Shenandoah

Plot synopsis:
In the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1864, during the Civil War, family patriarch Charlie Anderson (James Stewart) and his six sons Jacob, John, James, Nathan, Henry, and Boy (who is 16) run the family farm, while his daughter Jennie (Rosemary Forsyth) and daughter-in-law Ann (Katharine Ross) take care of the housework. The family has no slaves. Though Charlie attends church weekly and considers himself a "God fearing" man, he doesn't give God credit for anything, but takes credit for himself especially during dinner prayer. He internally blames God for taking his wife from him. His family is constantly late for church and will force people out of their seats to make room for his family, much to the annoyance of the preacher and congregation.
Charlie's oldest son Jacob (Glenn Corbett) wants to join the war, but Charlie repeatedly tells his family that they won't join the war until it concerns them. Although a few of the boys want to join, they respect their father's wishes and remain on the farm. Charlie's daughter Jennie is courted by a young Confederate officer named Sam (Doug McClure). He wants to marry Jennie, and when Charlie gives his permission, the wedding occurs a few days later. As soon as the vows are said, a corporal rides up and announces that Sam is wanted back immediately. Sam leaves, much to the sorrow of his new bride. Shortly after Sam leaves, Ann then goes into labor, giving birth to a baby girl whom they name Martha in honor of Charlie's late wife.
While out hunting raccoon, Charlie's youngest son Boy (Phillip Alford) and his friend Gabriel (Eugene Jackson Jnr.) stumble onto a Confederate ambush. They run away and stop for a drink at a pond. Boy is wearing an old rebel soldier kepi cap that he found at the river. When a union patrol comes on them, they take Boy as a prisoner of war, mistakenly thinking he is a rebel soldier. Gabriel runs to tell the Andersons what happened. When Charlie hears the news, he and his sons and daughter Jennie leave to look for Boy, leaving James (Patrick Wayne) and his wife Ann at the farm with their young baby.
The first place the Andersons look is a Union camp, but they are told there are no prisoners there, but Colonel Fairchild (George Kennedy), who also has a sixteen-year-old son, directs them to a possible location, where Confederate prisoners are shipped North via railroad. However, the captain anchorage refuses to allow Charlie to look through the cars, as he "has schedules to keep". So Charlie sets up a roadblock, then forces the conductor and Union troops to let him. He looks through the boxcars, but Boy is not there, so he mounts his horse to leave. As he looks up, he sees young Sam coming through the crowd. Jennie is overjoyed to see her husband. Sam leaves with the Andersons, telling the soldiers to burn the train and go home.
After being taken to a different prisoner of war camp, Boy is befriended by rebel soldier Carter (James Best), who plans to escape and decides to let Boy come along. They and a few other men successfully make it out of the camp and start heading south. Coming onto a Confederate camp, they are involved in a skirmish. Carter is killed, and Boy is shot in the leg. A Union soldier almost kills him, but it turns out to be his friend, Gabriel, who instead helps him hide in a bush until after the battle.
Back at the farm, scavengers raid the place, killing both James and Ann. On their way home, the Andersons run across a Confederate patrol. A young sentry, startled by the sound of horses, takes a shot at Jacob, killing him instantly. Charlie starts to kill the sentry, but stops to ask him his age. The sentry replies, "Sixteen, sir." Charlie, remembering that his youngest son is sixteen, emotionally tells the sentry that he wants him to live and be an old man and have many sons. He wants him to know what it feels like to lose one of them.
When the Andersons return home, the doctor tells them what happened to James and Ann. Their child Martha is still alive, with an African-American woman acting as her nanny, and Charlie takes her in his arms. Next day at the breakfast table, Charlie begins his standard prayer, but is so heartbroken that he can't finish it. He goes out to the family graveyard to see his wife's grave. He sees the graves of James, Jacob and Ann alongside hers, and he hears church bells ringing in the distance.
