The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936 film)
The Charge of the Light Brigade | |
---|---|
Directed by | Michael Curtiz |
Written by | Michel Jacoby |
Screenplay by |
|
Based on | The Charge of the Light Brigade 1854 poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson[1] |
Produced by | Jack L. Warner Hal B. Wallis[2] |
Starring | |
Cinematography | A.S.C. |
Edited by | George Amy |
Music by | Max Steiner |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 115 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $1,330,000[3] or $1,076,000[4] |
Box office | $3,382,000[4] |
The Charge of the Light Brigade is a 1936 American
The filming of the charge sequence led to the death of 25 horses, which led to legislative action by the U.S. Congress and action by the ASPCA to prevent further cruelty by film directors and producers.
The film's screenplay is very loosely based on the famous Charge of the Light Brigade that occurred during the Crimean War (1853–56). Additionally, the storyline includes an event similar to the Siege of Cawnpore during the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
This was the second of eight films in which Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland costar.
The supporting cast features Flynn look-alike Patric Knowles as Flynn's character's brother, David Niven, Nigel Bruce, Henry Stephenson, Donald Crisp, Robert Barrat, Spring Byington, J. Carrol Naish and E. E. Clive.
Plot
In 1854, Captain Geoffrey Vickers (Errol Flynn) and his brother, Captain Perry Vickers (Patric Knowles), are stationed in India, with the 27th Lancers of the British Army. It is during the period of East India Company dominance over the Indian subcontinent. Perry has secretly betrayed Geoffrey by stealing the love of his fiancée Elsa (Olivia de Havilland).
During an official visit to local tributary rajah, Surat Khan (
The love triangle and the quest for vengeance resolve at the Battle of Balaclava. Aware that Surat Khan is inspecting Russian positions opposite the 27th Lancers, Maj. Vickers secretly replaces written orders by Sir Charles Macefield (Henry Stephenson) to the commander of the Light Brigade, Sir Benjamin Warrenton (Nigel Bruce), to withdraw from the Balaclava Heights. Vickers instead orders the famous suicidal attack so the lancers can avenge the Chukoti massacre. Before the charge, Maj. Vickers reminds troops of the Chukoti Massacre and directs their anger: "Our objective is Surat Khan!" Although the 27th Lancers and the other Light Cavalry units lose nearly all their 600 strength, they successfully breach Russian artillery positions. There, Vickers finds and kills Surat Khan with a lance, at the cost of his own life.
Later, it emerges that Maj. Vickers wrote a letter to Sir Charles Macefield explaining his actions, which he forced Perry to deliver under threat of court martial, sparing his brother almost certain death during the 27th's charge. After receiving Maj. Vickers' explanation of why he defied orders and the charge happened, Macefield takes responsibility and burns the letter to protect Vickers and to honor him for his conspicuous gallantry in avenging the Chukoti Massacre.
Cast
- Errol Flynn as Major Geoffrey Vickers
- Olivia de Havilland as Elsa Campbell
- Patric Knowles as Captain Perry Vickers
- Henry Stephenson as Sir Charles Macefield
- Nigel Bruce as Sir Benjamin Warrenton
- Donald Crisp as Colonel Campbell
- David Niven as Captain Randall
- C. Henry Gordon as Surat Khan
- G. P. Huntley Jr. as Major Jowett
- Robert Barrat as Count Igor Volonoff
- Spring Byington as Lady Octavia Warrenton
- E. E. Clive as Sir Humphrey Harcourt
- 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
- Helen Sanborn as Mrs. Jowett
- Holmes Herbert as Gen. O'Neill (uncredited)
Production
Development
The charge had been previously portrayed in a British film, The Jaws of Death (1930).
Warner Bros. was inspired to make the film after Lives of a Bengal Lancer (1935) had been released to great popularity, ushering in a series of British Empire adventure tales. Michel Jacoby had developed a story based on the famous charge but, although Warners bought Jacoby's script, the final script was closer to Lives of a Bengal Lancer.[8]
An original working title for the film was The Charge of the 600.[9]
Warner Bros. wanted an all-British cast. Errol Flynn (Australian, but initially ballyhooed by the studio publicity department as Irish) had made such a strong impression in Captain Blood that he was removed from supporting Fredric March in Anthony Adverse to play the lead in Charge of the Light Brigade.[10] Ian Hunter was connected to the film early on.[11] Anita Louise was announced as the female lead.[12]
Patric Knowles had just joined Warner Bros. at the recommendation of Irving Asher in London, the same man who recommended Errol Flynn. He was given the crucial supporting role of Flynn's brother,[13] which was perfect since Flynn and Knowles looked almost exactly alike at the time.
The film provides an early, important supporting role for David Niven.[14]
Edward G. Robinson tested for the role as the lead villain Surat Khan. Basil Rathbone was also considered before C. Henry Gordon was finally cast.[15]
Shooting
Principal photography began in April 1936.[16]
During filming on location at Lone Pine California, the studio's camera unit helped put out a fire that started at a restaurant across the road from where the actors were staying.[17]
Some of the location shooting was done in Mexico where there were fewer restrictions on harming animals during production.[18]
The Charge sequence
The film comes to a climax at the
The battlefield set was lined with
Stylized as a cenotaph in opening credits
"QUIS SUPERABIT |
"The world is indebted to Alfred, |
Disclaimer at the end of opening credits
"This production has its basis in history.
