content: The first time I saw Shenandoah was in 1965, when I was thirteen. I saw it probably 10 times at the theater that year. The concept of a parent wishing the shield his family from the horrors of war, by trying to ignore it, had a great affect upon me. The concept of pacificism was unusual, in a "western" during the early 1960's(changed quickly thereafter, with the Vietnam war). This message combined with the superb acting by James Stewart and a good ensemble cast makes for one of the best of the genre ever. This film should be on everyone's top ten list. It's number one with me. Always has been. Probably will always be.