User Reviews

Shenandoah (1965) is a movie I recently watched on Tubi. The storyline follows a Virginia family during the Civil War that refuses to participate in the war despite the father having five sons and several daughter. They never believed in slavery and wont fight for it now. The South keeps trying to recruit the sons and the family resources but a stubborn father wont have it; however, when the youngest son gets caught up in the war activities the family may have to get involved after all.

This movie is directed by Andrew V. McLaglen (The Wild Geese) and stars James Stewart (Vertigo), George Kennedy (Cool Hand Luke), Patrick Wayne (Big Jake), Rosemary Forsyth (Disclosure), Doug McClure (The Land that Time Forgot), Tim McIntire (Brubaker) and Katharine Ross (The Graduate).

The storyline, characters, setting and circumstances of the time period are very well established. The family dynamics is outstanding and James Stewart couldn't have been better cast. His script, demeanor and intensity was perfect. The chemistry within the entire cast was excellent.

The circumstances and perspectives of the Civil War were also well delivered; and the ending was a bit sad, but realistic and very well done.

Overall this isn't a perfect film but is very well executed and is definitely worth a viewing. I would score this movie a 7.5/10 and strongly recommend it.

Shenandoah (1965)

A leisurely, somewhat by-the-book movie, directed by a television veteran, Andrew V. McLaglen. The story, of a family who resisted the Civil War by sheer stubborn principles (like objecting to war), is interesting, and a bit different. This has the feel of a Western, but it's set in Virginia, so is closer to "Drums Along the Mohawk" in depth and intention.

But more to the point--James Stewart is the patriarch, and he brings an older, deeper, wiser sensibility to the film than all the other actors combined. It's a great performance top to bottom, and he pulls it off with complexity and rare conviction. The plot is absorbing because of Stewart, and that's the final word, really.

It doesn't hurt to note this is 1965, and the Vietnam war is getting going on a large scale, making the front of Life Magazine. Whether or not this is a comment on that war, or on war in general, it's hard to know from here, but the audience must have seen it that way. There is a conflict of innocence and sheer naiveté that doesn't always wash well with common sense, and this large family is nothing if not smart. The large crisis that marks the halfway point was avoidable by paying attention to the hat a little more.

But these men and women still show the power of passive resistance to a war that seemed, to them, to be nonsense.

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.

A patriarch widower (a magnificent James Stewart) from Virginia is determined to keep his family out of the Civil War (1861-1865). He attempts to remain neutral against the ravages of war but the happenings get worse and his six sons (Patrick Wayne, Glen Corbett, Rosemary Forsyth , Tim McIntire , among others) are involved . His daughter (Rosemary Forsyth) marries a confederate officer (Doug McClure) and his adolescent son is prisoned by Yankees .

Good Western with powerful story that captures action , emotion and sentimental drama . The opening battle scenes are taken from ¨The Raintree country¨ and are printed as a mirror image of the original footage . Superb acting by the veteran James Stewart as the heartbreaking father who is forced into action to find his unfortunate sons. Largely secondary cast as Paul Fix as a doctor , Denver Pyle as the Pastor , George Kennedy as Yankee General , Strother Martin as train machinist , Harry Carey Jr , Bob Steele , among them . Film debut for Katherine Ross , previously her successful 'Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid' . The tale was the basis for posterior Broadway musical stage played by John Cullum . Colorful and glimmer cinematography by William H. Clothier , John Ford's usual . Rousing musical score with sensitive leitmotif by Frank Skinner . The motion picture was well directed by Andrew V. McLagen . He is a John Ford's disciple and son of the giant actor Victor McLagen . He's an expert on Western as ¨Last hard men¨ , ¨Rare breed¨, and ¨Bandolero¨ again with James Stewart and of course 'Shenandoah', his best Western . And directed several John Wayne vehicles as ¨McLintock¨ , ¨Chisum¨, and ¨Cahill¨ . Furthermore , specialist on Warlike genre as ¨Devil's brigand¨, ¨Wild Geese¨, ¨Sea wolves¨ , among them. Rating : Above average, well worth seeing . The flick will appeal to James Stewart fans.

