The Charge of the Light Brigade

Plot synopsis:
In 1854, Major Geoffrey Vickers (Errol Flynn) and his brother, Captain Perry Vickers (Patric Knowles), are stationed at the fictional city of Chukoti in India, with the 27th Lancers of the British Army during the period of East India Company dominance over the Indian subcontinent. Perry has secretly betrayed Geoffrey by stealing the love of his fiancee Elsa (Olivia de Havilland).
During an official visit to local tributary rajah, Surat Khan (C. Henry Gordon), Geoffrey saves the rajah's life. Later, Surat Khan massacres the inhabitants of Chukoti (mainly the dependents of the lancers), and allies himself with the Russians, whom the British are fighting in the Crimean War. He spares Elsa and Geoffrey as they flee the slaughter to repay his debt to Geoffrey.
The love triangle and the quest for vengeance are both resolved at the Battle of Balaclava. Aware that Surat Khan is inspecting the Russian position opposite the 27th Lancers, Geoffrey Vickers secretly replaces the written orders of Sir Charles Macefield (Henry Stephenson) to the commander of the Light Brigade, Sir Benjamin Warrenton (Nigel Bruce). Vickers then orders the famous suicidal attack so the lancers can avenge the Chukoti massacre. He writes a note to Macefield explaining his actions and forces his brother Perry to deliver it, sparing him from almost certain death. The attack succeeds in reaching the Russian artillery positions. There, Vickers finds and kills Surat Khan, at the cost of his own life.
After receiving Vickers' note, Macefield takes responsibility for the charge and burns the note to protect Vickers' good name.

Tags: violence, cult, murder, romantic

Review:
Errol Flynn, riding high with the spectacular success of CAPTAIN BLOOD, re-teamed with co-star Olivia de Havilland and director Michael Curtiz in this epic tale, owing far more to Rudyard Kipling's prose than Tennyson's poem, or any attempt at historical accuracy.
Flynn, with his trademark moustache restored, is Major Geoffrey Vickers, dashing British Lancer, who, as the film opens, saves the life of Indian ruler Surat Khan (played by veteran screen villain C.
Between assignments, Vickers tries to be the devoted fiancé of beautiful Elsa Campbell (de Havilland), but in a twist from the usual Flynn/de Havilland teamings, she actually loves his brother, Perry (Patric Knowles, who would later play 'Will Scarlet' in ROBIN HOOD).
The love triangle subplot is the least effective part of the story; fortunately, these interludes don't last long!Courting favor with the Russians (represented by Stalin look-alike Robert Barrat), Khan gambles, correctly, that the British would never consider him capable of murdering women and children, so his attack on an undermanned Chukoti, and the subsequent massacre of all the inhabitants (save Vickers and Campbell, thus fulfilling his blood debt), creates a furor that rocks India, and a evokes a vow of revenge from Vickers and the Lancers, who'd lost all of their loved ones.
Arranging to get his brother safely away from the action, Vickers forges orders to have the Light Brigade attack the Heights, and 'The Charge' begins...While the Charge (created by second unit director "Breezy" Eason) is one of the most incredible scenes ever recorded on film, with hundreds of horsemen galloping in formation 'to the guns', there was a deadly price for the spectacle; the buried explosives and trip wires used to create realistic cannon blasts injured many horses, resulting in a large number of animals having to be 'put down'.
Flynn and Niven were great friends, sharing a cottage in Malibu (nicknamed 'Cirrhosis-by-the-Sea', because of their wild parties), and their final scene together is far more poignant than any Flynn/de Havilland moments in the film!While flawed, historically, and unquestionably bloody, THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE retains its position as a 'classic', and proved to the WB that Errol Flynn was not just a 'one hit wonder'.
Director Michael Curtiz went all out in this 1936 version of "The Charge of the Light Brigade", and considering the era, he made a darn good job of it - sure, he threw history out of the window, and created a very fictitious story, but when it came to the actual Charge, it was a masterpiece of staging and direction.
Classic movie with impressive charge into the valley of death by British 27th Lancers in Balaklava during Crimean War. At the beginning the tale is set in Suristan , it could be seen as part of the "Great game" that was fought for nearly a century between the British and Russian empires for control in the Middle East .
