Best Civil War films (or rather, the lack thereof)...

[WoodenNutmeg]

Re: Best Civil War films (or rather, the lack thereof)...

Can we close this thread already? If the site is limited on space, this sure is a waste of it.

Well, I wouldn't say it's a waste, but it certainly has been played out.

[BishopLynch]

Re: Best Civil War films (or rather, the lack thereof)...

Can we close this thread already? If the site is limited on space, this sure is a waste of it.

[vamick]

Re: Best Civil War films (or rather, the lack thereof)...

heres a National Geo article on 'Gangs of New York" that down plays some of the movie violence...maybe a lil too much! truth is often found 'between positions'

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/03/0320_030320_oscars_gangs.html

I did read somewhere that 'Hell Cat Mary' was a real woman who did use gloves with metal claws, but I havent found the 'scholarly work' on that yet
wether the folks living in 'The Points' were as demented as the movie, or a bit calmer as in the article, I sure wouldnt have wanted to live there!

[LWhite64]

Re: Best Civil War films (or rather, the lack thereof)...

"4) What's up with that girl that has claws, anyway? ("Huh?!?" part two)"

Dont know about the claws, but dont rule out some crazy stuff in the inner cities of that time, in New Orleans there was an infamous prostitute by the name of "Bricktop" Jackson, she had red hair by the way, who was married for a time to a fellow who had his lower right arm amputated and then had it capped with a metal plate to which a length of chain and a ball was added. Sounds like something from a Marvel comic...ironically Bricktop murdered him.

Lee

[Johnny Lloyd]

Re: Best Civil War films (or rather, the lack thereof)...

Speaking of "Civil War Films":

"Gangs of New York" is pretty entertaining, I feel. It is about a very overlooked time/place in American history-New York during the Irish Draft Riots of 1863. No way near historically accurate, though... "sorta accurate" don't cut it.

About the movie I don't readily understand:

1)Why the Federal Navy would bombard New York during the Irish Draft Riots of Summer 1863? Not in anything have I
read did this happen during the riots. Seems like a fire in New York would make things way worse, not better.

2)How accurate the soundtrack to the movie is... "Durgun Chugaa" is from a nomadic people of Central Asia- how'd it get
to New York City 1863? Heck of a land/boat ride if it did. People from Coastal China, I can understand... but
thousands of miles inland?

3) The bar Bill/Amsterdam hang-out in has what looks to be a tree's roots growing in it. Huh?!? That threw me way off...

4) What's up with that girl that has claws, anyway? ("Huh?!?" part two)

I liked about the movie:

1) Seeing the two historical characters: William "Boss" Tweed and Horace Greeley. "Bill the Butcher" was LOOSELY based
on a real, historical character.

2) The Abolitionist play where the actor playing Abraham Lincoln was left suspended above the stage, all the while a fight broke out among the audience shouting- "Down with the Union!" Too funny, but New York was heavily Democratic during the 1860s (and still is really) and was mostly opposed to Abraham Lincoln because he was a National Republican. I'd look upon this scene as being quite realistic for the period.

3) Seeing the Irish immigrants on the dock in New York signing their citizenship papers ALONG WITH their draft papers into the Union Army. Wow... helluva life to escape starvation in Ireland, come to America to start over if you survived combat. Well, I think that was quite realistic also. Coffins were being unloaded while the ships were being loaded with fresh recruits.

"We're going to Tennessee."
"Where is that?"
"Don't know..."

Truly sad Americans would, and did, actually do that kind-of-thing to one-another...

4) Seeing a well-to-do 1863-era Fifth Avenue/omnibus/rich man's house... Good concept of what material culture might have looked like back then.

5) Tweed's privately-owned "Americus Fire Brigade" rob a man's house while it was on fire... I have read that this actually happened- along with intentional arson scams so that the victim would have to pay the fee to save his house. Crazy.

6) I liked seeing a realistic portrayal of the Five Points ghetto in the 1860s... dirt roads, filth everywhere, homeless/drifters, and water carts watering down the dirt roads to keep the dust down. Neat... the "good ol' days" were sometimes not so good.

