The following AHA film review was compiled from archival information and documentation and may not reflect AHA's current criteria for animal action review and rating procedures.

Reds is a three and a half hour film that actually contains very little animal action. However, during the filming of one battle scene, two horses were tripped into a forward somersault, which caused severe injury to the animals.

The director of AHA's LA office at that time, Carmelita Pope, contacted the associate producer of the film, who verified that the tripping had occurred. According to the producer, the production's second unit camera crew in Spain—which has few animal welfare laws—had hired a local wrangler who was responsible for tripping the horses. Neither the associate producer nor Warren Beatty was aware that the tripping had occurred until AHA had called it to their attention. Both Paramount Studios and Warren Beatty apologized to AHA and animal lovers for the incident.

The ongoing expansion of the AHA Guidelines for the Safe Use of Animals in Filmed Media has raised the standard of care for animal actors worldwide. In addition, technological advancements have created safe alternatives to risky action, enabling filmmakers to maintain their creative vision without compromising the welfare of animal actors. AHA continues to be a vigilant watchdog for animals in film and television and acknowledges the groundbreaking history of this program while expanding and refining procedures to reflect increased knowledge and new challenges.