Jump to content

Journey to Shiloh

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Journey to Shiloh
Directed byWilliam Hale
Screenplay byGene L. Coon
Based onJourney to Shiloh by Will Henry
Produced byHoward Christie
StarringJames Caan
Michael Sarrazin
Brenda Scott
CinematographyEnzo A. Martinelli
Edited byEdward W. Williams
Music byDavid Gates
Color processTechnicolor
Production
company
Universal Pictures
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release dates
  • May 10, 1968 (1968-05-10) (New York City)
  • May 17, 1968 (1968-05-17) (United States)
Running time
101 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Journey to Shiloh is a 1968 American Western adventure film directed by William Hale and starring James Caan, Michael Sarrazin and Brenda Scott.[1][2] The film is based on the novel of the same name by Will Henry first published in 1960.[3]

Plot

[edit]

During the American Civil War, seven young Texans in the Confederate army, the Concho County Comanches, journey to Shiloh, Tennessee where a major battle is about to take place. Along the way they encounter many perilous adventures.[4]

J.C. decides he no longer wants to follow Buck and takes his money and leaves. Buck finds him just as he is shot and killed by card sharks. Buck rejoins the remaining five and takes a stage to Shreveport, Louisiana, on the way picking up a run-away slave. Out of duty they deliver him to the next town's sheriff, only to see him hung on the road out of town, despite promises he would be returned to his owner.

In Shreveport, Buck meets and makes love to Gabrielle DuPrey, but leaves her to lead his men to join the Confederate Army in Richmond, Virginia.

After being forced to join Braxton Bragg's army and joining the Battle of Shiloh, Little Bit Lucket dies of disease. Todo dies gunshot, Eubie Bell dies in a mortar attack and Willie Bill is shot in the head - all but Miller and Buck are killed in the battle or die of wounds. Miller deserts and is shot by a bounty hunter and dies with Buck by his side, trapped in a barn with the army closing in on them. Before Miller dies, he encourages Buck to leave the army, go get the girl he met in Shreveport and return to Texas.

Sgt. Barnes, who had befriended the Texans, convinces Gen. Bragg to allow Buck to return alone back to Texas instead of being shot as a deserter, the last survivor of the seven who set out for Richmond.

Cast

[edit]

Reception

[edit]

Critical reception

[edit]

TV Guide gave it a negative review, scoring it 2/5, and finding it too talky despite a small number of good action scenes; they also found attempts to establish parallels to the Vietnam War did not work.[1] Filmink magazine said "the only interesting thing about the film, which stinks of cheap TV and dodgy craft, is that cast and Caan’s terrible wig."[5]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Journey to Shiloh". TV Guide.
  2. ^ Lisanti, Tom (June 21, 2012). Fantasy Femmes of Sixties Cinema. McFarland. p. 274. ISBN 9781476601168.
  3. ^ Henry, Will (1960). Journey to Shiloh (1st ed.). New York City: Random House. ASIN B000JZGXS4.
  4. ^ Sandra Brennan (2011). "Journey to Shiloh Review". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. New York City. Archived from the original on April 26, 2011. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
  5. ^ Vagg, Stephen (September 27, 2022). "The Stardom of James Caan". Filmink.
[edit]