The Charge of the Light Brigade

A film review by Christopher Null - Copyright © 2001 Filmcritic.com

Dramatazation of Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem about the ill-fated Light Brigade, 600 soldiers during the Crimean War (digested version: 1854-56, England and Turkey vs. Russia, best known for the Light Brigade but most significant for the actions of nurse Florence Nightengale). While the costumes and sets are perfectly historical, the facts are hardly accurate -- the infamous charge that killed all involved was actually a goof-up courtesy of an incompetent British army, not a moment of heroism due to a Ben Affleck-ish soldier.

Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, and Patric Knowles get the Pearl Harbor treatment as two brothers in love with the same women. Of course, they're both soldiers, so.... Anyway, the last 15 minutes of the film are impressive. The first 1 1/2 hours are a throwaway.

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Rating

2.5 out of 5 Stars

Cast and Crew

  • Director: Michael Curtiz
  • Producer: Hal B. Wallis
  • Screenwriter: Michael Jacoby, Rowland Leigh
  • Stars: Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Patric Knowles, Henry Stephenson, Nigel Bruce, Donald Crisp, David Niven, C. Henry Gordon, G.P. Huntley
  • MPAA Rating: NR