Stellead Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

Stoutor It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

AshUnow This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Marva It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

TheLittleSongbird Tony Richardson's film of 'The Charge of the Light Brigade' is, as has been said, not a re-make of the 1936 Errol Flynn film and more based on the book 'The Reason Why' than Tennyson's poem.Comparing the two, neither should be looked to as representation of true history (particularly the Flynn film, this version has a little more respect shown whereas history is cast to the wind in the earlier version). However, both are very good films in their own way with many merits while just falling short of greatness, hard to choose which is better. The Flynn film is perhaps more accessible, whereas some may be confused with some of Richardson's ideas and what he's trying to say.Richardson's 'The Charge of the Light Brigade' did have a couple of things that weren't quite right. David Hemmings is too stoic in the lead, while luminous Vanessa Redgrave's character is unnecessary tacked-on window dressing, with their romance bogging things down a little. There are parts where the pacing drags, as a result of a little too much show and not enough tell, meaning the odd scene that goes on a little too long.However, 'The Charge of the Light Brigade' is a visual stunner, the costumes are rich in detail, beautiful and effort clearly went into making them true to period. The sets and scenery also take the breath away and one can smell the atmosphere of the period, that's how effectively done the period detail is. This is all complemented wonderfully by exquisitely stark cinematography, and one cannot not mention the brilliant editing of the charge itself. Or the witty, beautifully animated and powerful animated sequences, that mirrors Richardson's emphasis on social context.John Addison's music score is haunting, while the script is always thought-provoking and intriguing, literate also without being overly-wordy, and Richardson directs meticulously. 'The Charge of the Light Brigade' boasts some genuinely powerful moments, especially the climactic charge itself (thundering even more so than that of the Flynn film), while other parts are chilling and the satirical elements positively blister. Much is said, and while not always subtly (subtlety never was Richardson's middle name) it makes its point and often powerfully.In terms of performances, Trevor Howard, John Gielgud and Harry Andrews have the more meatier roles than Hemmings and Redgrave, and they in particular stand out in a near-uniformly impressive cast. Howard's larger-than-life performance is particularly magnificent, with Gielgud close behind in one of his better performances. Andrews is chillingly funny.Summing up, very good and often stunning, but not for everybody. 8/10 Bethany Cox

MrOllie The book THE REASON WHY by Cecil Woodham-Smith is a terrific and entertaining read giving a superb insight into Victorian Military life. It tells the story of George Bingham(3rd Earl of Lucan) and James Brudenell (7th Earl of Cardigan) who both played a major part in the tragic CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE. As the film shows, Lucan was in command of the Cavalry Division whilst Cardigan his brother in law commanded the Light Brigade. At the time these appointments where looked upon as being an invitation to disaster because Lucan and Cardigan had a mutual hatred of each other. In short, Lord Lucan would be Lord Cardigan's superior officer and because they did not even speak to each other, it was felt that things would not go too well. The always excellent Harry Andrews plays Lord Lucan and Trevor Howard gives a excellent performance as Lord Cardigan. John Guilgud amusingly plays Lord Raglan who was the Commander-in-Chief of the Army. Not so amusing however, was that Lord Raglan who had spent most of his time behind a desk,had never before commanded an army in the field and was responsible for the four amateurish orders which resulted in the fateful charge. Another player in the disaster was Captain Nolan who handed the final order to Lucan. Nolan was a fanatical cavalry man who was desperate to see the cavalry in action. Nolan is played by David Hemmings. This film gives excellent period detail of Victorian times and also the horrors of war. The film starts with the build up to the Crimean War and highlights the difference in lifestyle between the upper class and the lower class. One minute we are in the middle of a grand dance with ladies and gentlemen in ball gowns/suites and then we are in squalor streets. A fictional love affair between Capt. Nolan (Hemmings) and Clarissa(Vanessa Redgrave) the wife of Capt.Morris who is a friend of Nolan takes place. Eventually war is declared and the rest of the action takes place in the Crimea. The first class soundtrack is by John Addison with the opening rousing main title being belted out by a full chorus of singers. On the LP soundtrack Manfred Mann sing a version of the famous Tennyson poem which I do not think features in the film. There are at various times animations by Richard Williams which I thought worked quite well. I remember Tony Richardson stating that he did not make this film as an epic but more of a social history of its time. Footnote: There was also another cavalry charge which took place in the Crimea and this was THE CHARGE OF THE HEAVY BRIGADE. The Heavies who where commanded by General Scarlett consisted of approx 500 men and they charged at between 3,000 - 4,000 Russian cavalry scattering them. Had the Light Brigade followed up on this charge the result may have been the complete rout of the Russian Cavalry. Sadly this successful action is completely forgotten due to the disaster of the Light Brigade.

eyesour Near-perfect. Worth at least 9 but gets 10 stars because of the miserable 6.6 it's given on this site, compared with the 1936 Errol Flynn fantasy which gets 7.1. Richardson's film is quite brilliantly written, superbly acted, masterfully directed. The only flaws occur because of minor budget constraints, and these never hamper a genuine dramatic production. Great work is timeless. It is memorable, it improves with each viewing, it grips and seizes the attention. It has something to say, and says it excellently well. The characters are compelling. In this case the atmosphere of the time it is set in, mid-19th century Europe, is evoked with such realism and precision that it deserves nothing but applause. It is highly inventive, and some may find these inventions, such as the Punch cartoonery annoyingly quirky. I thought it astoundingly effective. Richardson seems to have introduced an autobiographical element by apparently identifying with Nolan's involvement with his adored friend's wife, played by Vanessa Redgrave, and introducing a fictional subplot. I found this also fascinating, especially since the film was made very shortly after, or perhaps during, Richardson's divorce from his own real-life wife Vanessa Redgrave. Richardson died of AIDS. A very creative, powerful and exceptional piece of film-making, like most of this director's other pictures.

barry-t-635-514889 Much has been written on the ill fated charge at Balaklava,& therefore pointless to mention it's course in history, learn-ed reviewers have already covered this ground. It's Richardsons charge sequence which for me,is both exciting,& yet infuriating. Technically for a movie that spent along time in production, something approaching 3 years, uniform wise it is inaccurate. This, if your a student of history is like making a western with General Custer brandishing a Magnum 44. Technical advisers John/Andrew Mollo were mortified that after years of sourcing uniforms & equipment Richardson insisted that the 17th lancers were clothed in the red breeches of the 11th Hussars (Lord Cardigans regiment).He insisted this was for artistic reasons and that the Mollo's should pursue their own 'boringly accurate movie' if they were unhappy. Stunt co-coordinator Bob Simmons was unhappy that a number of exciting horse & rider stunts, some involving stunt men to be blown thru the air via air ramp were dismissed out of hand. War in the middle East robbed Richardson of his Turkish Guard Cavalry, (playing the Light Brigade), & David Watkins cinematography craftily conceals most of this shortfall. However there are a number of battle scenes shown in various trailers, that do not appear in the final cut. Time plays tricks, because when I saw the movie in 1968, I seem to remember some sequences during the charge which are not on the DVD R1 or R2. For a movie that portrays the infamous ride into history, Richardson only seems to dabble with it. One critic called it an 'anti epic'. This for me is why this really good film, could have been a really great film, because the charge should have been the last word in epic action for its time. It had all the right people to have created it. Ultimately a sad missed opportunity.However