The Charge of the Light Brigade

For some reason, THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE (directed in 1936 by Michael Curtiz) is always forgotten when people talk about Errol Flynn's movies. It's one of the all-time greats for Flynn, in which he plays gallant Major Vickers, an officer in the 27th Lancers, whose personal story entwines with the horrors of the Crimean War.

Major Geoffrey Vickers (Errol Flynn) is engaged to lovely Elsa Campbell (Olivia de Havilland), the daughter of one of his superiors (Donald Crisp). Unbeknowst to Geoffrey, Elsa has also fallen in love with his younger brother Perry (Patric Knowles). This stormy love triangle is set against the violent conflict in the Crimean. When the British outpost of Chukoti is stormed and all the occupants massacred by the bloodthirsty forces of Surat Khan (C. Henry Gordon), Geoffrey and Elsa narrowly escape with their lives. Geoffrey then leads the members of the 27th Lancers into the fray, determined to avenge those who needlessly perished in Chukoti...

Based around the famed poem by Tennyson (and loosely modeled on factual events), THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE was the first pairing of Flynn and de Havilland following their celebrated debut in the previous years' "Captain Blood" (and also directed by Michael Curtiz). The film's showstopping highlight is the Light Brigade charge itself; a hair-raising, nine minute sequence which earned second unit director Jack Sullivan a specially-awarded Oscar. So many horses were either seriously injured or killed in this sequence that the American Humane Association brought in new laws for treating animals in motion pictures.

Maybe the reason why CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE fails to be mentioned in the same breath as "Captain Blood" or "Adventures of Robin Hood" is because it is much more than a swashbuckler, and it's meaning runs a lot deeper than most Flynn vehicles. This is a grand historical epic with passion and pride; it's certainly a movie to revisit again and again.

There is a great colorized version of this film. It is one of the Greats with Errol Flynn at his best. I got the the color version off one of the movie channels which included a very interesting commentary (several years ago). I doubt if they ever release it on DVD unfortunately. I just thought I'd mention it : write the studios and hold out for the color version. The uniformology is much better in color. This is one of the classic films that it was very right to colorize.

A film I've waited a long time for on Dvd.I've always enjoyed Errol Flynn in his swashbuckling adventure films and this is typical of one of the best of them.As a child I had to learn the famous poem of "The Charge of The Light Brigade" at school and although film makers don't always follow history exactly this is still a good one to watch and have in your collection.A good story line and the charge at the end will get your pulse racing. Enjoy.

I think "Charge of the Light Brigade," with Errol Flynn is among one of finest films, with one of the finest actors of all time. It does have every element. The story is strong and moving, with much heroism and true friendships in it. David Niven and Patrick Knowles are excellent in it as well as good and forever loyal friends to Major Vickers. The film has a lot of meaning and truth in it, excellent story and acting by all. Olivia de Havilland is a great actress too and very beautiful. She and Flynn are the perfect screen couple. No one can match Errol Flynn for swashbuckling , such grace, and really moving and meaningful acting. The romance between Olivia and Major Vickers, is very tender and heartfelt to watch throughout the film. You always wonder how the character she portrayed could have left such a noble and decent man like him for his brother.
I'd very highly recommend it. They dont make films like this anymore and that's ashame. It's a rare gem of a film.

A true gem of a movie, acting, casting, scenery, storyline. An excellent Errol Fynn movie.