The 1895 novel "Red Badge of Courage" has had several film adaptations, and this one for TV is a classic. Richard Thomas is perfectly cast as the hero, Henry Fleming, questioning the courage of his fellow soldiers in a way that at first seems intrusive, but finding that courage is greatly tested when the battle begins. The arrogance that occurs when a battle is seemingly won truly gets shot down when the other side comes back with a surprise attack and takes down those who moments before were cheering, regardless of their dead buddies within eye distance.
Thomas's soldier at one point runs through the woods along with others and is presumed dead, but miraculously, he's reunited with surviving members of the troop, with his sergeant eyeing him suspiciously. A sudden freeze in battle from one soldier could result in others of the troop being killed or violently wounded, and yet it's difficult to deny the sudden burst of cowardice that erupts out of nowhere. He has several visions of dead soldiers coming to him, as well as his religious mother and others from his town, yet he perseveres as if a divine intervention keeps him going.
Powerful and thought provoking, coming as the Vietnam war was winding to a close, just like the 1950 version came along as the Korean war was gaining ground. Thomas is excellent, supported by Wendell Burton as his pal who gives Thomas letters "just in case", and later takes them back as his own courage begins to return. The red badge isn't just for the dead, but for those who witnessed the scars of the badge on those fallen soldiers of a war they had no control over.
Thomas's soldier at one point runs through the woods along with others and is presumed dead, but miraculously, he's reunited with surviving members of the troop, with his sergeant eyeing him suspiciously. A sudden freeze in battle from one soldier could result in others of the troop being killed or violently wounded, and yet it's difficult to deny the sudden burst of cowardice that erupts out of nowhere. He has several visions of dead soldiers coming to him, as well as his religious mother and others from his town, yet he perseveres as if a divine intervention keeps him going.
Powerful and thought provoking, coming as the Vietnam war was winding to a close, just like the 1950 version came along as the Korean war was gaining ground. Thomas is excellent, supported by Wendell Burton as his pal who gives Thomas letters "just in case", and later takes them back as his own courage begins to return. The red badge isn't just for the dead, but for those who witnessed the scars of the badge on those fallen soldiers of a war they had no control over.