The Red Badge of Courage (1951)

Who among us doesn't remember those mandatory readings of our high school literature class?!  Those required readings and our enjoyment of them---or lack thereof---may well have meant the difference between an "A" and a "C" in the class.  It was that way for me anyway. While The Great Gatsby and The Scarlet Letter were breathtakingly wonderful reads for me and, thus, inspired passionate discussions and even more passionate essays, William Shakespeare and Tennessee Williams had the very opposite effect. Every page---no, make that every word---was a struggle, and my resulting assignments were lifeless and dry. While I wouldn't put Stephen Crane's The Red Badge of Courage in the same category as Williams and Shakespeare, it was definitely only middle of the road for me.  I made it through Mr. Crane's novel, but I was rather ambivalent about the thing, so for that reason, seeing the film version of his story has never been high on my list of things to do.  It is only because Audie Murphy portrays one of the lead characters in the 1951 film and because it is one of his few non-Western films that I bothered to give it the time of day.  Wow!  I am so glad I did, because I think it is brilliant!  It's easily a 5-star film---my 5th such "discovery" this year---and my third favorite of Mr. Murphy's works.

Directed by John Huston, The Red Badge of Courage is one of Audie Murphy's earliest works; in fact, it's his 7th film.  Also featuring Andy Devine, Royal Dano, Bill Mauldin, Douglas Dick, and John Dierkes, this film was considered to be a casting masterpiece.  "Hedda Hopper had told an MGM executive "...it would be nice seeing a real soldier playing the part of a screen soldier for a change.  With so many of our young men going to Korea, putting Audie in the picture would aid in boosting their morale."  [1]  Director Huston agreed and pushed for Audie when MGM officials wanted a more known star.  Another piece of casting genius was WWII cartoonist, Bill Mauldin.  Murphy and Mauldin, only a few years removed from the battlefield, obviously drew on their own real-life experiences, for they brought an incredible sense of realism to their portrayals.

As the American Civil War inches into its second year, a regiment of newly-trained Union soldiers is preparing for its first battle---there's the Cheery Soldier (Andy Devine), the Tattered Man (Royal Dano), the Loud Soldier (Bill Mauldin), the Lieutenant (Douglas Dick), the Tall Soldier (John Dierkes), and the Youth, Henry Fleming (Audie Murphy).  While the majority of the men seem excited and fearless about what is soon to come, the Youth is frightened and has extreme doubts about his ability to fight.

The next day, as the battle rages around him, the Youth's courage fails him and he runs away. After the fighting subsides, Henry, ashamed of his cowardice, wishes he had his own "red badge" (war wound), for it would signify that he had had the courage to fight.  Returning to his regiment and discovering that in the chaos of battle, no one knew he had run away, he lies that he was grazed by a bullet.  With his guilt and shame eating away at him, Henry seeks to make amends in the next battle.  He is determined to conquer his fear and not allow it to render him a coward again.





The Red Badge of Courage was a box-office disaster; however, Audie Murphy's acting received great reviews.  One magazine said, "Audie Murphy proves himself almost as good an actor as he is a soldier." [2]  For me, this is the best performance of Audie's entire career---he is absolutely sensational!  I could vividly see and feel every single emotion Henry experienced---the fear, the shame, the anxiety, and the victory.

Audie said, "There's a thin line between being a hero and a coward.  That's something the book tries to show and something I learned too." [1]  Basically, being courageous doesn't mean an absence of fear; rather, it means, as Audie exemplified in his own life, moving forward even in the midst of fear...defeating it and not allowing it to render you immobile or cowardly.  The young man who learned that lesson in this film is brought brilliantly to life by Mr. Murphy.

The film's lack of success wasn't due to the acting, direction, or cinematography.  All of those things are perfect.  In beautiful black and white, with appropriate dust and smoke, the film gives the appearance of being actual documentary footage of war---it's that realistic.  The downer for me is the use of a narrator (speaking Stephen Crane's penned words).  I didn't really find the narration necessary.  Also, the MGM brass cut 25 minutes of footage, resulting in a film barely over an hour long.  While we will never know the full film John Huston envisioned, I think this abbreviated version is terrific, realistic, and well worth viewing.

This is the first of two films Audie Murphy made with John Huston.  The two would work together again nine years later, in 1960's The Unforgiven.  Again, while the film was not a success, Mr. Murphy's work received much praise, proving that while many consider Murphy a sub-par actor, when under the direction of a gifted director, he was capable of not just a solid, believable performance, but of extremely wonderful work.

Out on DVD, The Red Badge of Courage should be fairly easy to track down.  I think it's not only a terrific Civil War film, but a terrific war film period.  It really evokes the emotion of the soldier.

Happy viewing!!

[1]  From American Hero, The Audie Murphy Story, by Peggy Caravantes, Avisson Press, Inc., 2004


[2]  From American Hero, The Life and Death of Audie Murphy, by Charles Whiting, Eskdale Publishing, 2000.

All photos in this article were obtained from the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Website  (HERE)

Friendly Persuasion (4 stars)

Friendly Persuasion, from 1956, is a Civil War-era drama starring Gary Cooper and Dorothy McGuire, with Anthony Perkins in a supporting role.  Produced and directed by William Wyler, this film, which is based on Jessamyn West's The Friendly Persuasion, is one I recently watched for the second time in celebration of my beloved Coop's May birthday.  Though the setting is during the Civil War, this is not a war film.  It's more the saga of a family and how they live out their moral convictions in the midst of the war.

