How sad is this?

Best movie ever!

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

Richard Thomas was just right back then; portraying a guy who was scared and ashamed, but too proud to keep running, everything..he got it just right. I think Stephan Crane would appreciate this version better than the 1951 movie.It's confusing enough being that age, then finding yourself in the middle of one of those huge battles- you couldn't pull me away from that TV way back when. It didn't need all of the high tech special effects, Henry Fleming(John boy)and his fellow soldiers brought you into the story as well as the book did. It was a great movie and should be available to high school kids, history buffs, or anybody who enjoys a good flick. But is it available to anyone? I can't find it for sell online anywhere. What a shame. The scene showing fixed bayonets charging, one sticking in a tree trunk accidentally, was artistic license no doubt, but classic! Classic I say! Where are the rerun Gods when you need them? This would be great for my school age son...I'll keep looking.

I have looked and searched, trying to find this movie, there has to be one out there some where, its on TV once and in great while..I would even settle for your own Home Made VHS of this movie. Why cant the release of this movie be retrieved? I once heard it was available as an import, but I still got no results. I remember watching this on cable TV, I think it was The Retro channel, any way, I HAD a copy of this movie on my Cable TV DVR, but my DVR broke and I had to get a new one, I wish I would have remembered to Record this movie, before I turned my DVR back to The Cable Co. Like other Reviewers I keep a watch out for this movie to be shown again. I think your best bet is: The Family Channel. please let me know if you find this movie in any form.

When a movie is based on a novel, I judge the movie in its accuracy of portraying the intention of the novel's author. By far, this 1974 version was much closer to the events found in the text by Stephen Crane. The 1951 version changed the main focus -- the red badge -- into a yellow one. Also, the portrayal of events and the character depiction I feel were more in the tone that Stephen Crane intended in the 1974 (made for TV) version. I teach the novel on the high school level and have to make many more exceptions to the 1951 version than I do the 1974 version when I use the video versions.I must note that the leads in both versions (Murphy and Thomas) did excellent jobs in their portrayal of the main character Fleming. However, the other characters in the 1951 version did not come close to the ensemble group in the 1974 version. As a whole, the 1974 version did a better job in the creation of the mood and situation these men found themselves in the battlefields of the Civil War.

I remember watching this movie on a rainy Saturday afternoon as a kid. It really struck me with its emotive power. Especially notable was one of the battle scenes that was shot adroitly from the young man's point of view, that really made me anxious, as if I were in his place. I would like to see this movie again to see if it is as effective while viewing it as an adult. I always keep an eye out to see if this movie will be shown on late night TV, but it seems as if only the original is ever shown. Does anyone know a way to obtain a copy of this or for that matter any made for TV movies that are not released on video?