Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

Shenandoah was a good movie with a good story line. The cast with Jimmy Steward and Doug McClure were very good. Stewart plays a Virginia Farmer during the Civil War. He didn't believe in the war and didn't want to have a thing to do with it let a lone choose a side. The problem was that his land was in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley which was dead center in the middle of the war.

Shenandoah {1965}

Directed by Andrew McLaglen
James Stewart as Charlie Anderson
Doug McClure as Sam
Katharine Ross as Ann Anderson
Patrick Wayne as James Anderson

James Stewart plays Mr. Anderson. Anderson and his family have a large ranch in the middle of the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. The Civil War has erupted and Virginia had been invaded by the northerners. Mr. Anderson believed that the war was over slaves and he didn't own any slaves at all so the war in his mind was not his to fight.

His oldest son didn't share his fathers beliefs and desired to join the fight against the Union. Anderson also had five more sons and a daughter. One of his Older sons James, was married and still worked the Ranch. The folks in their community felt that the Anderson family were shirking their duty to the community and the state of Virginia. Mr. Anderson stuck to his guns and was not going to take part in a war that he did not believe in.

The war came closer and closer to their ranch and lives every day. It was just a matter of time before the war would have an impact on their lives in some fashion or another. Then it happened. Mr. Andersons youngest son was sixteen and wore a confederate cap that he had found floating in their creek.

A group of northern soldiers took the boy as a prisoner of war. Now Mr. Anderson took that very personal and planned on getting his son back.

Spoiler

Anderson took four of his sons and his daughter and went looking for the boy. He looked for quite some time with no luck. Although he was unable to find his young son they were able to rescue his son-in-law Sam, from a northern bound Yankee prisoner of war train. He son-in-law Sam was married to his daughter and serving in the confederacy as a Lieutenant.

Unable to locate the boys whereabouts the Anderson posse heads home. After a long ordeal the young boy is able to escape his captors from the north and return home. It was a bitter sweet reunion though. While the family was out looking for the boy, Mr. Stewards oldest son was killed along with his wife. They were watching over the ranch and caring for their newborn infant. Shenandoah is definitely a tear jerker.

Conclusion

I enjoyed the movie Shenandoah for a couple of reasons. First off the acting and cast were very good. Another reason that I enjoyed the movie was that it offers the viewer a whole new perspective on the American Civil War. Mr. Anderson didn't believe in the war at all, north or south. The script was also very realistic. I would recommend Shenandoah to someone who enjoys westerns, civil war movies or James Stewart.

More Civil War Movies

• Gettysburg
• Gods & Generals
• Glory
• Ride With The Devil
• Andersonville
• Outlaw Josey Wales
• How the West Was Won
• North And The South
• Gone With The Wind
• The Red Badge Of Courage

Run time: 1hour 46 minutes

Thanks for the read,
~Mac

©2004 Joe McMaster

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 9 - 12