Charge of the Light Brigade, The (DVD)

Connect to Facebook/Twitter, recommend via email and much more.

---

Among the supporting cast are the recognizable types: David Niven (Flynn's best friend in real life) in one of his usual suave, gallant portrayals as Captain James Randall; Nigel Bruce in one of his usual doddering, bumbling portrayals as Sir Benjamin Warrenton; Spring Byington in one of her usual flighty, chatterbox portrayals as Lady Octavia Warrenton; Donald Crisp in one of his usual flinty, hard-nosed portrayals as Elsa's father, Colonel Campbell; and C. Henry Gordon in one of his usual sinister portrayals as the villainous Surat Khan.

As a kid in the 1950s watching this film on TV a half a dozen times, I always got it confused with WB's later "Gunga Din" (1939). Both films are about British soldiers in India (where "Charge" begins) in the nineteenth century. Both films are based on famous poems. Both films star swashbuckling heroes ("Din" features Cary Grant, Doug Fairbanks, Jr., and Victor McLaglen). Both films have stirring musical scores, in the case of "Charge" done up by the estimable Max Steiner (with apologies to Tchaikovsky's much-later "1812 Overture"). And both films were shot in essentially the same Southern California locations around Lone Pine, Death Valley, and the like. It's no wonder that "The Charge of the Light Brigade" (and "The Lives of a Bengal Lancer") inspired Warners to make the later "Gunga Din" to almost equal success.

"The Charge of the Light Brigade" also offers up a theme of sorts, or at least it poses a question: Should soldiers follow orders blindly or think for themselves when they know an order is blatantly wrong? Take away the necessity for soldiers to follow orders, and you take away the discipline necessary for an army to function properly. Take away a soldier's right to think for himself, and you take away his humanity. The film rather has it both ways, as you will see if you watch it.

Brushed uniforms, formal dances, flashing sabers, heroic action, "The Charge of the Light Brigade" has it all, plus a romantic angle that may have adventure fans cringing and waiting for the real action to start. But when the final charge arrives, it is well worth the wait, with overhead crane shots and tracking shots following the horses and soldiers from every angle. It is quite a spectacle, even by today's standards.

Aside: Ever notice how in old movies whenever somebody gets shot, he falls forward, usually with a flourish? Nobody ever gets knocked backwards by a bullet. Odd.

Video:
Warner Bros. present the movie in close to its original 1.37:1 aspect ratio, and the black-and-white print they obtained for transfer shows few signs of age, no doubt the result of some minor touching up. The image is clear and bright, with fairly good B&W contrasts for vivid viewing. As I say, the screen shows very few signs of deterioration, very few scratches, lines, or blemishes of any concern and no grain to speak of, except in the occasional outdoor location shot.

Audio:
The only serious knock I could put on the otherwise fine Dolby Digital 1.0 monaural sound is that it's marred by a small degree of background hiss, obviously more noticeable in quieter passages at volume. And, unfortunately, you will find you have to add some considerable gain, as the playback level is relatively low. Oh, well. In compensation, the audio track gives us a well-articulated midrange, even if the track leaves the bass and dynamics limited.

Extras:
Warner Bros. studios have been in business a long, long time, and they have accumulated a ton of cartoons and short subjects over the years. As a result, they are able to offer some of this older material in their DVD bonus packages, like their "Warner Night at the Movies." The idea is that they put together a program that moviegoers in the 1930s or 40s might have seen on any given night. The package here includes a theatrical trailer for "Anthony Adverse"; a vintage newsreel; the twenty-minute Technicolor short subject "Give Me Liberty"; the twenty-minute comedy short, "Shop Talk" starring Bob Hope; and the classic, seven-minute, black-and-white Looney Toons cartoon "Boom Boom."

In addition, there are thirty scene selections, but no chapter insert; a theatrical trailer for "Charge of the Light Brigade"; English as the only spoken language; and English subtitles. It's a good collection of extras, actually.

Parting Thoughts:
Prospective buyers will find "The Charge of the Light Brigade" available separately or in a box set, "The Errol Flynn Signature Collection," Volume 2, which also includes "The Dawn Patrol" (1938), "Dive Bomber" (1941), "Gentleman Jim" (1942), and "Adventures of Don Juan" (1948). In either case, they will find "The Charge of the Light Brigade" a rousing action film of considerable merit.

"When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!
All the world wondered.
Honor the charge they made!
Honor the Light Brigade,
Noble six hundred!"

---

Connect to Facebook/Twitter, recommend via email and much more.

---