At the farmhouse, he demands to know why no one told him it was Sunday. The whole family gets dressed and ready for church, arriving as the singing begins. As the congregation completes the first song, the pastor (Denver Pyle) starts to announce the next hymn. Boy stumbles through the back door on a crutch. The whole congregation looks, and Charlie Anderson turns to see what is happening. His face lights up, and he helps his son to the pew. Everyone joyously sings in unison as the story ends.

Tags: anti war, violence

Review:
It was also the basis for a very successful Broadway musical(which had nothing at all to do with the film itself).In the fictional community of Shenandoah Gap(in the hills of Virginia),widowed patriarch Charlie Anderson(James Stewart)rules his clan of six sons and two daughters and is determined not to pay any attention to what is happening beyond the boundaries of their 500-acre farm.
Well-timed coincidences keep things moving briskly,but the whole tone of the film takes on a sad quality as the family comes to understand how badly the war is going for Virginia.
Well-acted, beautifully realized story of a peace-loving family's struggle to survive the Civil War. A peaceful, hardworking farming family suffers the strains and unavoidable losses of the Civil War in `Shenandoah.'  James Stewart is the head of the clan, who does not keep slaves and refuses to fight for men who do.
Since the death of his wife, he has raised his large family to work hard and fight for what is right, and now the onset of the war forces them to come to terms with everything they believe in.The film is largely set on Stewart's farm in the Shenandoah Valley.
Also in the cast is handsome Patrick Wayne son of the great John Wayne, along with other reliable stars such as George Kennedy and rugged Glenn Corbett and Doug McClure who provide fine support.Can anyone recall if James Stewart ever gave a bad performance?
Family and the American Civil War. In Shenandoah, Virginia, the widower farmer Charlie Anderson (James Stewart) lives a peaceful life with his six sons - Jacob (Glenn Corbett), James (Patrick Wayne), Nathan (Charles Robinson), John (James McMullan), Henry (Tim McIntire) and Boy (Phillip Alford), his daughter Jennie (Rosemary Forsyth), and his daughter-in-law and James' wife Ann Anderson (Katharine Ross) in his farm.Charlie does not let his sons to join the army to fight in the American Civil War that he considers that it is not their war.
But it is time of violence and war, and tragedy reaches the Anderson family.The heartbreaking and unforgettable "Shenandoah" is one of my favorite westerns, with the story of a family caught by the American Civil War. The plot has elements of "Friendly Persuasion", with the strong code of honor of the patriarch of a family and James Stewart has another top- notch performance.
His daughter (Rosemary Forsyth) marries a confederate officer (Doug McClure) and his adolescent son is prisoned by Yankees .Good Western with powerful story that captures action , emotion and sentimental drama .
Jimmy Stewart is at his best in this film..tough and tender witty and sarcastic..idealistic and true to his values......i wont rehash all the details, enough to say if you a JS fan you will love the movie, if you a Civil war reanactor, you might not.
All the parts in the movie are excellent choices - James Stewart as Charlie Anderson Doug McClure as Sam Glenn Corbett as Jacob Anderson Patrick Wayne as James Anderson Rosemary Forsyth as Jennie Anderson Phillip Alford as Boy Anderson Katharine Ross as Ann Anderson Charles Robinson as Nathan Anderson Jim McMullan as John Anderson Tim McIntire as Henry Anderson Eugene Jackson as Gabriel (as Eugene Jackson Jr.) Paul Fix as Dr. Tom Witherspoon Denver Pyle as Pastor Bjoerling George Kennedy as Col. Fairchild James Best as Carter, Rebel Soldier Tom Simcox as Lt. Johnson Berkeley Harris as Capt.
It combines a pretty good use of humour (there are 4 or 5 very funny scenes in the first half hour or so of the movie - Charlie's grace, the scenes in the church, Sam's proposal to Jenny and asking her father for her hand, even the fight with the federal agents with "the boy" continually being knocked into the trough - with a pretty solid account of the challenges faced by the Anderson family in trying to basically keep out of the Civil War. Charlie Anderson (James Stewart) is the patriarch of the family.
