The filming of the charge sequence led to the death of 25 horses, which led to legislative action by the U.S. Congress and action by the ASPCA to prevent further cruelty by film directors and producers.
During an official visit to local tributary rajah, Surat Khan (C. Henry Gordon), Geoffrey saves the rajah's life while hunting, for which the rajah promises eternal gratitude. Later, Geoffrey Vickers (now a major) is stationed at the British garrison of (fictional) Chukoti, along with British military families, within the part the North-Western Frontier controlled by Surat Khan. A British miscalculation leads to premature withdrawal of troops to (fictional) Lohora, unnecessarily exposing Chukoti. Faced with an overwhelming siege, the British commander, Col. Campbell (Donald Crisp), surrenders Chukoti to Surat Khan, who then massacres the inhabitants, including the British families. Surat Khan spares Maj. Vickers and Elsa as they flee the slaughter and this repays his debt to Geoffrey. Soon afterwards, Surat Khan has to flee from the vengeful British counter-attack and allies himself with Imperial Russia who had supported Surat Khan’s attack on the British. The Russians in turn find themselves at war with the British in Crimea.
The love triangle and the quest for vengeance resolve at the Battle of Balaclava. Aware that Surat Khan is inspecting Russian positions opposite the 27th Lancers, Maj. Vickers secretly replaces written orders by Sir Charles Macefield (Henry Stephenson) to the commander of the Light Brigade, Sir Benjamin Warrenton (Nigel Bruce), to withdraw from the Balaclava Heights. Vickers instead orders the famous suicidal attack so the lancers can avenge the Chukoti massacre. Before the charge, Maj. Vickers reminds troops of the Chukoti Massacre and directs their anger: "Our objective is Surat Khan!" Although the 27th Lancers and the other Light Cavalry units lose nearly all their 600 strength, they successfully breach Russian artillery positions. There, Vickers finds and kills Surat Khan with a lance, at the cost of his own life.
Later, it emerges that Maj. Vickers wrote a letter to Sir Charles Macefield explaining his actions, which he forced Perry to deliver under threat of court martial, sparing his brother almost certain death during the 27th's charge. After receiving Maj. Vickers' explanation of why he defied orders and the charge happened, Macefield takes responsibility and burns the letter to protect Vickers and to honor him for his conspicuous gallantry in avenging the Chukoti Massacre.
The charge had been previously portrayed in a British film, The Jaws of Death (1930).
Warner Bros. was inspired to make the film after Lives of a Bengal Lancer (1935) had been released to great popularity, ushering in a series of British Empire adventure tales. Michel Jacoby had developed a story based on the famous charge but, although Warners bought Jacoby's script, the final script was closer to Lives of a Bengal Lancer.[6]
An original working title for the film was The Charge of the 600.[7]
Warner Bros. wanted an all-British cast. Errol Flynn (Tasmanian, but initially ballyhooed by the studio publicity department as Irish) had made such a strong impression in Captain Blood that he was removed from supporting Fredric March in Anthony Adverse to play the lead in Charge of the Light Brigade.[8]Ian Hunter was connected to the film early on.[9]Anita Louise was announced as the female lead.[10]
Patric Knowles had just joined Warner Bros. at the recommendation of Irving Asher in London, the same man who recommended Errol Flynn. He was given the crucial supporting role of Flynn's brother,[11] which was perfect since Flynn and Knowles looked almost exactly alike at the time.
The film provides an early, important supporting role for David Niven.[12]
During filming on location at Lone Pine California, the studio's camera unit helped put out a fire that started at a restaurant across the road from where the actors were staying.[15]
Some of the location shooting was done in Mexico where there were fewer restrictions on harming animals during production.[16]
The Charge sequence
The film comes to a climax at the Battle of Balaclava, subject of Lord Tennyson's poem. The lancers charge into the valley, braving the heavy Russian cannon fire, and many are killed. Text from Tennyson's poem is superimposed on screen, coupled with Max Steiner's musical score. Director Michael Curtiz, who did not have an excellent command of English, shouted "Bring on the empty horses," meaning the "riderless horses"; David Niven used this as the title of his second autobiographical memoir about the Golden Age of Hollywood.
