughout haha much loving between Havilland and Knowles, much war talk with Flynn and plenty of stiff upper lip old boy. The usual contracted players as mentioned, they all go well together and shows why Warner stuck them together for many more pictures, despite the fictional sub plots and characters this does play well if you can take all the talking, as with modern films you are waiting for the final big push and charge. This is where it gets more exciting and our swashbuckling hero Errol begins to shine :) but not for long hehe Looks good, great garrison sets (actually built for real) amid the scorching heat, costumes are superb as expected and acting is solid from all the cast with solid direction from Warner stalwart Curtiz, its just abit boring to be honest.

Cast

            Errol Flynn as Maj. Geoffrey Vickers

            Olivia de Havilland as Elsa Campbell

            Patric Knowles as Capt. Perry Vickers

            Henry Stephenson as Sir Charles Macefield

            Donald Crisp as Col. Campbell

            Nigel Bruce as Sir Benjamin Warrenton

            David Niven as Capt. James Randall

            Robert H. Barrat as Count Igor Volonoff

            Spring Byington as Octavia Warrenton

            E.E. Clive as Sir Humphrey Harcourt

            Lumsden Hare as Col. Woodward

            J. Carrol Naish as Subahdar Major Puran Singh

            Walter Holbrook as Cornet Barclay

            Princess Baigum as Prema's Mother

            Charles Sedgwick as Cornet Pearson

            Scotty Beckett as Prema Singh

            George Regas as Wazir

            Colin Kenny as Maj. Anderson

            Gordon Hart as Col. Coventry

            Helen Sanborn as Mrs. Jowett

            Jimmy Aubrey as Orderly

            Dick Botiller as Native

            Phyllis Coghlan as Woman at Ball

            Denis D'Auburn as Orderly

            Herbert Evans as Major Domo

            G.P. Huntley as Maj. Jowett

            Martin Garralaga as Panjari

            C. Henry Gordon as Surat Khan

            Holmes Herbert as Gen. O'Neill

            Brandon Hurst as Lord Raglan

            Boyd Irwin as Gen. Dunbar

            Crauford Kent as Capt. Brown

            Charles Croker King as Lord Cardigan

            Frank Lackteen as Panjari

            Wilfred Lucas as Captain

            Lal Chand Mehra
            
            Carlyle Moore Jr. as Junior Officer

            Georges Renavent as Gen. Canrobert

            Harry Semels as Sepoy chief

            Reginald Sheffield as Bentham

            Ram Singh
            
            C. Aubrey Smith
            
            George Sorel as Surwan

            Arthur Thalasso
            
            David Thursby
            
            Michael Visaroff as Russian General

            Jack Curtis
            
            George David as Suristani

            Carlos San Martin as Court Interpreter
See full cast