The man from the great river
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | The man from the great river |
| Original title | Shenandoah |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1965 |
| length | 100 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 12 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Andrew V. McLaglen |
| script | James Lee Barrett |
| production | Robert Arthur |
| music | Frank Skinner |
| camera | William H. Clothier |
| cut | Otho Lovering |
| occupation | |
| |
The Man from the Great River (Original title: Shenandoah ) is an American feature film from 1965.
action
The film is set in Virginia in 1864 at the time of the American Civil War . Farmer Charlie Anderson has been a widower for 16 years; his wife died giving birth to their youngest son Robert, who is usually only referred to as "Junior" (in the original "Boy"). He lives with his hard-working six sons, daughter and daughter-in-law in the Shenadoah Valley as the civil war draws nearer. Anderson is both an opponent of slavery and fundamentally against the war and therefore believes that he can keep his family out of the conflict that is going badly for the south; he vehemently defends himself against the entry of his sons into the Southern Army, and the family even uses their fists to work on the troop of government officials who one day appears and wants to confiscate horses. His only daughter Jennie, however, marries the young Confederate Lieutenant Sam, who arrives in the field on the day of the wedding. On the same day, Charlie's son James becomes the father of a daughter.
The youngest son Robert found a southern cap in a stream and has been wearing it ever since. His best friend Gabriel is a slave boy from neighbor Abernathy. They are hunting together when they get caught in a shootout between southerners and northerners . A little later, "Junior" is captured by northerners because he is believed to be a rebel because of his cap. The Yankees run the slave boy. Now the war concerns the Anderson family as well, as the level-headed Jacob had prophesied to his father several times. Together, Charlie and four of his sons go in search of the prisoner, and daughter Jennie does not let himself be dissuaded either. Only the young mother Ann, her husband James and the baby are left alone on the farm.
In this search they come to a union camp, the commander shows some understanding for Anderson's situation; but prisoners are taken en masse at this stage of the war and mostly transported by train to the more northern areas. Charlie goes to a train station with his family, but is brusquely turned away by the commanding officer there, with a hint of timetables to be observed. Then the energetic rancher organized a night raid on the open road; Robert is not to be found among the CSA prisoners who were freed in the process, but Lieutenant Sam, who, to Jennie's delight, joins the father-in-law's troop after his first (and lost) battle. Meanwhile, "Junior" has become friends with the soldier Carter in a prison camp directly on a river, and when they are both about to be transported on a steamer, they manage to escape with other rebels. A little later they encounter a scattered unit of the Confederation, and Robert has direct combat experience for the first time. The Yankees prove to be superior in this battle too, and little Anderson is doomed to die when the Union soldier bent over him suddenly recognizes his friend - it is Gabriel, who is now wearing a blue uniform.
One day, disappointed and exhausted, Charlie gives up looking for his youngest child. Meanwhile, a trio of looters attack the farm and kill both James and his wife; only the baby survived. And the tragedy takes its course when the search party approaches a bridge on their way home, where they frighten a sleepy security guard of the "gray" so much that he fires his rifle and kills Jacob in the process. When they get home, the doctor informs Dr. Witherspoon, disaffected Charlie, about what happened; After a short monologue at the family's grave, which has now grown, he decides to carry on with the remaining sons as if nothing had happened. This also includes going to church, which everyone does not particularly like (Charlie had to promise this to his dying wife) - in the middle of the service the door opens and the wounded Robert hobbles in, supported by a crutch. Charlie happily takes him in his arms.
background
The original title Shenandoah refers to the river of the same name . In 1965, the film was considered a statement against the war in general, given the beginning of the Vietnam War . When Charlie Anderson asks his son-in-law, an officer in the Southern Army, why he was participating in a war that he knew was lost, he replied, "It's easier to participate than run away."
Director Andrew V. McLaglen is the son of actor Victor McLaglen .
Film music
The melody of the American folk song " Shenandoah " serves as the film music . Stewart set a version of the title track with his spoken chant on the soundtrack.
Reviews
- Joe Hembus ' Western Lexicon quoted British journalist Dilys Powell as saying : "James Stewart plays one of those ingenious infallible parents who enjoy watching movies while at the same time congratulating themselves on being spared them in life."
- Adolf Heinzlmeier and Berndt Schulz in Lexicon "Films on TV" (extended new edition). Rasch and Röhring, Hamburg 1990, ISBN 3-89136-392-3 , pp. 543-544: "Pacifist anti-war melodrama , sentimental and pompous." (Rating: 1½ stars = moderate)
- Lexicon of international film : “The film lets the idealistic belief in the possibility of the intact existence of the family fail in war. With the impact of the war in an exemplary family network, he encourages the viewer to think about ethically deepened issues. Some design deficiencies cannot decisively hinder the positive charisma. "
- Protestant film observer : “Excellent design and full of ethical values, even if occasionally a little touching the heart. Recommended for ages 14 and up. "
Awards
The film was nominated in 1966 for an Oscar in the category “Best Sound”. Rosemary Forsyth received a Golden Globe Award nomination in the " Best Young Actress " category .
synchronization
The German dubbed version was based on the dialogue book and the dialogue direction by Thomas Keck at Berliner Synchron GmbH.
| role | actor | Voice actor |
|---|---|---|
| Charlie Anderson | James Stewart | Siegmar Schneider |
| Col. Fairchild | George Kennedy | Friedrich Schoenfelder |
| Capt. Richards | Berkeley Harris | Claus Jurichs |
| Carter | James Best | Michael Chevalier |
| Cpt. Johnson | Tom Simcox | Claus Wilcke |
| Dr. Tom Witherspoon | Paul Fix | Hans Hessling |
| gangster | James Carter | Christian Brückner |
| Jacob Anderson | Glenn Corbett | Thomas Eckelmann |
| James Anderson | Patrick Wayne | Joachim Ansorge |
| Jenkins | Harry Carey Jr. | Hans Walter Clasen |
| Jennie Anderson | Rosemary Forsyth | Marianne Lutz |
| John Anderson | Jim McMullan | Wolfgang Condrus |
| Platoon leader | Strother Martin | Walter Bluhm |
| Lieutenant Sam | Doug McClure | Thomas Danneberg |
| Mule | Kevin Hagen | Gerd Martienzen |
| Nathan Anderson | Charles Robinson | Andreas Mannkopff |
| Pastor Bjoerling | Denver Pyle | Hugo Schrader |
| Carroll horse buyer | Kelly Thordsen | Martin Hirthe |
| Tinkham | Lane Bradford | Arnold Marquis |
| Union Sergeant | Edward Faulkner | Edgar Ott |
Web links
- The man from the great river in the Internet Movie Database (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ The Shenandoah Soundtrack on Jimmy Stewart on the Air , accessed May 11, 2020
- ↑ The Man from the Great River. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed March 2, 2017 .
- ↑ Critique No. 371/1965, p. 649
- ↑ The Man from the Great River. In: synchronkartei.de. German dubbing index , accessed on May 11, 2020 .