The Red Badge of Courage (1951)

Good even if older movie

Movie was good. It covered most of the things in the book. I will use this as a teacher for follow up to reading the novel. Fast delivery too. April 11, 2008

Heroism, Stephen Crane's exploration

I compared this classic story to Crane's short story, A Mystery of Heroism to ask "What defines Heroism?" Is cowardice a necessary part of courage? Does peer impact enhance or diminish heroism? Why is Heroism a burden? Juniors in high school related to this rite of passage piece. And,with Audry Murphy and Bill Mauldin, the flic connected to yet another War, WarII. Short, great for classroom. February 29, 2008

Nice B&W B Movie

This is a good Black and White "B" Movie. My teenage son and I watched it as a bonding exercise. he is thinking about joining the military, it gave us a lot to talk about - very good movie. November 29, 2007

Different from war movies in that era

Only after watching this movie did I realize that Audie Murphy is the most decorated soldier in WWII and hence an excellent choice for portraying a war hero. This movie is unusual in two aspects.

First, the theme may not be politically correct then - the reflection of a soldier amid battles of combat. Yet it echoes well with the present sentiments about a war - whether or not it is worth fighting in the first place. Thus, this movie was different from the war movies made back in the 40s and 50s where courage and good cause come naturally. The movie would have been much better received if it was to be released now.

Second, the cinematography is excellent and the combat scenes of the civil war in the open land are well captured. Apart from a brief appearance of a young woman as the Army marched past the civilians' residence, the movie showed only the soldiers and the not so advanced machinery. John Huston's fingerprints were all over the film with his signature portrayal of someone ordinary caught in the middle of something big (like Humphery Bogart in African Queen) The movie reveals the vulnerability of human beings and that courage develops over time. A fresh break from the present heavy armoured, special effects laden movie October 4, 2007

Demerits for the entire company

Stephen Crane's "Red Badge of Courage " is a sublime psychological study of fear in the face of war, and the way one young man deals with fear -- through flight, bravado, exaggeration and finally, self-confrontation and calm determination. Though the action takes place in one of the most extroverted of possible historical settings -- the American Civil War -- the real warfare takes place in Fleming's psyche. Unfortunately, John Huston was not equal to the task of applying a visual narrative that could convincingly depict the roiling chaos going on in protagonist Henry Fleming's soul. About all he could manage was to put Henry in a few conventional situations and have him knit his brow and bite his lips to communicate his inner turmoil. Audie Murphy, the decorated WWII vet, and Bill Mauldin, the respected war cartoonist and creator of Willie and Joe, were cast in the lead roles. They are likeable and sometimes rise to the level of having a real relationship. But ultimately, their real-world experience doesn't do much to prop up the threadbare narrative. The stilted delivery and wooden acting of much of the cast is a real impediment to enjoying this film. On the plus side, it's daring to portray the baseless bravado and fear experienced by the ordinary soldier. But the profusion of standard Hollywood types, the overwrought and self-important narration, and the unnecessary re-arrangement of Crane's plot combine to muddle the story arc and render the film ineffective.

Although it too suffers from the set piece mentality -- in which characters are pitted mechanically against one crisis after another -- Huston's next film, African Queen, stands out as such a classic. Reason: the sterling acting abilities of Bogart and Hepburn pulled the film through in a way that (sadly) Murphy, Mauldin and others cannot.

The DVD extras are skimpy -- comprising the theatrical trailer and a static listing of the cast. But one extra is fascinating. After comparing RBOC to "Gone with the Wind," (not!) the trailer makes the most lunkheaded claim I have ever seen in film. To paraphrase: "In years to come, The Red Badge of Courage will be as memorable as The Birth of a Nation!" Comparing one's work to a film that glorified the KKK is a feat so bizarre that it stands as a monument to the social blindness of the film's marketers and their era.

Huston's "Red Badge of Courage" is disappointing, plodding and barely worthwhile as a way to visualize the events of the book. The best one can say about it is that it could have been worse. Until a better adaptation is produced, RBOC is a work that should be experienced in one form only: the printed page. July 2, 2007

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