Long before Mel Gibson did The Patriot, James Stewart did a similar movie set in the War Between the States. Only Stewart didn't access his inner warrior and go off to avenge his sons; he realized and accepted the tragedy for what it was - senseless and stupid.
Mr Smith may be my favorite Stewart film, but this runs a very close second. The song "Shenandoah" is woven throughout the movie in various stages out loudness and makes a perfect background to a tale of a family affected by war. Charlie Anderson (Stweart) tries to keep his six sons out of the war, but is drawn in when the youngest is mistakenly taken prisoner. The search for that son leads to tragedy, and he ends up losing two sons and a daughter-in-law before it is all over.
The grave scene with his long-dead wife says it all.
Mr Smith may be my favorite Stewart film, but this runs a very close second. The song "Shenandoah" is woven throughout the movie in various stages out loudness and makes a perfect background to a tale of a family affected by war. Charlie Anderson (Stweart) tries to keep his six sons out of the war, but is drawn in when the youngest is mistakenly taken prisoner. The search for that son leads to tragedy, and he ends up losing two sons and a daughter-in-law before it is all over.
The grave scene with his long-dead wife says it all.