Product Details

• Actors: Trevor Howard, Vanessa Redgrave, John Gielgud, Harry Andrews, Jill Bennett
• Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono), French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
• Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
• DVD Release Date: May 7, 2002
• Run Time: 139 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000062XEW
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #31,575 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "The Charge of the Light Brigade" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Depicts the British involvment in the Crimean War and the inept leadership of the British officers.
Genre: Feature Film-Action/Adventure
Rating: PG13
Release Date: 7-MAY-2002
Media Type: DVD

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Satire On Hubris and the Victorian Era, July 27, 2004

By 

Octavius (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Charge of the Light Brigade (DVD)

Tony Richardson's 1968 satire of Victorian imperialism set during the Crimean War of 1854-1855. A clever film with subtle humor that is very rich in covering the details of Victorian society such as clothing, mannerisms, class structure, institutions, etc. Although it has somewhat of an uneven plot with strange editing, this film is very well acted with beautiful cinematography.

The film is primarily a satirical tragedy as opposed to being an action-drama typical of your standard war films such as 'Saving Private Ryan' for example. The film therefore mostly focuses on the characters' development within their social ranks, how they interact with each other, and what effect their interactions have on society or on them collectively. The film follows the central character, Captain Lewis Edward Nolan of the 15th Hussars. Nolan is a historical character who was a veteran of the wars in India and on very bad terms with his commander, Lord Cardigan (Howard), a boorish man with little concern for his suboordinates. Captain Nolan is also best friends with Mr. Richardson (Mark Burns) and, unfortunately, more than best friends with Mrs. Richardson(Vanessa Redgrave.) Both Nolan and Richardson are longing to see some action with their cavalry regiment and their wishes are soon fulfilled when war breaks out with Russia. Under the command of Earl Lucan and Cardigan (who both hate each other immensely), they are shipped off to the Crimea to join the French and the Turks against the Russians.

Again, the title of the film is somewhat deceptive as the legendary charge of the light brigade takes up but the last 15 minutes of the 2+ hour film. Interestingly enough, the duration of the film battle sequence is about the same length as the actual charge: less than 20 minutes. The film is pretty accurate as to the battle but omits the details of the first engagements that took place on October 25, 1854, at the battle of Balaklava. The film does show how the ill prepared British and allied forces were driven back from the Causeway Heights by the Russians and how their canons were taken. The film also shows how Lord Raglan (John Gielgud) issued a rather ambiguous order to recouperate the 'Russian guns' without saying which ones. As such, the Light Brigade headed directly through the North valley towards the furthest Russian gun emplacements to the East as opposed to charging towards the nearest gun emplacements to the South-East on the Causeway Heights. This meant an extended charge through a valley in which the enemy commanded three sides with artillery, infantry, and cavalry contingents. Although the brigade succeeded in dislodging the artillery and routing the Russian cavalry, their numbers were too few to capitalize on their gains: they instead withdrew back to their original positions in an ordered fashion. Starting with approximately 600 men, they returned with only about 200 men. Despite the blunder, their mad charge was undertaken with such order and discipline that, for the rest of the Crimean War, the Russians would often refuse to fight the British cavalry even when they had a significant numerical superiority.

In sum, this film is primarily a social and political satire on Victorian England. A viewer would probably have more of an appreciation for this film if he/she's familiar with the social and political norms of that period. This is not a war film per se as most of the plot unfolds in the peaceful and stuffy surroundings of Victorian London. I agree with the other reviewers that the animated political cartoons are a little overdone. The humor in this film being so subtle, the animation serves to expressly remind the audience that the film is more a satire and not a true drama. Overall a good satirical drama with excellent cinematography and great acting.

90 of 102 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Masterpiece. Plain and simple, August 18, 2001

By 

Judd Fence (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Charge of the Light Brigade [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I remember the day I stopped reading the New York Times, and also realized that most film revivers did NOT have a clue... and thats when I read the review for Tony Richardsons Charge Of The Light Brigade. The Times Reviewer, a first stage imbecile went on and on about "how Richardson could have made such a glorification of war during the height of the View Nam conflict!" Was this man blind, or did he just sit in some bar drinking his lunch while the film was screen? For Light Brigade is perhaps the greatest ANTI-WAR movie ever made! I could go on for pages about this movie. One of the most amazing aspects is Charles Woodss screenplay. It is without a doubt the greatest piece of film writing ever. Now thats a big statement but I promise you its not an exaggeration. From the very first speech of Trevor Howard, through scene after scene of perfect craftsmanship and dialogue, you are bombarded with a sumptuous love affair of the English language. Add to that one of the most opulently shot period movies this side of Barry Lyndon, and the most amazing animation sequences by Richard Williams (and for the love of God if you still think this is a pro war movie after those sequences, you really need to be locked away for your own safety!) and you have a cinema treat the likes of which you will find hard pressed to see anywhere else. From the first bars of John Addisons quirky emotionally charged, purposely overly blown score, to Williams animated lions roar to the last staggering image of the decapitated horses, silently rotting away in the Valley of Death, as only the sounds of flies can be heard you realize you are watching greatest. You also realize you are watching history the way it really was. Never before or since has anyone dramatized blunders of great men so magnificently. The parallels to todays world (and leaders) are terrifyingly accurate and prophetic! This is a movie that doesnt age gracefully, it ages with an explosive charge a pressure cooker of artistic brilliance, that once uncapped, erupts in your face, grabs hold and doesnt let go until the last credit. Tragically, this movie was way ahead of its time, and has never been given its right dues. Long before the computer generated tension of Private Ryan Richardson and crew created a scene of battle terror that digs deep into your soul and is never forgotten. This is a movie you feel, and smell and taste. From the heat of the Turkish plains, to the stench of the English ships, to the flesh ripping sting of a whipping Light Brigade is truly in a class of its own. The balance of terror, humor, intrigue and human courage and waste there is no equal. The only one who blundered in this movie was the distributor who ignored it, and the vapid reviewers without a brain, who didnt realize what they were seeing. But you can rent or buy this masterpiece and see why I for one, fell in love with both the cinema, and the word.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant depiction of a military action of epic proportions, October 17, 1999

By 

Raymond J. Elliston (Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Charge of the Light Brigade [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Following closely on the heels of ZULU (1965), THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE (1968) ushered in an era of unparalleled brilliance in war movie-making. Anyone who has read Tennyson's poem of the same name, or read John Harris' book THE GALLANT SIX HUNDRED will appreciate this film for its depiction of both the battle and of British Army life at the time. The technical detail is impeccable and, despite the obvious use of satire, the film is remarkably true to history. It vividly portrays the contrasting social circumstances of the officers and the rank and file soldiers, and the inextricable bond between them. The officers genuinely believed they had been born to lead and the soldiers followed them unquestioningly because of their personal courage and example rather than any demonstrated skill in the art of war. The courage, endurance and stoicism of the British soldier in the field is accurately rendered, carefully maintaining the simple dignity of those who were most responsible for the spread of Empire throughout the world. Everything else in the film obviously leads to the grand finale, the magnificently futile charge up the valley into the face of the Russian guns. The filming and choreography are amazing, replete with small details that have been recorded elsewhere through survivor interviews and the memoires of witnesses and participants. This is a MUST see for anyone interested in military history, or just epic war movies.