The Red Badge of Courage

TV Movie
1974
1h 14m

IMDb RATING

6.1/10

241

YOUR RATING

Drama War Western

During the Civil War, a young man enthusiastically joins the Union army thirsting to find glory and honor, but his first battle opens his eyes to the reality of how un-glorious and dishonora... Read allDuring the Civil War, a young man enthusiastically joins the Union army thirsting to find glory and honor, but his first battle opens his eyes to the reality of how un-glorious and dishonorable war really is.During the Civil War, a young man enthusiastically joins the Union army thirsting to find glory and honor, but his first battle opens his eyes to the reality of how un-glorious and dishonorable war really is.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.1/10

241

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 nomination

Trivia
For years, it was unsure what battle was portrayed in the original story by Stephen Crane -- the story on which multiple film adaptations were based. It was gleaned from another Steven Crane work published a year after The Red Badge of Courage that it was set during the Battle of Chancellorsville, which began on May 1, 1863.

Goofs
The Union soldiers are seen muzzle-loading their cap-and-ball rifles, although the movie's firearm props appear to be 1873 model, "Trapdoor" Springfield breech-loading cartridge versions -- not introduced until years after the Civil War.

Quotes
Pvt. Jim Conklin: Just as sure as I'm standin' here, we're movin' to Marshall.
[soldiers howl in disbelief]
Pvt. Jim Conklin: I got it from a friend who got it from a cavalryman who just happens to be one of the orderlies over at divisional headquarters.
[crowd of soldiers peppers Jim with questions]
Pvt. Jim Conklin: I told you tomorrow mornin'! We goin' down the river and we're goin' to come in right behind the enemy!

Connections
Referenced in Bergerac: A Cry in the Night (1984)

User reviews14

Review

Featured review

8/10

Extremely Rare Take On Crane's Classic

No, this is NOT the famous 1951 black and white masterpiece that we all know and saw many times. This is a 1974 TV film, which I never heard of and never saw before. Many people criticized that take fiercely, which laves me totally shocked. Why? This full color take is not bad, this is a very decent try, a nice effort that depicts war as it is - cruel, miserable, sad, bloody, ferocious, wild, wanton, merciless, panicking, awful, bad and horrid. The movie is short, so it doesn't drag or get on your nerves. The plot of the book is depicted very vividly and it does not glorify violence, it shows it as a real terrible and blood-chilling affair. This rare film is certainly worth watching if only for educational sake and also for a fresh view of a classic