It is intriguing how some comments confidently classify "Shenandoah" (1965) as an anti-war film and others see it as pro-war propaganda (insert Vietnam here). The anti-war advocates must be basing their position on the film's similarity to "Friendly Persuasion" while the propaganda pundits appear to have been influenced by the fact that screenwriter James Lee Barrett would write the script for "The Green Berets" a couple years later. But given that the screenplay was written in 1963 and actual production completed by late 1964, it is unlikely that Vietnam (pro or con) was much of a factor. National consciousness was a couple years away from regarding that little adventure as something of real significance.

I think the real strength of "Shenandoah" is that it maintains the same kind of uneasy neutrality that the Anderson family holds to throughout the film. It shows good and bad people on both sides as the family attempts to just distance themselves as much as possible from the conflict. That they are not entirely successful in doing so hardly sends a clear message of either pacifism of patriotism.

Director Andrew V. McLaglen's films are some of the least political you are likely to find, the exception being his frequent focus on strong women. In "Shenandoah", neither Charlie Anderson (James Stewart) nor his six sons are a match for daughter Jennie (Rosemary Forsyth). The father-daughter dynamic purposely gets a disproportionate amount of screen time as Jennie is shown to be the child most like the father and the only one who routinely stands up to him. This merits the most attention if one is looking for subtle political messages in the film.

Stewart is the only cast member with more screen time than Forsyth. Her romantic scenes with Doug McClure are also first rate, with a touch of comic relief as you begin to realize that he has little idea what he is getting himself into. And their reunion scene at the prisoner of war train is handled extremely well.

Civil war buffs will generally enjoy this film as it presents the war from the (until then unprecedented) point of view of a southern family who did not buy into the frenzy for secession in 1861 and remains resolute even as their property is overrun with union troops. It wouldn't be until "Cold Mountain" that another film would present the reality of a not so united southern home front. Eastern Tennessee and western Virginia remained pro-union, and Winston County, Alabama seceded from the state and attempted to stay in the union.

Of course the buffs will find many inaccurate historical details. At one point the doctor mentions losing a son the year before at Gettysburg, yet much later Carter notes that the besieged troops at Vicksburg are eating rats (the Gettysburg battle ended the day before Vicksburg surrendered). And just after Jennie drives away the federal procurement agents with a single shot rifle, the family rides off equipped with the latest lever action models.

Like McLaglen's "The Rare Breed", "Shenandoah" is somewhat of a chick flick, making it a novelty among historical action adventure films.

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

Compelling drama about a man's efforts to keep his family safe and out of the Civil War. It's an anti-war story that was obviously meant to be about the then-current war, Vietnam, as much if not more than the one in the story. The film looks and feels like a western, although it's set in Virginia. Like most westerns from back then, it's a mix of serious drama with action scenes and even some moments of comedy. James Stewart plays the lead and gives an exceptional performance. Fine support from George Kennedy, Paul Fix, Patrick Wayne, Doug McClure, Katharine Ross (in her film debut), Glenn Corbett, and Rosemary Forsyth, who does a great job as Stewart's ballsy daughter. Some riveting emotional scenes and some nice action. Definitely worth a look for Stewart fans or anyone who enjoys films with subtext.

Director Andrew McLaglen and Universal starred James Stewart in this fine family film. Co starring are two young Universal contract actresses Katharine Ross and Rosemary Forsyth. Ms. Ross would go on to do John Wayne's Hellfighters and then go onto great acclaim in The Graduate and also Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid with Paul Newman. Also in the cast is handsome Patrick Wayne son of the great John Wayne, along with other reliable stars such as George Kennedy and rugged Glenn Corbett and Doug McClure who provide fine support.

Can anyone recall if James Stewart ever gave a bad performance? I surely cannot! Mr. Stewart excels in this film which I thought would have garnered him another Oscar nomination.

Shenandoah was a war drama told from the perspective of a family who tried to stay neutral during the American Civil War. As a story about a family from a civilian point-of-view and how they were forced into the war despite their best efforts.

Shenandoah avoids the trap of romanticising the Southern cause like other Civil War films. It was set as the war starts to turn against the Confederacy, show that there were good guys and bad guys on both sides and that civilians suffered during the war.

It was an interesting and well made film with a classic feel.

