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The Red Badge of Courage 1951

Runtime

69 mins

Language

English

English

Stephen Crane’s classic tale follows Henry Fleming, a raw Union recruit who flees his unit’s first Civil War battle in terror. After learning the Union actually won, his shame drives him to falsely claim he was wounded. When his regiment is ordered to charge, Henry confronts his fear, fighting bravely to redeem himself.

Stephen Crane’s classic tale follows Henry Fleming, a raw Union recruit who flees his unit’s first Civil War battle in terror. After learning the Union actually won, his shame drives him to falsely claim he was wounded. When his regiment is ordered to charge, Henry confronts his fear, fighting bravely to redeem himself.

Does The Red Badge of Courage have end credit scenes?

No!

The Red Badge of Courage does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.

Meet the Full Cast and Actors of The Red Badge of Courage

Explore the complete cast of The Red Badge of Courage, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.


John Huston

John Huston

Grizzled Union Veteran (uncredited)

Andy Devine

Andy Devine

The Cheery Soldier

Strother Martin

Strother Martin

Corporal (voice) (uncredited)

Royal Dano

Royal Dano

The Tattered Man

Whit Bissell

Whit Bissell

Wounded Officer (uncredited)

John Crawford

John Crawford

Soldier (uncredited)

William Phipps

William Phipps

Officer (uncredited)

William Schallert

William Schallert

Union Soldier (uncredited)

Don Anderson

Don Anderson

Soldier (uncredited)

Douglas Dick

Douglas Dick

The Lieutenant

Robert Nichols

Robert Nichols

Fat Union Soldier (uncredited)

Dick Curtis

Dick Curtis

Veteran (uncredited)

Arthur Hunnicutt

Arthur Hunnicutt

Bill Porter

James Whitmore

James Whitmore

Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

James Harrison

James Harrison

General's Aide (uncredited)

David Clarke

David Clarke

Corporal by Campfire (uncredited)

Robert Easton

Robert Easton

Thompson

Glenn Strange

Glenn Strange

Colonel (uncredited)

Jim Hayward

Jim Hayward

Soldier (uncredited)

Robert Board

Robert Board

Soldier (uncredited)

William Roberts

William Roberts

Soldier (uncredited)

Arthur Tovey

Arthur Tovey

Soldier (uncredited)

Albert Band

Albert Band

Union Soldier Fording River (uncredited)

Dan White

Dan White

Sergeant (uncredited)

John Dierkes

John Dierkes

Jim Conklin - the Tall Soldier

Todd Karns

Todd Karns

Soldier (uncredited)

Lee Roberts

Lee Roberts

Union Soldier (uncredited)

George Offerman, Jr.

George Offerman, Jr.

Union Soldier (uncredited)

Norman Leavitt

Norman Leavitt

Union Soldier (uncredited)

Duke York

Duke York

Veteran (uncredited)

Gregg Barton

Gregg Barton

Soldier (uncredited)

Chet Brandenburg

Chet Brandenburg

Wounded Soldier (uncredited)

James Dime

James Dime

Stretcher Bearer (uncredited)

Guy Wilkerson

Guy Wilkerson

Veteran (uncredited)

Frank Sully

Frank Sully

Veteran (uncredited)

Buddy Roosevelt

Buddy Roosevelt

Veteran (uncredited)

House Peters Jr.

House Peters Jr.

Passing Soldier - Veteran (uncredited)

Shep Houghton

Shep Houghton

Union Soldier (uncredited)

Jimmy Clark

Jimmy Clark

Stevens (uncredited)

Audie Murphy

Audie Murphy

The Youth

I. Stanford Jolley

I. Stanford Jolley

Veteran (uncredited)

John Cliff

John Cliff

Soldier (uncredited)

James Dobson

James Dobson

Soldier (uncredited)

John Piffle

John Piffle

Confederate Soldier (uncredited)

Wilson Wood

Wilson Wood

Union Soldier (uncredited)

Mack Chandler

Mack Chandler

Veteran (uncredited)

Dennis Dengate

Dennis Dengate

Lieutenant (uncredited)

Billy Dix

Billy Dix

Soldier (uncredited)

Casey MacGregor

Casey MacGregor

Veteran (uncredited)

Mickey Simpson

Mickey Simpson

Veteran (uncredited)

Frank Melton

Frank Melton

Confederate Soldier (uncredited)

Bob Davis

Bob Davis

Confederate Soldier (uncredited)

Cliff Lyons

Cliff Lyons

Soldier (uncredited)

Joe Haworth

Joe Haworth

Soldier (uncredited)

Robert Cherry

Robert Cherry

Singing Soldier (uncredited)

Lou Nova

Lou Nova

Veteran (uncredited)

Fred Kohler Jr.

Fred Kohler Jr.

Veteran (uncredited)

Benny Burt

Benny Burt

Union Soldier (uncredited)

Emmett Lynn

Emmett Lynn

Jake - Veteran (uncredited)

Bill Hale

Bill Hale

Confederate Soldier (uncredited)

Frank McGrath

Frank McGrath

Captain (uncredited)

Dick Haynes

Dick Haynes

Confederate Soldier (uncredited)

Joel Marston

Joel Marston

Union Soldier (uncredited)

Lynn Farr

Lynn Farr

Confederate Soldier (uncredited)

Bert Davidson

Bert Davidson

Union Soldier (uncredited)

Gene Garrick

Gene Garrick

Soldier (uncredited)

Allen O'Locklin

Allen O'Locklin

Union Soldier (uncredited)

Ed Hinton

Ed Hinton

Corporal (uncredited)

Joe Brown Jr.

