Journey to Shiloh *** (1968, James Caan, Michael Sarrazin, Brenda Scott, Don Stroud, Paul Petersen, Michael Burns, Jan-Michael Vincent, Harrison Ford) – Classic Movie Review 8615

Journey to Shiloh was made by Universal Pictures, looking for Sixties youth appeal, but they threw it away as a support feature in May 1968. Yet, with its iconic actors, it retains its appeal, and James Caan as Buck Burnette is a decisively strong presence among the young men going to war.

Director William Hale’s 1968 American Western film Journey to Shiloh tells of the trials and tribulations of seven youngster friends from Texas who ride cross country as The Concho County Comanches, to join the Confederate army in a major battle in Shiloh, Tennessee, during the American Civil War.

The intriguing, ambitious, Vietnam-echoing Civil War Western adventure tale, based on Heck Allen [Will Henry]’s 1960 novel Journey to Shiloh, does not quite get the film it deserves because the acting, script and direction are not always quite incisive enough, though they are still good and solid.

Only James Caan as Buck Burnette can really cut it as a decisively strong presence among the young men going to war, yet Michael Sarrazin, Don Stroud, Jan-Michael Vincent and Harrison Ford still make an impression, and there are esteemed old-timers Noah Beery Jr, Rex Ingram (in his final film) and John Doucette to help out too.

Journey to Shiloh was made by Universal Pictures, looking for Sixties youth appeal, but kind of thrown away as they put it out on release as a support feature on 17 May 1968. But there, with its youth audience, with its handsome youngsters, solid action, potent war atmosphere and involving storyline, it was deservedly appreciated. With its iconic actors, it retains its interest and appeal. It is the Young Guns of its day.

Michael Sarrazin (1940–2011).

Also in the cast are Michael Sarrazin, Brenda Scott, Don Stroud, Paul Petersen, Michael Burns, Jan-Michael Vincent, Harrison Ford, James Gammon, Tisha Sterling, Brian Avery, Myron Healey, Robert Pine, Sean Kennedy, Clarke Gordon, Wesley Lau, Chet Stratton, Bing Russell, Lane Bradford, Charles Lampkin, Eileen Wesson and Albert Popwell.

Journey to Shiloh is directed by William Hale, runs 101 minutes, is made and distributed by Universal Pictures, is written by Gene L Coon, based on Heck Allen [Will Henry]’s novel, is shot in Technicolor and widescreen by Enzio A Martinelli, is produced by Howard Christie and is scored by David Gates.

James Gammon (April 20, 1940 – July 16, 2010).

Michael Sarrazin (May 22, 1940 – April 17, 2011).

Jan-Michael Vincent (July 15, 1944 – February 10, 2019).

James Caan (March 26, 1940 – July 6, 2022).

The cast are James Caan as Buck Burnett, Michael Sarrazin as Miller Nalls, Brenda Scott as Gabrielle DuPrey, Don Stroud as Todo McLean, Paul Petersen as J C Sutton, Michael Burns as Eubie Bell, Jan-Michael Vincent as ‘Little Bit’ Lucket, Harrison Ford as Willie Bill Bearden, John Doucette as General Braxton Bragg, Noah Beery Jr as 1st Sergeant Mercer Barnes, Tisha Sterling as Airybelle Sumner, James Gammon as Tellis Yeager, Brian Avery as Carter Claiborne, Clarke Gordon as Colonel Mirabeau Cooney, Robert Pine as Collins, Sean Kennedy as Curtis Claiborne, Wesley Lau as Colonel Boykin, Chet Stratton as Mr Claiborne, Bing Russell as Greybeard, Lane Bradford as Case Pettibone, Rex Ingram as Jacob, Charles Lampkin as Edward, Myron Healey as Sheriff Briggs, Eileen Wesson as Ella Newsome, and Albert Popwell as Samuel.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8615

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Jan-Michael Vincent (1945–2019).