I must have seen this film 10 times and every time it leaves a lump in my throat, its something about Jimmy Stewarts acting and the storyline that I find so believable and so sad. The three scenes that really get me are when he speaks about his missing son being the apple of his eye, when he confronts the soldier who accidentally shoots his son and most of all the final scene in the Church. I know some people may find the film sentimental but I just feel that its the best ever , even better than Its A Wonderful Life. I think as you get older and you have your own family the things that J Stewart say have real meaning and therefore I recommend anyone with a soul to watch this film and enjoy a sentimental but ultimately uplifting film

SHENANDOAH is a war western drama film that sends a family anti-war message from a dark and bloody environment. Mr. McLaglen made strong relations between the topics and melodrama. Therefore, the dialogues and actions, even the soundtrack, are very well focused around a harrowing family story.

Charlie Anderson and his six sons run the family farm, while his daughter and his daughter-in-law take care of the housework, in the Commonwealth of Virginia during the Civil War. The family has no slaves. Charlie goes to church on Sundays, together with members of their families, out of respect for his late wife Martha. He internally blames God for taking his wife from him. Charlie's oldest son Jacob wants to join the war, but Charlie repeatedly tells his family that they won't join the war until it concerns them. However, the war will soon knock on their door...

The warmth of a family story and bloody war interests are emphasized in detail. A lively and working family is faced with wartime circumstances. Their confrontation and loss deliver a realistic power to this film. Since one character dominates in almost all scenes, the characterization is not so bad.

James Stewart as Charlie Anderson is a head of his family, which on its back bears a thematically burden of this film. He tries to keep his family at all costs, while war neatly sends its bills. Mr. Stewart, despite his age, doing a very good job. Although, I think he's got too much space in this film.

All the other actors are in his shadow. Here we can mention Doug McClure (Sam) as a clumsy son in law and determined soldier, Phillip Alford (Boy) as Charlie's youngest son and character which has got a little more space next to his father, two beauties Rosemary Forsyth (Jennie) as as brave Charlie's daughter and Katharine Ross (Ann) as more braver daughter-in-law.

This movie starts out strong. It combines a pretty good use of humour (there are 4 or 5 very funny scenes in the first half hour or so of the movie - Charlie's grace, the scenes in the church, Sam's proposal to Jenny and asking her father for her hand, even the fight with the federal agents with "the boy" continually being knocked into the trough - with a pretty solid account of the challenges faced by the Anderson family in trying to basically keep out of the Civil War. Charlie Anderson (James Stewart) is the patriarch of the family. He's a Virginia farmer, proud of the fact that his family owns 500 acres and has never owned a single slave and who refuses to fight for the Confederacy but who also won't side with the Union. He figures the war has nothing to do with him and so he keeps himself and his family out of it. Stewart played the role very well. He's a bit of a rougher looking Stewart than I'm accustomed to seeing, but he carries the character of Charlie as he does most of his characters: proud, noble and a man of strong values.

Unfortunately, after that strong start the movie seems to lose its focus a bit. Charlie's youngest son, known only as "The Boy" in the movie, is taken prisoners by Union soldiers who think he's a rebel, and Charlie and his family - now directly affected by the War - set off to find him, leaving his son and daughter-in-law at home with their baby. Charlie discovers that - away from the relative safety of home - he can't avoid the tragedies of war. The brutality and pointlessness of the War is driven home, but in what I thought was a disjointed fashion that lacked any consistent flow. The movie picks up steam again near the end when Charlie and family return home to a tragic scene, and the image of Charlie at the grave of his wife, two sons and daughter in law was quite moving. The last scene of the movie was, unfortunately, a bit too much of a happy ending.

To be honest, I found this to be an uneven movie, sometimes very strong and very interesting and at other times lacking power. Frankly, there are better Civil War stories out there that I'd recommend over this one. I'd give it a 5/10

In may important ways,this is one of Hollywood's most accurate attempts to show what the Civil War was like,both on the battlefield and at home. But director Andrew McLaglen,the 45-year old son of famous movie director Victor McLaglen,and writer James Lee Barrett never let strict adherence to accuracy get in the way of their historical soap opera,and that why the film has been such an endearingly popular hit. When it was released in 1965,it came out during the time of the Vietnam War(when it was still a hot issue),and the violence of racial turbulence that occurred during the Southern United States. Not to mention during the height of the Civil Rights movement. It was also the basis for a very successful Broadway musical(which had nothing at all to do with the film itself).

