Original Charge of the Light Brigade Film Production Stills – Set of 66 Photographs Original Items

Original Photos: Only One Set Available. This is a high quality set of 66, 8” x 10” black and white film stills taken during the production of the dramatic 1968 film “THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE” directed by Tony Richardson.

The Charge of the Light Brigade was a charge of British light cavalry led by Lord Cardigan against Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava on 25 October 1854, in the Crimean War. Lord Raglan, overall commander of the British forces, had intended to send the Light Brigade to pursue and harry a retreating Russian artillery battery, a task well-suited to light cavalry. However, due to miscommunication in the chain of command, the Light Brigade was instead sent on a frontal assault against a different artillery battery, one well-prepared with excellent fields of defensive fire.

Although the Light Brigade reached the battery under withering direct fire and scattered some of the gunners, the badly mauled brigade was forced to retreat immediately. Thus, the assault ended with very high British casualties and no decisive gains.

The events are best remembered as the subject of Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s narrative poem “The Charge of the Light Brigade” (1854). Published just six weeks after the event, its lines emphasize the valour of the cavalry in bravely carrying out their orders, regardless of the obvious outcome. Blame for the miscommunication has remained controversial, as the original order itself was vague, and the officer who delivered the written orders, with some verbal interpretation, died in the first minute of the assault. It was also remembered in a 1968 British war film made by Woodfall Film Productions and distributed by United Artists, depicting parts of the Crimean War and the eponymous charge. It was directed by Tony Richardson and produced by Neil Hartley.

The Cast (all photographed)

Trevor Howard as Lord Cardigan

Vanessa Redgrave as Clarissa

John Gielgud as Lord Raglan

Harry Andrews as Lord Lucan

Mark Burns as Captain Morris

Jill Bennett as Mrs. Fanny Duberly

David Hemmings as Captain Nolan

Peter Bowles as Captain Duberly

Mark Dignam as General Airey

Leo Britt as General Scarlett

Howard Marion-Crawford as Sir George Brown

T. P. McKenna as William Howard Russell

Mark Burns as Captain Morris

The set of photographs have portraits of the stars in costume and multiple action shots. At the time, probably one of the greatest action movies of the age, met with great public acclaim.