The battlefield set was lined with tripwires to trip the charging cavalry horses. For the filming of this climax, 125 horses were tripped; of those, 25 were killed or put down afterward. Errol Flynn, an accomplished horseman, was outraged by the animal cruelty and by director Michael Curtiz's seeming indifference. He attacked Curtiz, but they were pulled apart before any serious damage was done. The film's charge sequence later forced the U.S. Congress to ensure the safety of animals in future motion pictures; the ASPCA followed suit and banned tripwires from all films. Unlike Flynn's other blockbusters, because of the number of horses killed during the charge sequence, the film was never re-released by Warner Bros. It would not be seen again until 1956, when the company sold the rights to it and other pre-1950 films to Associated Artists Productions, after which it subsequently premiered on television. This scene was later used in the music video for the hit song The Trooper by Iron Maiden which was famously banned by MTV.
Stylized as a cenotaph in opening credits
"QUIS SUPERABIT
WHO SHALL EXCEL THEM
Dedication
To the officers and men
Of the Light Brigade who
Died victorious in a gallant
Charge at Balaklava for
Queen and Country
A.D. 1856"
"The world is indebted to Alfred,
Lord Tennyson, Poet Laureate to
Her Majesty, Queen Victoria of
Great Britain, for perpetuating
in an epic poem one of the most
distinguished events in history
conspicuous for sheer valor…"
Disclaimer at the end of opening credits
"This production has its basis in history.
The historical basis, however, has been
fictionalized for the purposes of this picture
and the names of many characters, many
characters themselves, the story, incidents
and institutions, are fictitious. With the
exception of known historical characters,
whose actual names are herein used, no
identification with actual persons, living
or dead, is intended or should be inferred".
According to Warner Bros.' accounts, the film was the studio's most expensive and most popular film of 1936, earning $1,454,000 domestically and $1,928,000 in foreign markets.[2]
Critical
Filmink magazine wrote that "If you think that story sounds silly, you’d be right and it doesn’t come across any less so on screen" but thought the film was redeemed by Flynn and its action sequences.[18]
^ abcWarner Bros financial information in The William Shaefer Ledger. See Appendix 1, Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, (1995) 15:sup1, 1-31 p 16 DOI: 10.1080/01439689508604551
^Tony Thomas, Rudy Behlmer * Clifford McCarty, The Films of Errol Flynn, Citadel Press, 1969 p 45-50
^Schallert, Edwin (June 13, 1935). "Tennyson 's Celebrated "Charge of the Light Brigade " Inspiration for New Film: Miss Colbert Will Be Star of 'Frenchy' Moroni Olsen Given Musketeer Role; Jones to Sing". Los Angeles Times. p. 13.
^Chaplin's Big Business: Goldwyn's Leading Lady: A New Romantic Hero
Bain, Greville. The Times of India (1861-current) [New Delhi, India] 07 Mar 1936: 9.
^Schallert, Edwin (Sep 18, 1935). "Irvin S Cobb, Famous Humorist, Signs to Star at Twentieth Century-Fox: Zanuck Picks Story for Writer-Player Francine Larrimore Arriving October 20 to Do Picture Work for M.-G.-M.; Featured Roles Awarded Melvyn Douglas". Los Angeles Times. p. 9.
^"SCREEN NOTES". New York Times. Mar 20, 1936. p. 28.
^Schallert, Edwin (Mar 9, 1936). "Irvin Cobb, Film Future Secure, to Star in "Gentleman From Mississippi": Writer's Thespianic Adventure Proceeds Claude Rains and Charles Boyer Both Will Have Fling at Napoleon Interpretation; Choir Singer in "Stagestruck"". Los Angeles Times. p. 15.
^Schallert, Edwin (Mar 7, 1936). "Bette Davis, Academy Winner, Will Break Up Film Duties With Vacation: Star Going to Palm Springs, Honolulu Randolph Scott Will Portray Scout Hawkeye in "Last of Mohicans;" Sol Lesser Plans Films for Twentieth-Century Release". Los Angeles Times. p. 5.
^Schallert, Edwin (Mar 20, 1936). "Franchot Tone Selected to Appear Opposite Jean Harlow in "Suzy" Film: George Fitzmaurice Will Direct Feature Harriet Hilliard's Next Picture Will Be "Make a Wish;" Capra Seeking Tibetans; Beverly Roberts Wins Leading Part". Los Angeles Times. p. 15.
^Shaffer, George (Apr 15, 1936). "Jungle Scene Gives Actors Extra Thrill". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 22.
^"Movie Crew Aids Firemen". New York Times. Apr 2, 1936. p. 29.
^"NEWS OF THE SCREEN: Forward the Light Brigade, to Mexico -- More Costumes for Hepburn -- Trivial Matters". New York Times. June 15, 1936. p. 24.
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