Everytime there's a remake I ask the same question.  WHY?  And after I ask that question I always remember that there is a new crop of movie goers who haven't seen the original, therefore, the story gets told again, and to some, for the first time.  Fair enough.  With that in mind, all I ask is that the remake be at least as good as the original, preferably better but AT LEAST as good.  I saw the original sound version (there were three silent versions) when I was a kid and liked it so much that I bought it when it became available on video.  It is a great story and this latest version is a credit to it's predecessors.  Fabulous picture!  It is shot on a grand scale bordering on "epic".  The acting is great, the scenery is beautiful and the story makes us all ask, "WHAT would I do?" 

This is the A. E. W. Mason story of a British officer, Harry Faversham, who, on the eve of being shipped off to war in the Sudan, resigns his commission to stay home with his wife-to- be.  This devastates his friends and fellow officers to the point that they "present" him with the ultimate symbol of cowardice, The White Feather.  In fact, he gets three of them from comrades and one from his fiance'.  He searches his soul, wondering if he is indeed a coward.  What takes place at that point is an amazing story of human will and sheer determination. 

Faversham is played BRILLIANTLY by Heath Ledger (The Patriot...2000 and Monster's Ball...2001), in a role that is basically two people and he is able to make us forget one, while he plays the other.  As good as Ledger was, the picture is stolen by Djimon Hounsou (Amistad...1997 and Gladiator...2000) with his portrayal of Abou, an African "soldier" who befriends Faversham and teaches him not only how to stay alive but how to view real courage.  The other star of this picture was Shekhar Kapur whose direction gave this story the look of grandeur that it had.  The great Zoltan Korda, director of the 1939 version, would be proud.  This is a BIG picture that may not get the attention that it deserves but is definitely a Classic (a term that I rarely use) and reminded me of those pictures from the 30s, 40s and early 50s that were "Hollywood" at its very best. 

"I have no choice, GOD put you in my way!" 

RECOMMENDATION:  Spend the money, beg to be treated or SNEAK IN but see this HUGE picture and be transported in time to the REAL Hollywood!  (I remember it!) 

TWO HUGE, DRY, SANDY AND DETERMINED THUMBS UP!!! 

Movie Review © 2002 by Terry Anderson