Wordiezett
So much average
Vashirdfel
Simply A Masterpiece
Portia Hilton
Blistering performances.
ma-cortes
A group of Confederate prisoners escape to Canada in a plan to revenge the destruction of Southern communities . As they plan to avenge by first taking over , and then robbing banks , sacking and set fire to the small town of Saint Albans in Vermont . To get the lie of the land , their leader spends a few days in the northern town close to the Canadian border . As Maj. Neal Benton (Van Heflin) finds he is getting drawn into its life and especially into that of an enticing widow Katy Bishop (Anne Bancroft) and her son Larry Bishop (Tommy Rettig) . Meanwhile , his men (Lee Marvin , Peter Graves , James Best , John Dierkes) infiltrate the township , confronting emotions and dangers . The picture gets Western action , shootouts , a love story , and intrigue is slowly but surely built up , being quite entertaining . It's a medium budget film with good actors , technicians, production values and pleasing results . This was the picture that served as a springboard John Arden in writing his play ¨Sergeant Murgrave's dance¨ . The picture contains an agreeable and feeling relationship between Van Heflin and Anne Bancroft , as growing respect for the widow with whom he lodges . Cast is frankly magnificent . Nice acting by Van Heflin as Confederate officer leads a group of soldiers with whom has escaped from an Union Prison Camp and Anne Bancroft as attractive widow . Spectacular ending including a savage massacre is powerfully staged . Excellent scenarios and adequate ambient with Lucien Ballard's (Peckinpah's ordinary cameraman) typically moody cinematography . And thrilling as well as atmospheric score by Roy Webb. The motion picture was compelling and professionally directed by Hugo Fregonese who makes a superb use throughout of an alright pacing . Hugo was an Argentina director who emigrated to Hollywood, then became technical adviser on latino themes at Columbia Studios in Hollywood, and subsequently under contract at Universal from 1950 to 1952 filming ¨Man in the attic¨ with Jack Palance , ¨Blowing wild¨with Gary Cooper , ¨Decameron Nights¨with Joan Fontaine , ¨Harry Black and the tiger¨with Steart Granger . Spent the rest of the decade in Europe directing Euro-westerns as ¨Savage Pampas¨ and potboilers as "The Death Ray of Dr. Mabuse" , Terror as "Dracula vs. Frankenstein" before finishing his career back in the country of his birth . Rating : 7 , Above average , worthwhile seeing .This interesting flick , factually based Civil war western , being the facts the followings : The St. Albans Raid was the northernmost land action of the American Civil War. It was a controversial raid from Canada by Confederate soldiers meant to rob banks to raise money and to trick the Union Army to divert troops to defend their northern border against further raids . It took place in St. Albans, Vermont, on October 19, 1864 . The confederate men staged simultaneous robberies of the city's three banks. They identified themselves as Confederate soldiers and took a total of $208,000. During the robberies, eight or nine Confederates held the villagers at gun point on the village green, taking their horses to prevent pursuit. Several armed villagers tried to resist, and one was killed and another wounded . Young ordered his men to burn the city, but a lot of bottles of Greek fire they used failed to ignite, and only one shed was destroyed by fire. The raiders escaped to Canada, despite a delayed pursuit. In response to U.S. demands, the Canadian authorities arrested the raiders, recovering $88,000. However, a Canadian court ruled that because they were soldiers under military orders, officially neutral Canada could not extradite them. Canada freed the raiders, but returned to St. Albans the money they had found . The raid served to turn many Canadians against the Confederacy, since they felt that Canada was being drawn into the conflict without its consent. The Confederate agents in Canada realized this and no further raids were made.
GManfred
This movie is typical of 50's filmmakers penchant for making antiseptic, squeaky-clean action movies. Everyone involved is clean-shaven, dressed in their Sunday best and all scenes are overly lighted. This is a far cry from 40's post-WWII movies, most of which were distinctive by their realism, edgy dialogue and moody lighting. On the contrary, "The Raid" is more like a Disney feature. Moreover, The Raid itself is very stagey and, at least on film, poorly thought-out and clumsily handled - and, I should add, not very exciting. This was an anti-climax and a disappointing ending to a film that is overloaded with plot and talking.It had an excellent cast, especially the supporting cast and bit players, all very recognizable. But we go to the movies to undergo a 'suspension of disbelief ', as a film critic once wrote. "The Raid" does not deliver on this point and accounts for my rating of a 5 - that is, not really recommended unless you are under 12.
mack9201
A great picture depicting the Civil War, and the surprise attack on Saint Albans, Vermont by Confederate soldiers. You will not see many movies wherein the movie industry deviates from the "politically correct" Northern side of the War Between The States. This one takes you mostly to the Southern side. It takes place about the time of the push to Atlanta - or the indiscriminate burning of Georgia by the then estimated (and later confirmed) mentally impaired General Sherman. The lead actors Van Heflin, co-starring the young Ann Bancroft did a tremendous job. It would be a shame for Civil War history enthusiasts to miss this exciting movie.
heckles
(Avast, slight spoilers ahead) I got this tape from my local library, which keeps a copy for obvious reasons.I once went to the town of Matewan, West Virginia, and in a little museum there I saw the schedule for the town theatre citra May 1954. Movies would change at the theatre each day. As there would be no TV for another decade or so in those parts, this was much of the available entertainment in the town. "The Raid" seems to have been made for towns like Matewan in the 1950's. Although it wasn't listed for that month, I am sure showed there some Monday or Tuesday night for an audience which probably wasn't too demanding. The historical raid - daring and remarkably successful - didn't seem to have been very well researched, so the movie is full of Hollywood embellishments, including a loose cannon played by Lee Marvin. Marvin uses the opportunity to practice being Liberty Valance. And St. Albans seems to have had more Yankee soldiers coming and going through the town than Washington D.C. had.What really made me snicker was when the raiders change into their Confederate uniforms. Only in tacky Civil War paintings do Rebel uniforms look so pristine. When Anne Bancroft's son catches Van Heflin in his uniform just before the raid, I expected the boy to think it was Halloween.And then there's Anne Bancroft herself. While watching the movie I actually looked on the IMDb to see if there was a second Anne Bancroft. The then-studio contract actress looks nothing like in her later films, and has none of the presence she would later have in "The Miracle Worker," "Agnes of God," and of course "The Graduate."Worth seeing if only 1). you live in St. Albans and 2). you have a couple hours to kill on a Hollywood fictionalization of your home town's biggest news story.
