in the end, at who's feet did the blame fall?
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Hancock_the_Superb — 14 years ago(November 27, 2011 09:22 AM)
True but for certain books, the depiction of events is outdated due to new research. Not to mention Fraser not-infrequently injects his own opinions into the mix. On the whole though, Flashman is certainly an excellent model for historical fiction.
"My child is God to billions of Asians!" -
Hancock_the_Superb — 13 years ago(May 03, 2012 04:53 PM)
Court martial aside, public censure and loss of reputation would have resulted from refusing Raglan's order. Look what happened to Lord Sackville over Minden. He was denounced as a coward and it took a decade of back-biting and arm twisting to get back into favor.
"I had a big lunch that DIDN'T tempt fate!" -
estocade — 14 years ago(November 11, 2011 06:54 AM)
SPOILER
I liked the ending, somewhat unexpected, yet faithful to the whole picture. Men arguing who's fault was it, then the credits roll, there's no music only the sound of flies buzzing over a dead horse.
I guess all of them were guilty at some point and in some measure. It's war and there's no words for it. -
Hancock_the_Superb — 14 years ago(November 27, 2011 04:59 PM)
The CD liner notes claim that the end credits was originally to be accompanied by an ironic reprisal of the main title music. I think the final choice works much better.
"My child is God to billions of Asians!" -
mousalope — 13 years ago(April 29, 2012 03:18 AM)
It appears to me the fog of war was blamed. Sticky wicket that. The individual commanders pretty much got a pass.
A month after the charge Raglan was promoted to Field Marshall. Still in the field a year later he contracted dysentery and died.
Cardigan returned home a hero and was promoted to Inspector General of the Cavalry.
Lucan was made a member of the Order of the Bath in July of that same year. Although he never again saw active duty, he reached the rank of General in 1865 and was made a Field Marshal in the year before his death.
And Nolan got to be portrayed by Errol Flynn. Not bad. -
Hancock_the_Superb — 13 years ago(May 03, 2012 04:49 PM)
I don't know if I'd agree. Lucan was harshly vilified by the English press for the charge and even Cardigan didn't completely escape censure (thanks to memoirs and correspondence of his Crimean associates). Raglan was a hero at the time but his reputation has certainly suffered over the years.
"I had a big lunch that DIDN'T tempt fate!" -
ewfleming-616-650888 — 13 years ago(April 29, 2012 11:51 AM)
It is clear to me as a retired solier that the point of the movie was to place the blame on the system. A system where commanding officers made decisions based upon insecurity if not paranoia. A system where officers were of the gentry and not professional soldiers and damn proud of it. A system where the cadre could be arbitrary and capricious and then expect that they could command respect through harsh punishments and flogging. Just another example of British hubris watch A Bridge Too Far and you will see nothing changed even during WWII. One of the reasons American generals hated Montgomery he was an idiot. Just to let you know I am not prejudiced, read anything you want about MacArthur in Korea and you will see the same stubborness and hubris on his part.
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Aticusfinch — 9 years ago(August 05, 2016 02:42 PM)
Judging by what we saw in the movie its obvious that most of the blame has to lie with Raglan. One for delivering vague orders, ignoring that Lucans and Cardigans perspective was not the same as his, two because of his frivolous attitude, talking nonsense about the "pretty valley" and "table linen", and third because he was the Chief commander and ultimately responsible for everything. His last attempt to avert responsibility by stating that the note didnt carry his handwriting, couldnt be more pathetic.
Lucan and Cardigan, unlikable and stupid as they are portrayed, dont carry any guilt. Having a written order from their superior and being further misguided by Captain Nolan I dont see how they could have acted differently; even asking for clarification from Raglan could have meant later accusations of wasting precious time or even of cowardice. Lucan recognizes that there is nothing else they can do and even Cardigan does not expect to return alive from the charge - "here goes the last of the Brudenells"-.
And lastly we have Nolans role; maybe he would have neveer been accountable in front of a court martial because after all he was only a minor rank transmitting orders. But he wasnt really free of responsibility. Because he is the only one who has been at both sites, with Raglan and with Lucan/Cardigan and therefore the only one who could have cleared the misunderstanding. But he is so enraged at the passivity of the latter that he doesnt realize that he is pointing in exactly the wrong direction. Ironically he becomes the first victim of his error.