The film is dedicated "to the officers and men of the Light Brigade who died victorious in a gallant charge at Balaklava for Queen and Country - A.D. 1856." It is based on Lord Tennyson's famous poem : Half a league , half a league onward , all in the valley of death rode the six hundred .
Good film with lavish production values dealing with events leading up to British involvement in Crimean war with stunning final battle sequence .
The original script used the real-life siege of a British fort at Cawnpore , and subsequent massacre of its survivors , during the Sepoy Rebellion -, a nationwide mutiny of Indian soldiers in the British army - as the reason for the famous Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava during the Crimean War .
The second of nine movies made together by Warner Brothers' romantic couple Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn , here playing star-crossed lovers .
It did receive an Oscar for Best Assistant Director for the second unit work in depicting the charge when that was a category at the Academy Awards.Errol Flynn said it was the roughest film he ever made in terms of pure physicality.
Flynn, as Major Vickers, decides to avenge the massacre of British women and children at the fort, thus forging the orders that lead to the famous charge.All of it is strictly meant to entertain, offering political background of a confusing sort to give an idea of the events surrounding the charge.
While all of it has been falsified for the sake of providing a screenplay that makes Flynn the noblest of heroes, there is no denying the epic sweep of the derring do and romance.Flynn and screen partner de Havilland make a handsome couple and they are supported by a fine bunch of actors from Hollywood's British film colony, notably Patric Knowles, David Niven and Donald Crisp.
However about halve way through the movie its story takes a turn and turns into a delicious action filled epic, with the charge of the light brigade at the ending as the icing on the cake.I watched this film without really knowing what to expect of it.
The movie started of just like Michael Bay's "Pearl Harbor", with a love triangle story between the Errol Flynn character, his brother played by Patric Knowles and Olivia de Havilland.
But if you can get by that, you'll be cheering the Light Brigade as they thunder forward with the Union Jack flying.(It is said that this is the film in which director Michael Curtiz, the master of malaprops and non sequitars said "Bring on the empty horses".)To quote Tennyson:"Boldly they rode and well,Into the jaws of Death,Into the mouth of HellRode the six hundred"So watch this rousing film and throw aside any knowledge that you may have about the Crimean War or the abilities of Lords Lucan and Cardigan.....it doesn't count here....just enjoy!.
Michael Curtiz directed this fictionalized account of the real-life charge of the light brigade, based on the famous Sir Alfred Lord Tennyson poem.
Max Steiner's score complements the action perfectly."The Charge of the Light Brigade" is quite an epic production, and notorious for the number of horses killed in the battle scenes.
No such measures were ever taken to protect history from the ravages of Hollywood screenwriters: Surat Khan and the country of Suristan never existed, nor did Flynn's 27th Lancers, and although there was indeed a charge at Balaklava, it didn't happen for the reasons depicted in this film.
But then again, any movie boasting the talents of both Errol Flynn AND David Niven is always going to be a treat.My favourite part of Charge of the Light Brigade is at the ball in Calcutta, every man in the place is trying to avoid the interfering old bint (can't remember her name).
The film also did nothing for Olivia de Havilland's career, typecasting her with Warner Brothers as a typical ingénue, when in fact, she was a fantastic actress.Errol Flynn, Patric Knowles, Henry Stephenson, and Nigel Bruce star in the film, along with the aforementioned de Havilland.
Although I also agree that the charge scene is well done, this cannot make up for the fact that this film has an appalling plot, wooden script, and tampers with history with all the finesse of an atom bomb!What annoys even more is that the basic premise, an officer changes an order (and so sacrifices his regiment) to take revenge on a particular enemy officer, is a good one:  good enough not to need to be nailed so artificially to a real historical event.Do yourself a favour:  watch the Trevor Howard version instead!.
Historically, the massacre of British women and children occurred after the charge of the light brigade in the Crimean War .
This is a magnificent historical adventure based on the homonym poem by Lord Alfred Tennyson, about the famous Charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava during the Crimean War. Legendary Errol Flynn is dashing and superb as the hero and is surrounded by a great cast (Olivia De Havilland, Donald Crisp, Patrick Knowles and David Niven).
