The Charge of the Light Brigade

US (1936): Action/Adventure/Romance/War

Michael Curtiz directs this Warner Bros. film about love and honor. Set in the early 1850's Errol Flynn plays Captain (later Major) Geoffrey Vickers. He's in love with Elsa (played by his frequent co-star Olivia de Havilland), but she's in love with his brother Perry (Patric Knowles), also a Captain. However, there is no time to work things out as a treacherous tribe leader named Surat Khan (C. Henry Gordon) attacks and massacres the British garrison at Chukoti. Vickers survives, along with Elsa, but he and the other men lust for revenge. They get it during the final scene when the 27th Lancers sacrifice their lives against the Russians, and Surat Khan, at the battle of Balaklava Heights which occurred during the Crimean War, obtaining their revenge. The final charge is really an amazing battle sequence for its time and as far as horse battles go, only the chase scene at the end of Stagecoach (1939) is in the same ballpark. Supporting cast includes Nigel Bruce, Donald Crisp, David Niven, Spring Byington and J. Carrol Naish. (IMDb)

 Use this link to view the trailer for the theatrical re-issue of The Charge of the Light Brigade on TCM.com.

3 nominations, 1 Award