Charlie's youngest son, known only as "The Boy" in the movie, is taken prisoners by Union soldiers who think he's a rebel, and Charlie and his family - now directly affected by the War - set off to find him, leaving his son and daughter-in-law at home with their baby.
However, the chance acquisition of a Confederate cap by Charley's youngest son initiates a series of events which embroil Charlie and his family deeply into the death, suffering and loss from the bloodiest war in American history."Shenandoah" is a fine film, which could have been a great film had the hacks at Universal spent more money on it.
The movie is clearly his vehicle, as he appears in virtually every scene, and he makes the best of it as the cigar-chomping patriarch of the Anderson clan.I wasn't surprised to see that this movie came out in the same year as Flight of the Phoenix, in which Stewart gives another of my favorite performances.Reading the other reviews here has reminded me that the movie is also about the Civil War, a fact I regularly forget when recalling it.
In light of these facts, I find that this movie is a refreshing change from so many movies that Hollywood churned out as propaganda that helped form an opinion that America was right to become an Imperialistic power to involve itself in so many countries and sacrifice our sons and daughters to further the immoral cause to spread "democracy" to other countries rather than fighting to keep our own country free of tyrants who call themselves "leaders" who answer to corporations and special interest groups.I feel that Jimmy Stewart's speeches throughout the movie, particularly to Johnson and at the end of the movie when he speaks to his dead wife at the grave encapsulate what most libertarians feel about the role of government in our lives.
A fine cast and storyline bring out the best of each character.For anyone who hasn't seen this film, its a simple story about a Virginia family during the Civil war who only want to be left alone and as one tragedy after another strikes you will defiantly need a hankie for this one.I highly recommend this film.
Jimmy Stewart is superb as Charlie Anderson, an arrogant, self-reliant man who thinks that he and his family can ignore the civil war which rages around his farm in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.
It is, perhaps, anti-Civil war, in that peaceful, productive folks like Jimmy's family would not be left alone to pursue their own livelihood, which, Charlie points out, his family cultivated with hard work and no handouts from the Authorities.I was surprised to note that this was released in 1965, same year as 'Flight of the Phoenix', making that a good year for Stewart.
Beautifully produced and acted, James Stewart is obviously having a great time in the showy lead role.James Lee Barrett's script is lovingly crafted, but the care he has put into it is rather too obvious and his contrivances too contrived (like the 'surprise' ending unlikely to have surprised anyone who's been paying attention), while the film's vaguely liberal anti-war position is one of many potentially provocative themes - such as Stewart's disdain for religion - that don't really lead anywhere (too bad Barrett's later hawkish screenplay for 'The Green Berets' couldn't have been as ambiguous).Many of the film's attitudes inevitably reflect the early 1960s rather than the early 1860s, while Jennie (Rosemary Forsyth) just happening to prove a crack shot is one of many elements that are a bit too good to be true.
Therefore, the dialogues and actions, even the soundtrack, are very well focused around a harrowing family story.Charlie Anderson and his six sons run the family farm, while his daughter and his daughter-in-law take care of the housework, in the Commonwealth of Virginia during the Civil War. The family has no slaves.
Shenandoah was a 1965 American Civil War film starring James Stewart, Doug McClure, Glenn Corbett, and Patrick Wayne.
For her part in Shenandoah, Rosemary Forsyth was nominated for a Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer - Female.Summary: Set in the state of Virginia during the American Civil War, James Stewart plays the role of family patriarch, Charlie Anderson.
Rather lumpy Civil War story has a Virginia farmer (James Stewart) and his family sticking to their business and hoping to ignore the battles going on around them, but when the farmer's sixteen-year-old son is mistaken for a soldier (or is he?) and is taken prisoner, Stewart declares this is now his war, too.
