The Red Badge of Courage (film)
Encyclopedia
The Red Badge of Courage is a 1951
war film
made by MGM. It was directed by John Huston
and produced by Gottfried Reinhardt with Dore Schary
as executive producer. The screenplay is by John Huston, adapted by Albert Band
from the Stephen Crane
novel of the same name
. The cinematography is by Harold Rosson
and the music score by Bronislau Kaper. The making of the film is the subject of Lillian Ross
's 1952 book Picture.
The American Civil War
film is a sparse but faithful retelling of the story, incorporating narration from the text to move the plot forward. Audie Murphy
, a hero of World War II
who later went into acting, played the lead role of Henry Fleming. Other actors include cartoonist Bill Mauldin
, Andy Devine
, Arthur Hunnicutt
, and Royal Dano
.
Much of the history of the making of this film, considered by some a mutilated masterpiece, is found in Lillian Ross's acclaimed book "The Picture."
The film is available on DVD.
1951 in film
The year 1951 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* Sweden - May Britt is scouted by Italian film-makers Carlo Ponti and Mario Soldati-Top grossing films : After theatrical re-issue- Awards :Academy Awards:...
war film
War film
War films are a film genre concerned with warfare, usually about naval, air or land battles, sometimes focusing instead on prisoners of war, covert operations, military training or other related subjects. At times war films focus on daily military or civilian life in wartime without depicting battles...
made by MGM. It was directed by John Huston
John Huston
John Marcellus Huston was an American film director, screenwriter and actor. He wrote most of the 37 feature films he directed, many of which are today considered classics: The Maltese Falcon , The Treasure of the Sierra Madre , Key Largo , The Asphalt Jungle , The African Queen , Moulin Rouge...
and produced by Gottfried Reinhardt with Dore Schary
Dore Schary
Isadore "Dore" Schary was an American motion picture director, writer, and producer, and playwright who became head of production at MGM and eventually president of the studio...
as executive producer. The screenplay is by John Huston, adapted by Albert Band
Albert Band
Albert Band born Alfredo Antonini , was an American film director and film producer. He was the son of artist Max Band, father of filmmaker Charles Band and of film composer Richard Band. He is the grandfather of Alex Band and Taryn Band.-Biography:Band escaped from Paris to the United States with...
from the Stephen Crane
Stephen Crane
Stephen Crane was an American novelist, short story writer, poet and journalist. Prolific throughout his short life, he wrote notable works in the Realist tradition as well as early examples of American Naturalism and Impressionism...
novel of the same name
The Red Badge of Courage
The Red Badge of Courage is a war novel by American author Stephen Crane . Taking place during the American Civil War, the story is about a young private of the Union Army, Henry Fleming, who flees from the field of battle. Overcome with shame, he longs for a wound—a "red badge of courage"—to...
. The cinematography is by Harold Rosson
Harold Rosson
Harold G. "Hal" Rosson, A.S.C. was an American cinematographer during the early and classical Hollywood cinema. He is best known for his work on the 1939 masterpiece The Wizard of Oz.-Biography:Rosson came from a film-making family...
and the music score by Bronislau Kaper. The making of the film is the subject of Lillian Ross
Lillian Ross (journalist)
Lillian Ross is an American journalist and author who has been a staff writer at The New Yorker since 1945. She was born in Syracuse, New York, the daughter of Louis and Edna Ross. With the exception of her memoir Here but Not Here, about her relationship with William Shawn, she has been...
's 1952 book Picture.
The American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
film is a sparse but faithful retelling of the story, incorporating narration from the text to move the plot forward. Audie Murphy
Audie Murphy
Audie Leon Murphy was a highly decorated and famous soldier. Through LIFE magazine's July 16, 1945 issue , he became one the most famous soldiers of World War II and widely regarded as the most decorated American soldier of the war...
, a hero of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
who later went into acting, played the lead role of Henry Fleming. Other actors include cartoonist Bill Mauldin
Bill Mauldin
William Henry "Bill" Mauldin was a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist from the United States...
, Andy Devine
Andy Devine
Andrew Vabre "Andy" Devine was an American character actor and comic cowboy sidekick known for his distinctive raspy voice.-Early life:...
, Arthur Hunnicutt
Arthur Hunnicutt
Arthur Lee Hunnicutt was an American actor known for his portrayal of wise, grizzled, old rural characters...
, and Royal Dano
Royal Dano
Royal Edward Dano was an American film and television character actor.-Early life:Dano was born in New York City to Mary Josephine , an Irish immigrant, and Caleb Edward Dano, a printer for newspapers. He reportedly left home at the age of twelve and at various intervals, lived in Florida, Texas...
.
Cast
- Audie MurphyAudie MurphyAudie Leon Murphy was a highly decorated and famous soldier. Through LIFE magazine's July 16, 1945 issue , he became one the most famous soldiers of World War II and widely regarded as the most decorated American soldier of the war...
as Henry Fleming (a.k.a. The Youth) - Bill MauldinBill MauldinWilliam Henry "Bill" Mauldin was a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist from the United States...
as The Loud Soldier - Douglas DickDouglas DickDouglas Dick is a retired American actor.- Career :Douglas Dick is best known for his role as Carl Herrick in the TV series Waterfront , and as Kenneth Lawrence in the Alfred Hitchcock film Rope .He was married to Ronnie Cowan until their 1960 divorce, and to television screenwriter Peggy Chantler...
as The Lieutenant - Royal DanoRoyal DanoRoyal Edward Dano was an American film and television character actor.-Early life:Dano was born in New York City to Mary Josephine , an Irish immigrant, and Caleb Edward Dano, a printer for newspapers. He reportedly left home at the age of twelve and at various intervals, lived in Florida, Texas...
as The Tattered Man - John DierkesJohn DierkesJohn Dierkes was an American character actor present in several classic films.-Life and career:Dierkes was born on February 10, 1905 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He attended Brown University and subsequently went to work as an economist for the United States Department of State. In 1941 he joined the Red...
as The Tall Soldier - Arthur HunnicuttArthur HunnicuttArthur Lee Hunnicutt was an American actor known for his portrayal of wise, grizzled, old rural characters...
as Bill Porter - Tim Durant as The General
- Andy DevineAndy DevineAndrew Vabre "Andy" Devine was an American character actor and comic cowboy sidekick known for his distinctive raspy voice.-Early life:...
as The Cheery Soldier - Robert EastonRobert Easton (actor)Robert Easton is an American actor whose career in film and television spans more than 60 years. His mastery of English dialect has earned him the epithet "The Man of a Thousand Voices", For decades he has been a leading Hollywood dialogue or accent coach.Easton was born Robert Easton Burke in...
as Thompson (as Robert Easton Burke)
Production notes
Director John Huston used unusual compositions and camera angles drawn from film noir to create an alienating battlefield environment. Huston had high hopes for the movie, believing it could have been "his best." He became frustrated when the studio cut the film's length to seventy minutes and added narration following supposedly poor audience test screenings.Much of the history of the making of this film, considered by some a mutilated masterpiece, is found in Lillian Ross's acclaimed book "The Picture."
The film is available on DVD.