Great performances, great score (Max Steiner), great action sequences and one of the most spectacular cavalry charges in movie history, with over 200 horses brutally killed and one stuntman dead during filming (clips of the charge sequence were included in the music video of Iron Maiden's "The Trooper").Even though is brilliantly directed by Michael Curtiz (who had a lifelong struggle with the English language, and during filming shouted "bring on the empty horses", meaning "riderless horses".
Only a small part of the film is utterly factual or totally fictitious (like the love triangle of Elsa and the Vickers brothers).The main character, Major Geoffrey Vickers (Errol Flynn) brings on the famous suicidal attack because of his quest for vengeance.
Although entirely fictitious, Vickers is based on real life Captain Louis Nolan who indeed served in India before the Crimean War, purchased the horses for the army in Crimea, was aide-De-camp to General Airey, misrepresented the crucial order which led to the attack for unknown reasons and died at the charge.Although the siege and massacre at Chukoti is totally fictional, it accurately depicts the historical events which took place at Cawnpore three years later some 600 miles to the south-east, during the Indian Mutiny or Sepoy Rebellion in 1857.
In the movie, the forces besieging Chukoti are commanded by Surat Khan, a fictional Indian rajah, based however on Nana Sahib who was in fact the commander of the besieging forces at the siege of Cawnpore and responsible for the massacre of British civilians.We have to consider that the movie's most essential themes are historically true: A) In fact, it started for the protection of Britain's over-land route to India.
The charge to the guns at Balaklava is spectacular.Errol Flynn plays the perfect role as a British Lancer in her majesty's service in India and Crimea.
In 1854, the 27th Lancers of the British Army, led by Major Geoffrey Vickers (Errol Flynn) and his brother Captain Perry Vickers (Patric Knowles), escorts Sir Harcourt on a diplomatic mission to Suristan.
Reeves Eason at the top of his form, Max Steiner's stupendous score, Errol Flynn at his most dashing, Olivia DeHavilland at her most Olivia DeHavilland--even the usually terminally bland Patric Knowles, as Flynn's younger brother, seems to get caught up in the atmosphere and actually turns in a good performance, as does a young David Niven, showing flashes of the charm and wit that movie fans came to know and love.
The Charge Of The Light Brigade 1936 is a good military film boasting quality action sequences, it's not a true account of the actual event, and it should be noted there is a disclaimer of sorts at the film's beginning.This telling begins in India in 1850 and leads us up to what would become the Crimean War. Indian chief Surat Khan {C.
Pumped up with revenge, Major Vickers {a dashing Errol Flynn} decides to take matters into his own hands and leads a brave charge on the Russians at Balaclava Heights where Khan has fled into hiding.That's all you need to know as regards the plot, there is a love tryst sub-plot between Vickers, his brother Perry {Patric Knowles} and Elsa Campbell {a radiant Olivia de Havilland}, but this is merely a side issue to add impetus to the bravery of the men in the charge.
Directed by Michael Curtiz and inspired by the immortal poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson it has been heavily criticised by the large number of horses killed during its action scenes and the callous disregard of historical fact , so much so Warner Brothers published a disclaimer caption that the film is heavily fictionalised This has done nothing to reduce the complaints but as a Briton watching this in 2013 I think I can safely say that after watching the likes of SAVING PRIVATE RYAN and BAND OF BROTHERS that I failed to notice anything along the lines of " Mr Spielberg and Mr Ambrose wish to apologise for the very American-centric tone of this film .
Movies are all about spectacle and entertainment and if I remember correctly the problem with the 1968 British version of THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE is that it tried too much to be a history lesson of what life was like in 1850's Britain and the frontline of the Crimean War .
Henry Gordon, being based on an interesting subject matter and with direction by Michael Curtiz and music by Max Steiner, 'The Charge of the Light Brigade' had all the ingredients for a great film.It almost was, but to me instead is a very good one.
Patric Knowles is also pretty stolid and bland.However, 'The Charge of the Light Brigade' is beautifully filmed and produced, Max Steiner's stirring music score and Michael Curtiz's assured direction adding enormously.
The screen dissolves into extracts from Tennyson's poem of the same name, emphasizing the doomed nature of the operation, yet asking us to remember how it contributed to a British victory in the end.In truth the film does not have much of a plot, save for highlighting the rivalry between brothers Geoffrey and Perry Vickers (Errol Flynn, Patric Knowles) for the hand of Elsa (Olivia de Havilland).
In THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE he does not disappoint - despite his much-publicized differences with director Curtiz, he sails through the film with a kind of nonchalance (nowadays we might call it "style") that justifies his status as one of Warner Brothers's most bankable stars.The film offers a treat for fans of Hollywood England, with the supporting cast boasting a youthful David Niven (who by then had set up home with Flynn) plus a gallery of familiar faces including E.
Like other Flynn films of the time, most notably "They Died With Their Boots On", it plays fast and loose with the known facts of a historical event to the extent of creating a fictitious pretext for the actual charge of the Light Brigade itself and creating imaginary characters like Flynn's Major Vickers and Indian warlord Surat Khan as the main protagonists in the battle, even the Chikoti massacre which triggered the bloody conclusion is based on events which happened three years after the Battle of Balaklava.
More importantly, the now known facts about the production's incidental slaughter of numerous horses in the climactic battle scenes can make it somewhat distressing to view, as I found myself inadvertently watching for the deadly trip-wires which sent so many of them to a no doubt nasty death.That's a lot to put aside but still I can't help but admit that this is another golden-age Hollywood classic, utterly entertaining in the "Boy's Own" tradition of so many great films of that era, many of them of course synonymous with Flynn as the leading man.
Here, he's at his dashing best as the honourable Major Vickers, for once giving up the love of his betrothed, the ever-present Olivia De Havilland in favour of his weedy brother, in a turn of events as hard to believe as anything else in the fanciful script, who, to revenge the slaughtered innocents by the barbarous Khan, countermands official orders to lead the suicidal attack of his brave 600 cavalrymen into the valley of death, where Flynn inevitably expires in the knowledge that he has at least avenged Khan personally.Excusing director Curtiz's heartless treatment of the poor horses, one can't deny his ability in managing the sheer spectacle of both the massacre at Chikoti and especially the final carnage at Balaklava.
In the days before C-Gen special effects capable of creating imaginary thousands in battle, here you actually see, especially in the long-shots, the actual blood and thunder of war in the raw, which makes the heart race just to watch it.Flynn is of course imperious as the gallant Vickers and there's good support for him too in the familiar forms of De Havilland, Nigel Bruce and in a fairly brief role, the young David Niven.
While British lancer Errol Flynn (as Geoffrey "Geoff" Vickers) is out leopard hunting with his elephant and gun, his fiancée Olivia de Havilland (as Elsa Campbell) and brother Patric Knowles (as Perry Vickers) are falling in love.
Alas, that love triangle has little to do with the film's intent - to depict "The Charge of the Light Brigade" in Alfred Lord Tennyson's famous poem.
Combining good-looks, action, and romance, Flynn and the studio won big at the box office.***** The Charge of the Light Brigade (10/20/36) Michael Curtiz ~ Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Patric Knowles, C.
I recognize this is a work of fiction and couldn't care less whether it's historically accurate or not, but if you create a movie called "The Charge of the Light Brigade", you should at least be creating a fiction based largely on the subject of the Crimean War. Instead, a fictional connection is made to India, which becomes the scene of 3/4 of the movie.
As a follow up to CAPTAIN BLOOD, Errol Flynn's adventure spectacle THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE is an exciting, well made film.
It has a good cast, including Olivia De Haviland as Flynn's (Major Geoffrey Vickers) love interest (Elsa Campbell), and supported by Henry Stevenson (Sir Charles Macefield), Nigel Bruce (Sir Benjamin Warrenton), David Niven (Captain James Randall), Patric Knowles (Captain Perry Vickers), Donald Crisp (Colonel Campbell), C.
The Charge of the Light Brigade is a 1936 action-adventure movie produced by Warner Brothers and directed by Michael Curtiz.
The cast features Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, David Niven, Patric Knowles, Donald Crisp, and C.
But the love triangle is really the sub-plot to the story of the charge of the British lancers who Flynn leads into battle against Surat Khan (a deliciously villainous C.Henry Gordon).
This is a beautifully filmed adventure with a romantic triangle that sets up a rivalry between two brothers (Errol Flynn and Patric Knowles) for their commander's daughter (Olivia de Havilland).