Shenandoah
Human interest often finds a backdrop in war. Set against the 1860’s backdrop of civil war, Shenandoah’s human interest and antiwar themes found audience in 1960’s antiwar sentiment. The film offers striking perspectives seen through lenses of some 60 and 160 years. Many of us remember the sixties vividly. Antiwar sentiment brought by an unpopular war drew sharp divide between patriotism and the tragedy of conflict lacking will to win. Those who served or offered service did so with mixed emotion. Patriotism won out for most, though without the imperative of duty that sent our fathers and grandfathers to two great wars.
None of us today experienced the conflict that was our civil war 160 years ago. We studied it in history class, read about it in books, or watched portrayals in films like Shenandoah, but the brutalities of brother against brother conflict are muted in the mists of time passed. Shenandoah depicts a family, scratching out the necessities of life, on the front lines of a nation divided. A nation divided in mortal conflict they cannot escape, try as they might. Much as they wish otherwise, they are swept up a maelstrom not of their making.
Jimmy Stewart stars as Charlie Anderson, widower patriarch to six sons and a daughter. Anderson struggles to keep his family out of the war, determined to remain neutral, a position the conflict cannot conscience. Daughter, Jennie (Rosemary Forsyth) marries confederate officer Sam (Doug McClure) who is taken prisoner. When youngest son, 16 year old Boy, is mistaken for a rebel he too is taken captive. Charlie leads four of his sons and Jennie in search of the boy. They leave their farm in the care of the oldest son James (Patrick Wayne) and his pregnant wife (Katherine Ross). While searching for Boy, they find Jennie’s husband among a trainload of confederate prisoners they liberate. Boy escapes from another prison camp but is wounded. The farm is raided by confederate scavengers who kill James and his wife. The film ends as wars do with poignant scenes in the family cemetery and Boy limping home in time for Sunday Services.
The film is considered one of Stewart’s finest. High praise by the standard of his body of work.
They say history repeats itself. I’m struck here by parallels. Chilling parallels, echoing the halls of history. Time to pray they are no more than echoes.
Next Week: Once Upon a Time in the West
Return to Facebook to comment.
Ride easy,
Paul
None of us today experienced the conflict that was our civil war 160 years ago. We studied it in history class, read about it in books, or watched portrayals in films like Shenandoah, but the brutalities of brother against brother conflict are muted in the mists of time passed. Shenandoah depicts a family, scratching out the necessities of life, on the front lines of a nation divided. A nation divided in mortal conflict they cannot escape, try as they might. Much as they wish otherwise, they are swept up a maelstrom not of their making.
Jimmy Stewart stars as Charlie Anderson, widower patriarch to six sons and a daughter. Anderson struggles to keep his family out of the war, determined to remain neutral, a position the conflict cannot conscience. Daughter, Jennie (Rosemary Forsyth) marries confederate officer Sam (Doug McClure) who is taken prisoner. When youngest son, 16 year old Boy, is mistaken for a rebel he too is taken captive. Charlie leads four of his sons and Jennie in search of the boy. They leave their farm in the care of the oldest son James (Patrick Wayne) and his pregnant wife (Katherine Ross). While searching for Boy, they find Jennie’s husband among a trainload of confederate prisoners they liberate. Boy escapes from another prison camp but is wounded. The farm is raided by confederate scavengers who kill James and his wife. The film ends as wars do with poignant scenes in the family cemetery and Boy limping home in time for Sunday Services.
The film is considered one of Stewart’s finest. High praise by the standard of his body of work.
They say history repeats itself. I’m struck here by parallels. Chilling parallels, echoing the halls of history. Time to pray they are no more than echoes.
Next Week: Once Upon a Time in the West
Return to Facebook to comment.
Ride easy,
Paul
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