In the fictional community of Shenandoah Gap(in the hills of Virginia),widowed patriarch Charlie Anderson(James Stewart)rules his clan of six sons and two daughters and is determined not to pay any attention to what is happening beyond the boundaries of their 500-acre farm. "This war is not mine and I take no note of it," he states without hestination or doubt. Anderson does not believe in slavery and has no thoughts on the preservation of the Union. He's more concerned with the raising of his children and the running of the farm. During the first part of the movie,it takes almost an hour to limit in the details of that world-the conflicts with neighbors and authorities,and the romance between daughter Jennie(Rosemary Forsyth) and Sam(Doug McClure of The Virginian TV series),a young Confederate officer. About half-way through,Anderson is forced to take action,and the pace of the film quickens. Well-timed coincidences keep things moving briskly,but the whole tone of the film takes on a sad quality as the family comes to understand how badly the war is going for Virginia. By far the best scene is an encounter between Anderson and Colonel Fairchild(George Kennedy),a Union officer whose warweariness seems absolutely authentic. In that moment,the film has the tough-mindedness associated with the James Stewart-Anthony Mann westerns of the 1950's. But McLaglen quickly reverts to the sentimental melodramatics and breathtaking action scenes that were always his strong suit. If the battle scenes(which are brilliant in detail)give some of the scope of other Civil War epics,then they are true to the individual combatants and greater more tactics as engagements. As such,they're believable,though in appearance and sensibility,the film has the standards characteristics of a western. Since the producers pitch this as a western picture in further perspectives.

At the time Shenandoah was made,the top three westerns of their day were at the top of the TV ratings:"Gunsmoke","The Virginian",and "Bonanza". It was the TV series "Bonanza",that was the top rated show on television and at the time was at the peak of its popularity. Any similarity between these two families is intentional since in character and story setting the TV series Bonanza was based in the regions of the Nevada Valley,while the motion picture Shenandoah was based during the height of the Civil War in the hills and valleys of Virginia. For the most part,McLaglen wisely keeps the camera on his star,and James Stewart carries the film and gives one of the most riveting performances of his career. While several of his younger supporting cast adopt unfortunate Southern accents,he sticks to the voice that everyone knows. That's a good thing,because Stewart is called upon to deliver many long,weighty and wise monologues since on a actual note was to be the most pontificatory role of his long established career. The speeches work because they're grounded in a believable sense of reality. The locations for shooting of the picture did not occur in the Southern regions of the United States,but in areas of Oregon that are similar to the Shenandoah Valley. Slavery was not as prevalent there as it was in other parts of the South;smaller farms were prevalent since the central crops were tobacco,corn,and cotton(in some areas)and not to mention a lot of chicken production and turkey farms(they grow a lot of turkeys down there). Finally,the film's refusal to take sides in the war serves as well. This was not only a sensational action-western flick,but one of those Hollywood tear-jerking melodramas that means to entertain while remaining fairly faithful to history. It does just that.

Shenandoah was one of the highest grossing movies of 1965,and was nominated an Academy Award for Best Sound. It was right up there with some of the biggest movies of that year.."In Harm's Way","The Sound Of Music","The Greatest Story Ever Told","Thunderball","Doctor Zhivago", and "The Sons Of Katie Elder".

Long before Mel Gibson did The Patriot, James Stewart did a similar movie set in the War Between the States. Only Stewart didn't access his inner warrior and go off to avenge his sons; he realized and accepted the tragedy for what it was - senseless and stupid.

Mr Smith may be my favorite Stewart film, but this runs a very close second. The song "Shenandoah" is woven throughout the movie in various stages out loudness and makes a perfect background to a tale of a family affected by war. Charlie Anderson (Stweart) tries to keep his six sons out of the war, but is drawn in when the youngest is mistakenly taken prisoner. The search for that son leads to tragedy, and he ends up losing two sons and a daughter-in-law before it is all over.

The grave scene with his long-dead wife says it all.

Shenandoah is directed by Andrew V. McLaglen and written by James Lee Barrett. It stars James Stewart, Patrick Wayne, Doug McClure, Glenn Corbett, Rosemary Forsyth, Phillip Alford and Katharine Ross. Music is by Frank Skinner and Technicolor photography is by William H. Clothier.

