Shenandoah

A very underrated Jimmy Stewart anti-war film. This film occured in Virginia during the Civil Wars and Jimmy plays a father who raised a big family and didn't want to have to do anything with the war until one of his sons is mistakenly captured for a Confederate prisoner. I enjoyed it a lot but I enjoyed all of Jimmy Stewart's films.

I've seen this sort of film and story done so many times that I find it pretty difficult to enjoy them. However, I've never seen this sort of film and story done with James Stewart! Jimmy truly is the saviour of this film, his performances is so bitter and morbid yet kind and fatherly. It's still not a particularly riveting film but if you're a fan of Stewart, check it out. The scene where he talks to his recently deceased family almost made me well up.

Above average and clearly anti-war western

A domineering Western Dad tries to stay out of the Civil War and hold his family together; instead discovers that neither is possible when the Devil holds all the cards. Director McLaglen cut his teeth on the classic TV series HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL; his technique is to focus on the characters and story, while posing the actors against the most beautiful natural backgrounds he can find, and that technique serves him well here. SHENANDOAH is no classic, but it is an honest meal.