The historical basis, however, has been
fictionalized for the purposes of this picture
and the names of many characters, many
characters themselves, the story, incidents
and institutions, are fictitious. With the
exception of known historical characters,
whose actual names are herein used, no
identification with actual persons, living
or dead, is intended or should be inferred".
Reception
Box Office
The film was a massive hit in Japan.[19]
According to Warner Bros.' accounts, the film was the studio's most expensive and most popular film of 1936, earning $1,454,000 domestically and $1,928,000 in foreign markets.[4]
Critical
Filmink magazine wrote that "If you think that story sounds silly, you’d be right and it doesn’t come across any less so on screen" but thought the film was redeemed by Flynn and its action sequences.[20]
Awards
See also
References
- ^ "AFI|Catalog".
- ^ "AFI|Catalog".
- ^ John Sedgwick, Mike Pokorny, "Hollywood's foreign earnings during the 1930s", 83 TRAC 1 (1) pp. 83–97 Intellect Limited 2010 p92
- ^ a b c Warner Bros financial information in The William Shaefer Ledger. See Appendix 1, Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, (1995) 15:sup1, 1-31 p 16 DOI: 10.1080/01439689508604551
- ^ Variety film review; November 4, 1936, page 18.
- ^ Harrison's Reports film review; November 7, 1936, page 178.
- ^ http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/2098/The-Charge-of-the-Light-Brigade/notes.html [bare URL]
- ^ Tony Thomas, Rudy Behlmer * Clifford McCarty, The Films of Errol Flynn, Citadel Press, 1969 p 45-50
- ^ Schallert, Edwin (June 13, 1935). "Tennyson 's Celebrated "Charge of the Light Brigade " Inspiration for New Film: Miss Colbert Will Be Star of 'Frenchy' Moroni Olsen Given Musketeer Role; Jones to Sing". Los Angeles Times. p. 13.
- ^ Chaplin's Big Business: Goldwyn's Leading Lady: A New Romantic Hero Bain, Greville. The Times of India (1861-current) [New Delhi, India] 07 Mar 1936: 9.
- ^ Schallert, Edwin (Sep 18, 1935). "Irvin S Cobb, Famous Humorist, Signs to Star at Twentieth Century-Fox: Zanuck Picks Story for Writer-Player Francine Larrimore Arriving October 20 to Do Picture Work for M.-G.-M.; Featured Roles Awarded Melvyn Douglas". Los Angeles Times. p. 9.
- ^ "SCREEN NOTES". New York Times. Mar 20, 1936. p. 28.
- ^ Schallert, Edwin (Mar 9, 1936). "Irvin Cobb, Film Future Secure, to Star in "Gentleman From Mississippi": Writer's Thespianic Adventure Proceeds Claude Rains and Charles Boyer Both Will Have Fling at Napoleon Interpretation; Choir Singer in "Stagestruck"". Los Angeles Times. p. 15.
- ^ Schallert, Edwin (Mar 7, 1936). "Bette Davis, Academy Winner, Will Break Up Film Duties With Vacation: Star Going to Palm Springs, Honolulu Randolph Scott Will Portray Scout Hawkeye in "Last of Mohicans;" Sol Lesser Plans Films for Twentieth-Century Release". Los Angeles Times. p. 5.
- ^ Schallert, Edwin (Mar 20, 1936). "Franchot Tone Selected to Appear Opposite Jean Harlow in "Suzy" Film: George Fitzmaurice Will Direct Feature Harriet Hilliard's Next Picture Will Be "Make a Wish;" Capra Seeking Tibetans; Beverly Roberts Wins Leading Part". Los Angeles Times. p. 15.
- ^ Shaffer, George (Apr 15, 1936). "Jungle Scene Gives Actors Extra Thrill". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 22.
- ^ "Movie Crew Aids Firemen". New York Times. Apr 2, 1936. p. 29.
- ^ "NEWS OF THE SCREEN: Forward the Light Brigade, to Mexico -- More Costumes for Hepburn -- Trivial Matters". New York Times. June 15, 1936. p. 24.
- ^ "Variety (January 1938)". 1938.
- ^ Vagg, Stephen (November 10, 2019). "The Films of Errol Flynn: Part 2 The Golden Years". Filmink.
- ^ "The 9th Academy Awards (1937) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved 2011-08-08.
External links
- The Charge of the Light Brigade at IMDb
- The Charge of the Light Brigade at the TCM Movie Database
- The Charge of the Light Brigade at AllMovie
- The Charge of the Light Brigade at the American Film Institute Catalog
- The Charge of the Light Brigade at Rotten Tomatoes
- A historical assessment from CrimeanTexts.org.uk at the Wayback Machine (archived April 5, 2003)