SHENANDOAH is a war western drama film that sends a family anti-war message from a dark and bloody environment. Mr. McLaglen made strong relations between the topics and melodrama. 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. Charlie goes to church on Sundays, together with members of their families, out of respect for his late wife Martha. He internally blames God for taking his wife from him. Charlie's oldest son Jacob wants to join the war, but Charlie repeatedly tells his family that they won't join the war until it concerns them. However, the war will soon knock on their door...
The warmth of a family story and bloody war interests are emphasized in detail. A lively and working family is faced with wartime circumstances. Their confrontation and loss deliver a realistic power to this film. Since one character dominates in almost all scenes, the characterization is not so bad.
James Stewart as Charlie Anderson is a head of his family, which on its back bears a thematically burden of this film. He tries to keep his family at all costs, while war neatly sends its bills. Mr. Stewart, despite his age, doing a very good job. Although, I think he's got too much space in this film.
All the other actors are in his shadow. Here we can mention Doug McClure (Sam) as a clumsy son in law and determined soldier, Phillip Alford (Boy) as Charlie's youngest son and character which has got a little more space next to his father, two beauties Rosemary Forsyth (Jennie) as as brave Charlie's daughter and Katharine Ross (Ann) as more braver daughter-in-law.
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. Charlie goes to church on Sundays, together with members of their families, out of respect for his late wife Martha. He internally blames God for taking his wife from him. Charlie's oldest son Jacob wants to join the war, but Charlie repeatedly tells his family that they won't join the war until it concerns them. However, the war will soon knock on their door...
The warmth of a family story and bloody war interests are emphasized in detail. A lively and working family is faced with wartime circumstances. Their confrontation and loss deliver a realistic power to this film. Since one character dominates in almost all scenes, the characterization is not so bad.
James Stewart as Charlie Anderson is a head of his family, which on its back bears a thematically burden of this film. He tries to keep his family at all costs, while war neatly sends its bills. Mr. Stewart, despite his age, doing a very good job. Although, I think he's got too much space in this film.
All the other actors are in his shadow. Here we can mention Doug McClure (Sam) as a clumsy son in law and determined soldier, Phillip Alford (Boy) as Charlie's youngest son and character which has got a little more space next to his father, two beauties Rosemary Forsyth (Jennie) as as brave Charlie's daughter and Katharine Ross (Ann) as more braver daughter-in-law.