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 Mention James Stewart or Shenandoah and one automatically thinks of the other. The 1965 movie about a family that gets dragged into the Civil War kicking and screaming is not only a heartfelt drama, but another fine portrayal of Stewart's.
 Being in the wrong place at the wrong time is the only thing the Anderson family has in common with the outbreak of the Civil War on their Shenandoah Valley farm in Virginia. Charlie Anderson (James Stewart) holds his family - seven boys and one daughter - sacred, especially since his wife has been dead for 10 years.
Life at the Anderson's is pretty routine. Everyone has their chores, dinner is the same time every night and everyone attends church on Sunday. One of the most memorable prayers in movies is spoken when Charlie and the family sit down to Sunday dinner.
James Stewart
© Universal Home Video
Looking quite stern as he begins his prayer, Charlie says, "Lord we cleared this land, we plowed it sowed, harvested it and cooked the harvest and it wouldn't be here, we wouldn't be eating if we hadn't done it all ourselves and we worked dog bone hard for every morsel but we thank you anyway Lord for the food we're about to eat."
When the Civil war gets close to their property, politicians from both sides come to Charlie to try to buy his horses or find out which side of the war he's on. Though he owns no slaves, Charlie is taking no sides, and maintains his family will not fight.
Phillip Alford & Gene Jackson © Universal Home Video
One day, however, when "Boy" (Phillip Alford) and his black friend Gabriel (Gene Jackson) are out playing, boy, wearing a rebel hat he found in a stream, gets picked up as a rebel prisoner. The family saddles up to search for Boy, while James' (played very well by John Wayne's son Patrick) wife, Jennie (Rosemary Forsyth) and newborn stay behind.
Charlie, his boys and daughter, Ann (Katharine Ross), rescue her husband Sam (Doug McClure) from a trainload of prisoners but come up short on finding Boy.
Katherine Ross & Doug McClure © Universal Home Video
Among several gut-wrenching speeches comes this line from Charlie when the family goes home without Boy, "If we don't try, we don't do, and if we don't do, why are we here on this earth?"
The drama escalates and throughout the characters fill in the gaps. This certainly isn't one of Jimmy Stewart's best roles, but the man can hardly make a bad movie.
This most recent release of Shenandoah (not remastered) appears on the James Stewart: Screen Legend Collection also including Next Time We Love, You Gotta Stay Happy, Thunder Bay, Shenandoah and The Glenn Miller Story.
Director: Andrew V. McLaglen
Writers: James Stewart, Doug McClure, Glenn Corbett, Patrick Wayne, Rosemary Forsyth, Katherine Ross, Phillip Alford, Charles Robinson
Rating: Not rated
Classic Movie Guide Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
DVD Release - 6/12/07
Run Time: 105 minutes
Studio: Universal Pictures, DVD - Universal Home Video
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