Shenandoah

• Directed by Andrew V. McLaglen
• June 3, 1965

A Southern farmer who has vowed to remain neutral during the Civil War must take action when his youngest son is captured by Union soldiers.

Shenandoah is a cavalry Western set during the Civil War starring Jimmy Stewart as a Virginia farmer with an obscenely large family by modern standards. While ostensibly a cavalry Western it is also an antiwar film containing themes of family and loyalty. As such Shenandoah is a message film but not one that hits you over the head with its message.

Like all good message films it puts story first before putting a message or messages into that story. He doesn’t lecture but rather takes time to explain. It’s not trying to beat you into being antiwar. It’s trying to explain why someone would be anti-war.

Jimmy Stewart stars as Charlie Anderson who is the widowed patriarch of the Anderson Family consisting of Glenn Corbett as Jacob Anderson, Patrick Wayne as James Anderson, Katharine Ross as Ann who is married to James, Phillip Alford as Boy (really?) Anderson, Rosemary Forsyth as Jennie Anderson, Charles Robinson as Nathan Anderson, James McMullan as John Anderson, and Tim McIntire as Henry Anderson. The Andersons have never owned a slave and instead work the land themselves. Explains Ma and Pa making seven kids.

Anderson does not believe in slavery nor does he support war. He wants no part of the conflict that is raging around him. This is exemplified early in the film when one of his sons is pushing him to act, but the nearby battle has yet to come upon his land so he does nothing since it’s not his problem. But try as he might, he cannot avoid staying out of the conflict to a certain extent.

Mr. Anderson is doing his best to fulfill the dying wishes of his wife whom he still misses. Though not an overtly religious man, but make sure his kids get to church every Sunday because that was what she asked. 

The focus of this film when it comes to war is not epic battles or rousing victories but the costs of war. The personal costs. And I love their examples of people who see it as a chance for glory. There are others who see it as a personal duty to become engaged in this war. But for Charlie Anderson all he encounters is the personal cost. No one gets painted as right or wrong on their view when it comes to war. Andrew V. McLaglen to his credit leaves that up mostly to the viewer, though he certainly has a point of view, whether they are right or wrong.

It gets into how war can damage people. Some are traumatized by the conflict. Others become a little less than human because of the conflict. But it is about the effects of war on people. Based on his own personal history, I’m guessing that this film appealed to a certain extent to Stewart himself. The ultimate question it asks is if you do not support something or have never done a particular thing then why do you have to be in a war over it?

They even highlight how life goes on during war. During the course of this film, there is marriage and birth as well as some tragic death. No matter your personal position or physical location you still have a life to lead.

As was becoming fashionable in film Shenandoah even ventures into equal rights. Boy Anderson is friends with Gabriel (Eugene Jackson, Jr.)-a slave owned by a neighboring family. It is never overtly stated that the child is a slave until Jennie and Gabriel are talking. He is generally treated as an equal by the Anderson’s though the same cannot be said of other characters.

Andrew V. McLaglen was never a great director. He was a very good which is nothing to sneer at. This hits all the right notes aside from a semi comedic fist fight with some Union officials seeking to simply take some horses. Perhaps an homage to his father? In an otherwise effective film that’s one moment that doesn’t quite fit. One or two punches, but it just went on for entertainment. Not harmful, but not helpful either.

With a talented cast headed by Jimmy Stewart and guided by Andrew V. McLaglen, Shenandoah is a great cavalry Western with something to say. While light on action, it is strong on story and if you want a message film done right with some real feeling then this is for you.