★ 7 / 10
We are the Concho County Comanches. Journey to
John Chard
We are the Concho County Comanches. Journey to Shiloh is directed by William Hale and adapted to screenplay by Gene L. Coon from the novel written by Will…
We are the Concho County Comanches.
Journey to Shiloh is directed by William Hale and adapted to screenplay by Gene L. Coon from the novel written by Will Henry. It stars James Caan, Michael Sarrazin, Brenda Scott, Albert Popwell, Harrison Ford, Jan-Michael Vincent, Robert Pine and Noah Beery Junior. Music is by David Gates (supervision Joseph Gershenson) and Technicolor cinematography by Enzo Martinelli.
Seven young Texans journey east to fight for the Confederacy in the Civil War. Full of ideas of noble glory for the war effort, the group have their eyes rudely opened by the prejudice and snobbery they encounter along the way.
Rock of Ages.
Film is bookended by a cheesy song that first tells of the young men setting off for the journey, then latterly of what became of them upon their final destinations. Throw in some pretty wooden acting away from the lead player and mix in a score that sounds like it belongs in the Pink Panther cartoon show, well you would naturally expect the film to be something of a disaster? Yet there is much to recommend here for the discerning fan of Civil War yarns.
The Pensacola Light Blues.
Picture gets its strength from the interest garnered by the source story and the lead performance by a youthful, wig wearing, Caan. Story is potent as an anti-war piece, the parallels with the then current Vietnam War, and the feelings running high at that time, are hard to ignore. Here the lads have their ideals punctured by events that happen out on the trail. Firstly some in fighting upsets the equilibrium and this sets the tone for the rest of the picture. An encounter with a runaway slave, and the aftermath of said encounter, really puts a serrated edge on the plotting. Young men off to be brave and fight the good fight, do they know what for? They then are surprised by public resistance to their bravado, you see not everyone wants a war, lads.
Cos we're fixin to shove that there General Grant and them blue bellied soldiers of his-plum into Lake Erie.
A pointless romantic interlude threatens to derail the picture, but the makers overcome it by dropping in some good action. A bar room brawl at Munroe is most enjoyable, and then once the guys find themselves enlisted into the Pensacola Light Blues, with Beery Junior arriving and putting his mark on the picture, we move onto the horrors of war. Here we lurch onto The Battle of Shiloh (AKA: Battle of Pittsburgh Landing) which is resplendent with artillery galore and much flinging around of stunt men. It's well constructed but sadly too short in length. Filmed out of Agoura in California, the scenery is an extra bonus and an enjoyable character accompaniment as story unfolds.
All told it's a mixed bag of a viewing, but the good far outweighs the bad to make this a sleeper of an Oater worth seeking out. While future stars of film and TV taking tentative steps in the acting world also holds a high interest factor here. 7/10
★ 6 / 10
Journey to Stardom
jcohen1
James Caan is the star of this interesting but far from great movie. Off his role in El Dorado with the Duke & Mitchum I suppose he earned the role as chief…
James Caan is the star of this interesting but far from great movie. Off his role in El Dorado with the Duke & Mitchum I suppose he earned the role as chief Buck. It's a film about the loss of youth and growth into manhood. It's unclear just how experienced Caan is, particularly with the ladies, but clearly he is capable of Caaning his way into the best bed in Shreveport. The love scenes are handled with more romanticism and yes love, than you'd expect in a near B film.The film does seem to reflect the unhappiness and questioning of the then ongoing Viet Nam war, yet our band of 7 from Texas for the main, soldier on until death accomplishing nothing but filling their duty and being honorable men. They come to question slavery and therefore the basis of the war but aren't able to do anything about it. In that sense the film is believable. I like Caan's performance although not his haircut. He is the strong, silent type but with plenty of charm.It's his movie and he does alright. A great cast of actors not yet at their peak.
★ 6 / 10
A movie that spoke to the youth of a nation at war -- about the waste of war
charliemc-slash
I literally hadn't seen this film since my teenage years (when it originally aired) until now (2006), when it replayed on cable TV. The main cast included some…
I literally hadn't seen this film since my teenage years (when it originally aired) until now (2006), when it replayed on cable TV. The main cast included some of the most popular young actors of that time (the late 60's) -- and though the acting, direction and script aren't the finest work you'll ever see, it spoke to the youth of that day.
The United States was fighting an unpopular war in Vietnam -- and this film focused on the confusion and waste that surrounded the Civil War. The result was to create a direct parallel between that historical war and the (then) current situation. And believe me, we got it! The deaths of six of the seven young men who went to war was found tragic by the audience -- who immediately compared it to deaths of friends and family.
My sister and I just reflected on how popular the theme of desertion was in the 60's and 70's -- while men ran to Canada to avoid the draft. It seems odd now to watch a Civil War film where the protagonist deserts, but it was perfect in 1968! An interesting movie that's certainly worth seeing -- it features a young (pre-Godfather) James Caan. And another then unknown young actor by the name of Harrison Ford!
17%
AUDIENCE
· 250 ratings
5.6/10
1.2K
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Thanks, please add - Into The West (2005) 6 PART of the Series....