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The Red Badge of Courage

The Red Badge of Courage (1951)

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Movie Info

The backstory of The Red Badge of Courage involves the toppling of MGM's old Louis B. Mayer regime in favor of Dore Schary and his young Turks. It is also the tale of how an intended epic was ruthlessly whittled down to a lower-berth programmer. Since this story has already been related in detail in Lillian Ross' Picture (not to mention several John Huston biographies), the focus here will be what shows up on screen in Red Badge of Courage. Based on the novel by Stephen Crane, the film stars

Unrated, 1 hr. 9 min.

Drama, Action & Adventure, Classics

Stephen Crane, John Huston

Feb 4, 2003

Cast

All Critics (14) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (9) | Rotten (1) | DVD (5)

What's truly amazing is how good the film is despite MGM slicing it up in the re-editing process.

July 7, 2005 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | Comment
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Almost seems like a documentary in look, action, acting. A Huston gem.

October 30, 2004 Comment

The Red Badge of Courage is far more a psychological drama than a purely palpable one, and as such it works as well as any war movie ever made.

March 2, 2003 Comment
Movie Metropolis

Through Henry, The Red Badge of Courage allows us to face the chaos and confusion, the terror and futility, of both large-scale, national strife and inner, personal turmoil.

March 2, 2003 Comment
Movie Metropolis

Despite the studio's editing hatchet job, this remains a powerful tale of redemption

June 27, 2002 Full Review Source: All Movie Guide | Comment
All Movie Guide
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Red Badge of Courage

In spite of the studio's blasphemous 'recut' of John Huston's work, The Red Badge of Courage successfully illuminates the fragile psyche of the foot soldier in harm's way. Audie Murphy, given his own combat experience, seems perfectly cast as the civil war private battling fear and self-doubt while serving in a union

January 25, 2009
flixsterman
Randy Tippy

Super Reviewer

For 1951 it was a pretty great movie. It had a great behind it, and got it acrossed well. I felt it ended a little suddenly, and to me it seemed like there seemed to be something missing, though im not sure what, but overall, it was a film , for any civil war buff, too see.

November 4, 2007
bhobbs1985

Super Reviewer

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Foreign Titles

  • Red Badge of Courage (DE)
  • Red Badge of Courage (UK)
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