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Shenandoah (1965)

 -  Drama | War | Western  -  3 June 1965 (USA)
7.2
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Ratings: 7.2/10 from 4,041 users  
Reviews: 73 user | 16 critic

In Shenandoah, Virginia, the widower farmer Charlie Anderson lives a peaceful life with his six sons - Jacob, James, Nathan, John, Henry and Boy, his daughter Jennie, and his ... See full summary »

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Title: Shenandoah (1965)

Shenandoah (1965) on IMDb 7.2/10

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Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win & 1 nomination. See more awards »

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At the beginning of the Civil War, seven friends embark on a cross-country journey in order to join the Confederate army.

Director: William Hale
Stars: James Caan, Michael Sarrazin, Brenda Scott
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
Charlie
...
Sam
...
Jacob
...
James
...
Jennie
...
Boy
...
Ann
Charles Robinson ...
Nathan
...
John (as James McMullan)
Tim McIntire ...
Henry
Gene Jackson ...
Gabriel (as Eugene Jackson Jr.)
...
Dr. Tom Witherspoon
...
Pastor Bjoerling
...
Col. Fairchild
...
Carter, Rebel Soldier
Edit

Storyline

In Shenandoah, Virginia, the widower farmer Charlie Anderson lives a peaceful life with his six sons - Jacob, James, Nathan, John, Henry and Boy, his daughter Jennie, and his daughter-in-law and James' wife Ann Anderson in his farm. Charlie does not let his sons to join the army to fight in the American Civil War that he considers that it is not their war. Meanwhile Jennie marries to her beloved Lieutenant Sam, but they do not have honeymoon since Sam has to go to the front. When Charlie's youngest son Boy is mistakenly taken prisoner by soldiers from the North. Charlie rides with his sons to rescue Boy, while James and Ann stays in the farm. But it is time of violence and war, and tragedy reaches the Anderson family. Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

virginia | farm | widower | fight | violence | See more »

Taglines:

SHAKES THE SCREEN LIKE CANNON THUNDER! (original ad - all caps) See more »

Genres:

Drama | War | Western

Certificate:

Approved | See all certifications »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

3 June 1965 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Der Mann vom großen Fluß  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Company Credits

Production Co:

 »
Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

(Westrex Recording System)

Color:

(Technicolor) (as Technicolor®)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The Broadway musical based on this movie opened on January 7, 1975 at the Alvin Theater and ran for 1050 performances and received 1975 Tony Award nominations for Best Musical, Book and Score. See more »

Goofs

During the boy's battle the morning after his escape from prison, you can see the bayonet of a confederate soldier wobble revealing that it is made of rubber. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Jacob Anderson: They come closer every day, Pa.
Charlie Anderson: They on our land?
Jacob Anderson: No, sir.
Charlie Anderson: Then it doesn't concern us... does it?
See more »

Connections

Edited from Raintree County (1957) See more »

Soundtracks

"The Battle Hymn of the Republic"
(uncredited)
Lyrics written by Julia Ward Howe
Music by William Steffe
Heard when Gabriel is freed
See more »

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User Reviews

Well-acted, beautifully realized story of a peace-loving family's struggle to survive the Civil War
2 July 2001 | by (Clifton, Virginia) – See all my reviews

A peaceful, hardworking farming family suffers the strains and unavoidable losses of the Civil War in `Shenandoah.' James Stewart is the head of the clan, who does not keep slaves and refuses to fight for men who do. Since the death of his wife, he has raised his large family to work hard and fight for what is right, and now the onset of the war forces them to come to terms with everything they believe in.

The film is largely set on Stewart's farm in the Shenandoah Valley. At the start of the film, the family tries to go about its business as if the war did not exist. Ignoring the war becomes increasingly difficult, however, with soldiers constantly marching through the property trying to recruit the sons and requisition the livestock. When the youngest son is taken prisoner Stewart decides the time has come to take action, so they set out to find the boy. Along the way, lives are lost, values are tested, and mindsets are changed with experience.

Stewart's performance as the proud patriarch is excellent. It is a grizzled, more mature Jimmy Stewart than one is used to, with a cigar stub constantly dangling from his mouth and a perpetual scowl on his face, but in essence it is the same proud, upright character that he has always specialized in. He is effective in conveying the fear and vulnerability of a man who is unsure of the right thing to do, looking out for his family and land in the midst of a war-torn nation. His conversations at his wife's gravestone stand among the most poignant work of his career.

`Shenandoah' takes its time in telling its story, interspersing simple, low-key scenes (in church, at the dinner table) with action sequences. Its characters are real people with real problems, and with whom the audience can readily identify. It is a mature, beautifully realized film, with scenic photography and sensitive performances.


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