Joe Brown Jr.

Soldier (uncredited)

Bill Mauldin

Bill Mauldin

The Loud Soldier

Tim Durant

Tim Durant

The General

Smith Ballew

Smith Ballew

Union Captain (uncredited)

Edwin Breen

Edwin Breen

Confederate Flag Bearer (uncredited)

Robert Cavendish

Robert Cavendish

Wounded Soldier (uncredited)

Lyle Clark

Lyle Clark

Union Soldier (uncredited)

Gloria Eaton

Gloria Eaton

Southern Woman at Farm (uncredited)

William Grueneberg

William Grueneberg

Union Soldier (uncredited)

Tennessee Jim

Tennessee Jim

Confederate Soldier (uncredited)

Norman Kent

Norman Kent

Veteran (uncredited)

Herb Latimer

Herb Latimer

Corporal (uncredited)

Ivan Parry

Ivan Parry

Soldier (uncredited)

Obed 'Bubb' Pickard Jr.

Obed 'Bubb' Pickard Jr.

Confederate Soldier (uncredited)

Dixon Porter

Dixon Porter

Union Army Lieutenant (uncredited)

Hugh Thomas Jr

Hugh Thomas Jr

Soldier (uncredited)

Take the Ultimate The Red Badge of Courage Movie Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of The Red Badge of Courage with this fun and interactive movie quiz. Test yourself on key plot points, iconic characters, hidden details, and memorable moments to see how well you really know the film.


The Red Badge of Courage (1951) Quiz: Test your knowledge of the 1951 film starring Audie Murphy as Henry Fleming, set during the Civil War and following the trials of the 304th New York Infantry.

Which actor portrays the protagonist, Henry Fleming?

Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for The Red Badge of Courage

See more

Read the complete plot summary of The Red Badge of Courage, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.


Audie Murphy stars as Henry Fleming, a young Union private who insists he isn’t afraid of dying. In 1862, the 304th New York Infantry is camped near the Rappahannock River in Virginia, waiting for orders to move upriver and engage a formidable Confederate force. While on sentry duty, Henry exchanges tense words with a hidden Confederate across the river who warns him to watch for the “red badge”—a battle wound that could mark his fate.

As the regiment advances, Henry’s resolve wavers. The march forward is marked by a growing anxiety as the hour of battle nears, and his friend Tom Wilson urges him to steel himself. The troops push ahead with a confident exterior, but Henry’s fear proves to be a heavier burden than he expected, and he deserts when the clash erupts. He later learns his unit won the engagement, yet the prospect of returning home is shadowed by the fear of derision.

Back among his comrades, Henry slips back into the march and longs for a genuine sign of courage—the so‑called red badge. The Tall Soldier Jim Conklin John Dierkes, a stoic presence among the men, is driven to delirium by his injuries and dies from blood loss, a brutal reminder of war’s toll.

In another moment of chaos, Henry becomes separated during a panic‑stricken retreat. A fellow soldier panics, and Henry tries to calm him but is knocked unconscious by a blow from a rifle stock. He wakes to find himself reunited with those who remained and fabricates a head injury to Tom, hoping his absence won’t be noticed and that he can slip back into the ranks without judgment.

The regiment is pressed back into action, and Henry experiences a surge of renewed fervor as he charges toward the Confederate lines before being ordered back into formation. While the men fetch water at a creek, they overhear a General plotting to sacrifice the 304th in a suicide attack. They report the plan, yet the troops decide to fight on, bound by duty and courage. Amid the smoke and the casualties, Henry seizes the flag after the color sergeant falls and attempts to rally his comrades. He even encounters the Confederate flag bearer, who falls, leaving Henry momentarily holding both banners as the 304th gains the upper hand.

A fellow soldier reveals that officers had praised Henry’s bravery, a praise that rings hollow to him. He confesses to Tom that he deserted the day before, and Tom admits he deserted too but was caught and forced back into battle. The 304th presses on, and Henry’s thoughts drift toward a future where peace might be possible, tempered by the hard lessons learned on the field.

Uncover the Details: Timeline, Characters, Themes, and Beyond!

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The Red Badge of Courage Themes and Keywords

Discover the central themes, ideas, and keywords that define the movie’s story, tone, and message. Analyze the film’s deeper meanings, genre influences, and recurring concepts.


saberriflemilitary desertionpow prisoner of war1860snarrationgeneralheroismmilitary officerviolencebraverywar violenceyear 1862huston and murphybegins with voice over narrationcivil warcouragebattlesoldierfearunion soldieroil lampwoundriver crossingcap and ball revolverhorse and wagoncanteengravecampfirewoodslancercorpsetentcovered wagonrumorsentryletterfife and drumencampmentmilitarycombatbayonetbehind enemy linesstabbed with a bayonetvictoryretreatsword fightmusketcavalryinfantry

The Red Badge of Courage Other Names and Titles

Explore the various alternative titles, translations, and other names used for The Red Badge of Courage across different regions and languages. Understand how the film is marketed and recognized worldwide.


A Glória de um Covarde La prova del fuoco La Charge victorieuse Die rote Tapferkeitsmedaille Medalla roja al valor 铁骑雄师 Ung soldat

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