However, while fans of the stage show will miss the tuneful score, the movie "Shenandoah" is amiable and entertaining and boasts a fine performance by James Stewart as Charlie Anderson, the cigar-chomping patriarch of a Virginia family during the Civil War.Charlie Anderson has six sons, none of whom is in uniform.
McLaglen, "Shenandoah" is a Civil War drama/western starring James Stewart as a curmudgeonly widower in Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, trying to keep his sons out of the war because (1.) his big farm needs them since they have no slaves and don't believe in slavery, and (2.) he feels the war isn't his concern; at least, not until his youngest boy (Phillip Alford) is captured by the Yanks.
Long before The Patriot - different war, but same story - there was James Stewart trying to keep his sons out of a war that made no sense to him.We don't see the blood and gore in this film; it is about a family that wants to live their lives free of outside interference.
For this, and many other reasons, it stays in the heart and mindStewart has never been in better form than in "Shenandoah." He is an archetypal widower, deeply concerned for his six sons and one daughter on their farm in a remote section of Virginia, while the Civil War rages around them A pacifist and a man who refuses slavery, Stewart holds himself and his sons away from both the Confederate and Union causes But, for all his hatred of war, the rush of events finally draws him into that tumultuous and heartbreaking clashWhen he loses his 16-year-o1d youngest boy to the Union soldiers as a prisoner, he is compelled into action He presides with cold affection over his daughter's marriage to a young Confederate officer He visits his wife's grave (she had died giving birth to the son who is now a prisoner) and in simple and sincere words movingly talks with her Stewart's hatred of war is continually intact, but his faith in family remains stronger than everThe film is alive with great performances Katharine Ross, in her first film role, is moving as the daughter-in-law Rosemary Forsyth is strong and stately as Stewart's only daughter, who dresses in male clothes and joins her brothers in their search for their captured sibling George Kennedy is effective as a Union officer who helps Stewart with a pass to obtain his son Paul Fix is affecting as the attentive and concerned family doctor, and many others round out a superb cast"Shenandoah" was Stewart's first film with director Andrew V.
McLaglen, "Shenandoah" is a moving and emotional drama set against the backdrop of The American Civil War. Underrated even in its day, the film stars Jimmy Stewart as an archetypal widower.
Effective, though, are: Glenn Corbett, as the son who questions his father's stubborn neutrality; Doug McClure, as the Southern officer (named Sam Stephens in the film's press-book,though his last name is never mentioned in the film) who courts Anderson's lone daughter and marries her despite her "Papa's" reservations; Philip Alford as "Boy," Anderson's youngest son, who grabs a "Johnny Reb" cap floating downstream and, with signal bad judgment, wears it, causing him to be identified as a Confederate and taken prisoner, thus setting in motion the Anderson's family somewhat Quixotic quest to find him; Patrick Wayne, as the son who stays behind to care for his wife and newborn daughter--and who, when asked by a drifter (Kevin Hagen) for water, gives an uncanny imitation of his iconic father John Wayne when he answers, "Yer welcome to all ya c'n drink an' all ya c'n carry;" George Kennedy, who normally plays hardboiled types, as the unusually soft-spoken Union Colonel Fairchild, who aids Anderson in his search; Paul Fix, who literally inhabits the sorrow-filled figure of the town doctor, Tom Witherspoon; Eugene Jackson, Junior, who brings a much-needed credibility to the part of Gabriel, the slave who joins the Union Army--and saves the life of his childhood playmate, Boy, in a coincidence that is at first hard-to-swallow, until one remembers that life itself is made up of just such unlikely moments;and two actresses making their film debuts:Rosemary Forsyth, as daughter Jennie who can "outrun, out-ride and outfight" any of her male siblings, displays the strength of character that would inform all of her best roles, and Katharine Ross, who brings to the part of Pat Wayne's wife a sometimes wooden delivery ("You understand.
Western/War Film thats Anti-War. Entertaining melodrama about a Virginan family led by widower Charlie Anderson (James Stewart) trying to avoid becoming entangled in the American Civil War in which they do not believe.
