Shenandoah (1965)

Review by All Movie Guide
Shenandoah's wholesome characters and emphasis on family values resemble the ingredients of a 1950s Walt Disney production. But the film's strong antiwar and human-rights themes separate it from typical Disney fare. The production builds its story on Virginia farmer and widower Charlie Anderson's opposition to the Civil War. As an opponent of slavery, Anderson (James Stewart) cannot support the Confederate forces. As a Virginian, he cannot support the Union forces. War is nonsense anyway, he believes, and he forbids his six sons to fight. But the war ensnares the family anyway after Union forces seize one of Anderson's sons in the mistaken belief that he is a Confederate soldier. Tragedy strikes, tearing the family asunder, but in the end, the Anderson clan endure. Filmed in 1965 when America was embroiling itself in racial strife and the unpopular Vietnam conflict, the motion picture was certainly timely. Stewart delivers a fine performance as the idealistic but autocratic father who refuses to compromise his beliefs, and the performances of the supporting cast -- though not on a par with Stewart's -- are good. The vibrant cinematography enhances the production with its depiction of the fury of war against the tranquility of corn fields and peaceful farm life. Although the blatant sentimentality of some scenes -- in particular the ending -- lowers the film's artistic value, Shenandoah is a good family film with a message that is easy to grasp. ~ Mike Cummings, All Movie Guide