An indictment of the old British social class system
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — The Charge of the Light Brigade
jeffyoung1 — 17 years ago(March 17, 2009 12:28 PM)
Inasmuch as the 1968 movie version of The Charge of the Light Brigade is about incompetent higher military and political leadership, the beginning of the movie is a clear indictment on the injustices of 19th century British society. At a time where the British empire is reaching its apex, wretched poverty, inequality of wealth and opportunity, lack of education, all underline the dark underbelly of British civilization right in the heart of England itself. At the time this movie was filmed the British people faced the dark side of their past glorious empire and began to despise the rigid social caste system with its inequalities and injustices. Its old Victorian values and priniciples were looked upon with disgust and despised for its innate hypocrisies. As a war movie, the 1968 Charge of the Light Brigade is enjoyable in itself but is really two movies in one. The underlying theme is social and economic injustice and stagnation. The British filmmakers of this 1968 movie did not intend for the viewer to feel any pride or admiration for the British empire or the old British Army of the 19th century. They meant for you to be appalled at it. In this respect I think they truly succeeded. By the end of the movie you'll be shaking your head wondering how, in the face of such political and military ineptitude, rigidity, and incompetence that the British managed to forge such a mighty globe-spanning empire that would defeat Germany in two world wars and for a brief moment, was actually classified as a superpower next to the United States and the former U.S.S.R.
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highwaystar50 — 16 years ago(June 30, 2009 09:53 AM)
I thought that the message of the film was that the military must be made up of professional soldiers and not noblemen officers and conscript troops. While that might have suited the empire in previous decades, it was obvious by the time of this war that it would no longer do. I should probably read the book but I sort of got the feeling that the Light Brigade's action was botched on purpose to prove that point.
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david_colbourne — 16 years ago(August 27, 2009 01:48 PM)
The film may have been an indictment of the old British social class system, but it should be remembered that the system did produce the greatest empire the world had seen. The army was indeed composed of officers from the upper classes, not all noblemen, though. This did not make them any less professional than was the case when the army was reformed and purchase eliminated. Neither were the troops conscripts, the British Army was entirely manned by voluntary enlistment until 1916. Unless, of course, you count conscription by General Hunger.
I'm not entirely sure, either, what you mean when you say the Light Brigade's action was botched on purpose. Botched by whom? Captain Nolan? I suppose it's a point of view, but I don't see it that way myself. If Nolan meant to sacrifice the Light Brigade to prove a point why did he attempt to turn the Brigade when they were going the wrong way?
Anyway, it would be worth you while doing some reading on the subject, I'd recommend a book called 'Hellriders', can't remember the author, a very good book on the subject, also 'The Charge' by Mark Adkin.