THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE Movie Review

1951 John Huston

John Huston's adaptation of Stephen Crane's novel is one of Hollywood's most famous cases of studio interference in a film that might have been great, or at least very good. As it is, the story of fear and bravery has some striking moments that remain mired in a story that lacks focus and clarity. It's difficult to say exactly where blame should be placed. (See sidebar.)

Henry Fleming (Congressional Medal of Honor — winner Audie Murphy) is a young, untested Union soldier who chaffs at the constant drilling his army undergoes. Like the other men in his unit, he complains and argues and claims to be hungry for a real battle. At the same time, the idea of war terrifies him, and Henry is afraid that he will disgrace himself when the shooting starts. His doubts and uncertainties are handled with believable complexity. War hero Murphy is able to make those universal emotions seem absolutely real. It's not so much a question of cowardice as of imagination and involvement in a war that is anything but absolute.

In a telling early moment before the fighting starts, Henry wanders away from his camp one night and comes close to the Confederate lines. A nearby unseen rebel picket then advises him to move out of the moonlight unless he wants to wear the “little red badge.” How does someone muster up anger and hatred at such an enemy?

Other touches of dialogue and the details of a soldier's life have a similar ring of authenticity. The entire cast is filled with veteran character actors whose faces are more familiar than their names—John Dierkes, Royal Dano, Whit Bissell, Arthur Hunnicutt. Cartoonist Bill Mauldin, another semi-professional actor, acquits himself well as Henry's friend Tom, who is just as afraid as he is. The battle scenes are realistically staged and paced. Legendary photographer Harold Rosson (The Wizard of Oz, The Asphalt Jungle) certainly deserves an equal amount of the credit there. The confrontations begin with easily identifiable forces moving slowly against each other. Then as the action intensifies, it becomes increasingly chaotic until Henry's panic is a natural reaction.

The point of the story, however, is Henry's transformation from frightened tyro to flag-waving hero. Within the context, both extremes are credible, but the middle ground between them is less so. Henry's long dark night of the soul wrestling with his own inner angels is never completely real to the viewer, and that is the core of the story. Another part of the film's problems becomes evident in the voice-overs that were added after preview audiences reacted negatively. Narrator James Whitmore states that his text is taken from Stephen Crane's text, implying that it's holy writ and that this is a serious high-minded film and anyone who doesn't appreciate it ought to be ashamed. That kind of cinematic eat-your-vegetables approach has never worked, and it is doubly offensive here. The often unnecessary narration gives a pompous tone to the pared-down simple images and story.

Those flaws notwithstanding, The Red Badge of Courage is still one of the better Civil War films. The performances are first rate; the characters are believable; the political and historic elements aren't romanticized. Though it falls far short of greatness, this one is well worth watching.

Cast: Audie Murphy (Henry Fleming—the Youth), Bill Mauldin (Tom Wilson—the Loud Soldier), Douglas Dick (The Lieutenant), Royal Dano (The Tattered Soldier), Andy Devine (The Cheerful Soldier), Arthur Hunnicutt (Bill Porter), John Dierkes (Jim Conlin—the Tall Soldier), Richard Easton (Thompson), Tim Durant (The General), Whit Bissell (Wounded officer); Written by: Albert Band; Cinematography by: Harold Rosson; Music by: Bronislau Kaper. Producer: Gottfried Reinhardt, MGM. Running Time: 69 minutes. Format: VHS, Beta.