Cover of "Shenandoah"

Cover of Shenandoah

The Virginia farmer acted by James Stewart in Shenandoah (1965) has every intention of keeping himself and his family neutral in the War Between The States, but abundant gloom descends after Yankee soldiers make a costly mistake, etc.  It is impossible to buy much of what James Lee Barrett‘s script proffers us, such as a group of Johnny Rebs escaping from Yanks on a wharf (ineptly directed by Andrew V. McLaglen.)  There are some gripping and pleasurable moments, though, just not enough of them.