James Stewart gives a moving performance in a western set during the Civil War. Charlie Anderson is a farmer living a peaceful life with his family in Shenandoah.His wife has passed away, but he often goes speak to her at her graveside.Charlie and the gang goes to church, since he promised to do so to her wife.They show up late every time, which brings some comedy to this movie.There is the Civil War going on, but he doesn't want to get involved in it since he feels it does not concern him.His son Jennie falls for a Confederate officer called Sam, who's called to duty on their wedding day.Charlie's youngest son Boy finds a Confederate cap that he starts wearing.The Union soldiers notice him and take as a prisoner.Now it concerns us, Mr. Anderson says and they go getting him back.Shenandoah (1965) is a film directed by the now 90-year old movie veteran Andrew V.
Charles Robinson is marvelous as Nathan.And so is Jim McMullan as John.Tim McIntire is great as Henry.George Kennedy is amazing as Col. Fairchild.Veteran actor Harry Carey Jr. is seen as Jenkins (rebel soldier), and he's very good.This movie is full of scenes and moments you will remember.The scene between George Kennedy and James Stewart is one of those.It's touching when they're looking for Boy but Sam appears from the train.It is most painful moment when that 16-year old soldier shoots his son Jacob accidentally.And when Charlie's son James and his wife Ann are killed by Confederate looters.But the newborn baby is luckily saved.In the end they're at the church, with some members of the family gone.But then somebody comes in the church, limping.It's Boy!
The great Mr James Stewart gives one of his most iconic performances as Charley Anderson,an ageing widower who,with his large family farms 500 acres in the Shenandoah Valley,trapped between Confederate and Union forces and determined to remain aloof from the conflict despite external and internal pressure.Anderson is Stewart at his defiant,courageous and compassionate but ruthless best.Eventually he is unable to avoid being dragged into the war when his youngest son finds a Confederate cap in the creek and is captured wearing it by Union soldiers.
In the heart-wrenching film "Shenandoah", Charlie Anderson, played by Jimmy Stewart, is a father who is opposed to both war and slavery.
Set in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia during the American Civil War this film follows Charlie Anderson who is determined that the war is no business of him and his family and that his family is of no concern to the warring parties; confederates trying to recruit his sons and Union horse buyers are both sent packing when they turn up at his farm.
Before the film is over the Anderson family will be struck by tragedy more than once; and not in ways one might expect.When I sat down to watch this I expected another James Stewart western but what I got was more of a war movie than a western; yes everybody rode horses and dressed much like people do in westerns but it is set much further east in country that has been settled since long before independence not in the newly settle frontier.
But he eventually has to get involved when his youngest boy is taken prisoner by the North.Charlie, upon rescuing his son, sees first hand the horrors of war, and loses several people close to him.I won't give away much more, so as not to spoil too much, but I just want to recommend that if you do watch this movie, keep a box of tissues handy, because you WILL need it.James Stewart gives a great performance in this classic true story about the Civil War.9/10..
McLaglen, and written by James Lee Barrett, this Civil War film stars James Stewart as the father of six sons and one daughter he'd raised solo for the past 16 years since his wife died giving birth to their youngest son.The war is raging and though Stewart's family lives in Shenandoah, Virginia, he wishes not to get involved.
It was nominated for a Best Sound Oscar and marks the film debut of Katharine Ross.Charlie Anderson (Stewart) has six sons including Jacob (Glenn Corbett), James (Patrick Wayne), who is married to Ann (Ross), and one daughter Jennie (Rosemary Forsyth), his eldest who is as good a shot, rider, and just as tough as his sons.
This movie shows the struggle one family must go through during the Civil War. Charlie Anderson has a large farm in his native Virginia.
Virginia patriarch James Stewart tries to keep his family out of the civil war as it rages around them, but wars aren't like that.This beautifully filmed 1965 western doesn't have a plot so much as a series of events which take place as Stewart takes most of his children looking for one son who was taken prisoner.