The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936)

A major countermands orders and attacks to avenge a previous massacre of men, women, and children.

Director:

Michael Curtiz

Writers:

Alfred Lord Tennyson (poem), Michael Jacoby (original story) (as Michel Jacoby)

Stars:

Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Patric Knowles

Won 1 Oscar. Another 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Errol Flynn	...	Maj. Geoffrey Vickers
Olivia de Havilland	...	Elsa Campbell (as Olivia De Havilland)
Patric Knowles	...	Capt. Perry Vickers
Henry Stephenson	...	Sir Charles Macefield
Nigel Bruce	...	Sir Benjamin Warrenton
Donald Crisp	...	Col. Campbell
David Niven	...	Capt. Randall
C. Henry Gordon	...	Surat Khan
G.P. Huntley	...	Maj. Jowett (as G. P. Huntley Jr.)
Robert Barrat	...	Count Igor Volonoff
Spring Byington	...	Lady Octavia Warrenton
E.E. Clive	...	Sir Humphrey Harcourt
J. Carrol Naish	...	Subadar-Major Puran Singh (as J. Carroll Naish)
Walter Holbrook	...	Cornet Barclay
Princess Baba	...	Prema's Mother (as Princess Baigum)

Storyline

Major Vickers is an officer at the 27th Lancers in India 1856. When the regiment is on maneuver, the barracks are attacked by Surat Khan and his soldiers who massacre British women and children. This leaves an inextinguishable memory and Vickers promises to revenge the dead.

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Plot Keywords:

deception | lancer | attack | india | massacre | 

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Taglines:

The reckless lancers sweep on and on - so that a woman's heart might not be broken! You're not fighting a single legion - you're fighting the entire British army, Surat Khan!

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Romance | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 October 1936 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Carga da Brigada Ligeira

Filming Locations:

Agoura Hills, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,200,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min 100 min (re-cut)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

It was during a Parkinson (1971) interview that Errol Flynn's good friend David Niven revealed that during the shooting of the charge, Flynn was busy on a horse during a break applying makeup with one hand while holding a mirror in the other. A stuntman playing a cavalryman decided to "pock" the horse up the behind with his lance--the animal bucked, throwing Flynn to the ground. He got to his feet and asked who had done that. The stuntman took the "credit" for it, thinking that this would only add to Flynn's embarrassment. However, Flynn dragged the man off his horse and gave him a sound beating. They were the best of friends after that.

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Goofs

The Union Flag colors being carried by the lancers as they are about to go into "the valley of death" is flying upside down. In all the subsequent shots the flag is the correct way up.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Sir Humphrey Harcourt: How do you fellows manage to look so comfortably, Vickers?
Maj. Geoffrey Vickers: We may look it Sir, but we're not. They say the first 40 years are about the hottest up here on the frontier, after that you get used to it.
Sir Humphrey Harcourt: Really?

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits prologue: A convoy of British Lancers escorting Sir Humphrey Harcourt on an important diplomatic mission into Suristan.

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Alternate Versions

Also available in a computer colorized version.

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Connections

Featured in Veillées d'armes (1994)

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Soundtracks

God Save the Tsar
(1833) (uncredited)
(Russian national anthem, 1833-1917)
Music by Alexis Lvov
In the score during the charge at Balaklava

User Reviews

"Our objective is Surat Khan!"

Errol Flynn says to heck with orders and leads his men into battle against villainous Surat Khan (C. Henry Gordon) to avenge Khan's massacre of men, women, and children. Highly enjoyable adventure yarn, loosely based on historical events. Superb action scenes, fine Max Steiner score, and great Michael Curtiz direction. It's always nice to see Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland together, although this has the surprising twist of Olivia preferring Patric Knowles to Errol. Exceptional Warner Bros. supporting cast includes David Niven, Donald Crisp, Henry Stephenson, J. Carrol Naish, and many other familiar faces. Judging by some of the reviews here, it would appear the history police have written many tickets for this one. At the risk of incurring their terrifying wrath, I'm gonna say nerts to them! Just enjoy the movie. If you want to learn about the history behind the movie, read a book.