As the Civil War rages in 1862, the Birdwell family of southern Indiana finds themselves having to re-examine many of their Quaker beliefs.  After a Union soldier makes a visit to their meeting house one Sunday,  Jess (Gary Cooper), patriarch of the family, begins to wrestle with whether it is right to maintain their non-violence policy.  While the Quakers are opposed to slavery, they don't believe it is right to kill one man to free another; however, when the soldier accuses the men of hiding behind their church to save their skin, son Josh (Anthony Perkins) isn't so sure staying out of the war is the right thing to do.

The matriarch of the family is Eliza (Dorothy McGuire), and as the town's preacher, she is bound and determined to live righteously.  Therefore, she is quite beside herself when a visit to the county fair exposes her children to the "evils" of dancing, wrestling, and gambling.  And when Jess, despite knowing that music is against the Quaker beliefs, purchases an organ, Eliza insists that he get rid of it...something he has no intention of doing.  Adding to the "sin" of the music, is Jess's habit of entering into a horse race with a neighbor as he drives the family to church each week.

How can the Birdwells live amidst all the unrighteousness and not be tainted by it themselves?  And what will they do when the Confederate Army approaches and they are forced to defend their home?  How it all plays out is the balance of the film.



Friendly Persuasion is a very enjoyable film.  It is a bit on the long side (2 hours, 15 minutes), but, honestly, it never dragged.  Although the film is a drama, there are a few very comical moments...such as when Jess and Josh go calling on Jess's customers.  Marjorie Main portrays a widow with 3 VERY marriage-minded daughters who see Josh as a prime husband candidate.  Their "hospitality" towards Josh is quite a hoot.  Another funny scene is the one in which the church elders come calling on the possibly-wayward Birdwells.  With the forbidden organ hidden away in the attic, Jess begins to pray very loudly in order to camouflage the sound of his daughter making music on the instrument.  The always-delightful Charles Halton is one of the church elders, and I just love his reaction to Coop's prayer.

This is a very well-acted film.  Gary Cooper is perfect in his role as head of the family, and he and Dorothy McGuire are great together.  However, Anthony Perkins (in only his second screen role) more than holds his own with those two much-bigger names.  I was completely impressed by his portrayal of the coming-of-age Josh.

The Dimitri Tiomkin score of Friendly Persuasion is quite lovely, and the theme song, with music by Mr. Tiomkin, lyrics by Paul Francis Webster, and vocals by Pat Boone, received the Best Music, Original Song Academy Award nomination.



In addition to its music nomination, the film received five others, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actor (Anthony Perkins).  While it didn't come away with any wins, it is, nevertheless, a thoroughly entertaining film, which I highly recommend.

Out on DVD, this film should be easy to track down; however, it's also on the TCM schedule for Thursday, June 14th, at 9:00 a.m. (ET).  I hope you get a chance to see it.

Happy viewing!!

Band of Angels (3 stars)

Band of Angels, from 1957, is a Civil War-era romantic drama starring Clark Gable and Yvonne DeCarlo.  Based on the Robert Penn Warren novel of the same name, this Raoul Walsh-directed film features Sidney Poitier and Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. in supporting roles.  Having never seen this film before, I decided it was the perfect addition to my Clark Gable birthday month celebration.  Given that it is based on the work of a Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, has a Civil War setting, stars Clark Gable, and boasts a fantastic director and a Max Steiner score, I had high hopes that Band of Angels might come close to the caliber of Gone with the Wind.  Alas, no...not even close.  While I found it to be an interesting, entertaining film, it didn't do for me what Gone with the Wind does.  I came away from the film only liking it...not loving it; hence, 3 stars.

Not knowing her mother was a slave, Amantha Starr (Yvonne DeCarlo) grows to adulthood believing that she is the privileged daughter of a plantation owner.  Upon her father's untimely death, however, Amantha is shocked to discover that not only is her father's estate completely in debt, but also that she---the daughter of a slave---is considered a slave herself and, therefore, part of the estate's personal property.  As such, she is taken against her will and shipped to New Orleans, where she is to be put on the auction block.

Though another man begins to "inspect" her, local plantation owner, Hamish Bond (Clark Gable) starts the bidding at $5,000, and with the opening bid that high, no one else bids on Amantha. After being told by Amantha that he might buy her, but will never own her, Hamish takes her to his home, where, instead of housing her with the other slaves, she is given a beautiful room in the main house. Thinking that there are strings attached to this treatment, Amantha tells Hamish she would rather go to the slave quarters than to be expected to be his woman.

Hamish, who has his own personal demons from which he's running, keeps his distance and never pushes himself on Amantha. One night during a storm, however, they do get together.

After their night together, Amantha's feelings toward Hamish change. So, too, do his feelings toward her, and he gives her her freedom. By then, loving Hamish, Amantha no longer wants to be free of him. However, when Hamish comes clean and tells her of his slave trader days, Amantha's love for him is put to the test. All this happens just as war is about to break out.

As I said, this film had great potential; however, for some reason which I cannot quite put my finger on, it fell short of my expectations.  I'm not sure why---probably because I was expecting it to be in the same league as Gone with the Wind, and quite honestly, there aren't many films which can compare with that masterpiece.  Gable's and DeCarlo's characters were likeable, and I found myself caring about them.  The musical score was beautiful...the storyline was interesting and historically accurate in many ways.  Clark, handsome and dashing as always, was extremely good in his role, and Miss DeCarlo was lovely and quite believable. With all these positive things going for it, I ought to have loved Band of Angels, but for some reason, I found myself only liking it.

Those who are Clark Gable, Yvonne DeCarlo, Sidney Poitier, or Civil War enthusiasts will probably enjoy seeing this film.  It's definitely entertaining and interesting...just don't expect it to measure up to Gone with the Wind.  The film is out on DVD, so it ought to be fairly easy to track down.

Happy viewing!!