From director Tony Richardson (Tom Jones) comes this brilliant retelling of tragic events during the Crimean War. Starring Trevor Howard, Vanessa Redgrave, John Gielgud, and David Hemmings, this epic political satire is an "impressive achievement" (Boxoffice) that will forever be revered as movie making at its best. British Captain Nolan (Hemmings) is a devoted officer disgusted with his commander, Lord Cardigan (Howard). Lord Raglan (Gielgud) is a foolish officer with misguided war strategies and a fading memory. Together, they are sent to Turkey in response to a Russian invasion. Driven by arrogance and ineptitude, they send hundreds of cavalry to certain death in a climax that is both "harrowing [and] magnificent" (Time). Fact from the Vault: Although Tennyson wrote of 600 men in his world-famous poem, "The Charge of the Light Brigade," there were actually 670: director Tony Richardson used 670 horses and men in the final battle scene.