As the American Civil War rages, a Virginian patriarch keeps his large farming family in the act of isolationism. But will the war leave them alone?

A superbly acted and written Civil War Oater, Shenandoah is moving and poignant without over doing the anti-war message. First half of the pic lets us into the lives of the Anderson family, their beliefs, their loves and losses, and decisions that will shape their futures. Circumstances will of course come knocking at the door, which shifts the film into darker territory, where it is here that McLaglen and his team brilliantly show the emotional and physical hardships of the war between the North and the South. Story and the characters are consistently compelling, all while the locations envelope the dramatics with a beauty that is realised by the legendary Clothier. And then there is Stewart, a class act and the axis, the fulcrum of everything that is great about the pic, his character brought vividly - and crucially believably - to life, one of the best father portrayals in classic film.

Battles rage, of the war, the heart and of the mind in one of the 1960s best American Oaters. 9/10

I found this film so emotional, I get chocked up every time I watch it. This film is very similar to "Friendly Persuasion", but to me it was more emotional draining. A fine cast and storyline bring out the best of each character.

For anyone who hasn't seen this film, its a simple story about a Virginia family during the Civil war who only want to be left alone and as one tragedy after another strikes you will defiantly need a hankie for this one.

I highly recommend this film

In Shenandoah, Virginia, the widower farmer Charlie Anderson (James Stewart) lives a peaceful life with his six sons - Jacob (Glenn Corbett), James (Patrick Wayne), Nathan (Charles Robinson), John (James McMullan), Henry (Tim McIntire) and Boy (Phillip Alford), his daughter Jennie (Rosemary Forsyth), and his daughter-in-law and James' wife Ann Anderson (Katharine Ross) 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 (Doug McClure), 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.

The heartbreaking and unforgettable "Shenandoah" is one of my favorite westerns, with the story of a family caught by the American Civil War. The plot has elements of "Friendly Persuasion", with the strong code of honor of the patriarch of a family and James Stewart has another top- notch performance. My favorite scene is when Charlie prepares the room of an abandoned farm to give the opportunity of a honeymoon to Jeannie and Sam. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Shenandoah"

Note: On 09 Dec 2018 I saw this film again.

When I first saw this movie I was absolutely amazed about it( in a good way) because I had never seen a movie like it but now I appreciate it even more. This movie is about a family in the middle of the American civil war. This man has about 20 sons and daughters and most of them wan't to join the army but he doesn't want any of them to join. But when his youngest son gets kidnapped by the other side they all go on a rescue mission. My favourite film along with the godfather, it was absolutely superb. Most people say that all films have something wrong with them but when I think of this movie I just cannot find absolutely anything wrong with it.

My husband asked me if this was a Disney movie, and I wasn't sure. It was a little too lite for a serious drama and then had some moments that were definitely to dark for Disney. Jimmy Stewart is good at chewing up the corn rows but most of the supporting younger actors were working with undeveloped characters and said little and woodenly when they did talk. A few complaints: Why did the Father take seven of his kids, including a daughter, to find the lost son, and leave the homestead protected by only one son, with a wife and baby. It would have been wildly dangerous to be traveling back and forth across battle lines at the end of the war. Better to have a few riders, and certainly not a young woman along. More dangerous was to leave such a wealthy home insufficiently protected. A fine home like that would have been ransacked and burned by both sides. Speaking of the house. That was one very fine home for that era and location. A single farmer who had to clear his own land with a growing family would have had a more modest farmhouse with more common interiors. That was mansion for a man who was a politician or lawyer. Fine millwork, big rooms, nice furniture. Were there really mansions like that in the Shenandoah in the 1860's for a farmer? I'm surprised that the Confederate Army hadn't already seized his stock and crops earlier in the war. Cold Mountain was more realistic. So was Friendly Persuasion for that matter. The scene where the scavenger trio go after the young wife was dark for a movie that up to that point had treated the female characters with delicacy. Again, it was the middle of the war, both armies are in the Valley. Yet the door is unlocked, and she didn't have a gun at hand to protect her baby? Costumes were nice, and close to realistic, for a Hollywood film, no hoop skirts. It just felt like a made for TV movie, or a John Wayne movie.