Good movie, even if it is a little too Hollyweird-ish... Johnny Lloyd

[Southernlady1862]

Re: Best Civil War films (or rather, the lack thereof)...

If you have Gettysburg on DVD go to the special features and watch "the making of Gettysburg" . It delves deeper into the History, interviews many re-enactors (yeah, they're farbs, but wasn't that even more common in the 90's? ) and is much more interesting than the movie.

[PvtHull48thovi]

Re: Best Civil War films (or rather, the lack thereof)...

Wicked Spring is a great fil showing the comradery that men can form in a few short hours, no matter what the color of their uniform. I personally think that it hits home more than some of the other Civil War films. It doesnt just tell the story of some big battle or a unit, but instead tell the stories of the men who were in those battles.

Platoon is indeed the best for Veitnam and Apocolypse Now is a very close second.

For WW2 I have to say that Band of Brothers, Saving Private Ryan, Battle Ground and The Thin Red Line are by far the best.

[1stMaine]

Re: Best Civil War films (or rather, the lack thereof)...

Fellers,

For anyone who subscribes to NETFLIX, there are several excellent early films based upon the Civil War, which often used veterans as "advisors". There is one very pognant one, the name of which at the moment escapes me, about an aging veteran and his grand-daughter. It is quite well shot, and the story rings very true, even today. In fact, it could be redone with the same storyline in about any era and still work very well.

Also available are newsreels featuring GAR and UCV veterans in parades, at ceremonies, and a few ransom shots. One excellent clip which also plays at the Museum in Harrisburg, shows someone handing a mucket to an old federal soldier. That old guy rips into the manual of arms and doesn't miss a beat, even after all those years!

If you have a NETFLIX subscription, and a little time, it's worth it to locate and watch these films.

[Barry Jurek]

Re: Best Civil War films (or rather, the lack thereof)...

I enjoyed Glory. Probably because I knew someone who was an extra in the film, and it came out around the time I first got into reenacting.

I like parts of Gettysburg; mostly the Buford stuff and Little Round top. Interestingly enough my wife (who knows next to nothing about the Civil War) pointed out the Confederate drummer boys playing drums with Remo drumheads.

"The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" was good just for pure novelty value.:D

[jake.koch]

Re: Best Civil War films (or rather, the lack thereof)...

Has anyone noticed that in North and South the photos they have of each other, such as the one Patrick Swayze's mom has of him on her dresser, are all modern black and white sepia photos. I think they were all head and shoulder shots, nothing like the original photos.

I think my favorites are the new Occurence at Owl Creek, and Ride with the Devil. The most enjoyful unauthentic movie has Ronald Reagan. I think it might be called either The Last Outpost, or Cavalry Charge. It has Rebs and Feds fighting Apaches together with the Authenticity you would expect from 1952, but still a fun movie.


Jake

[guad42]

Re: Best Civil War films (or rather, the lack thereof)...

I have seen Journey to Shiloh, it appears on the "Westerns Channel" from time to time.

The trouble with CW movies now is the politics of our times, and the politics of both the industry and the "historical media" industry.

Its an extremely hard sell these days to get a balanced portrayal of the Civil War, particularly from the Southern view. The general audience has adopted thier own modern views on the CW as a conflict of Good versus Evil, and this is particularly the case on the two coasts - where the money for most mainstream production comes from.

(I experienced a Good Versus Evil moment when a youngster asked me and others what color the "good guys" wore in the CW at a public event)

If you think about it, two of the more recent CW movies (RWD and Cold Mountain) both had Southern protagonists with ambiguous politics and opinions - and this seems to be the situation with any newer (1990s - 2000s) movies dealing with the CW or post CW era - and this could include some of the already mentioned "Selleck" films from TNT.

We may never get that great Shiloh or Antietam film that all of us think about, and a few probably dream about - but we will probably get more and more PC or non-commital Southern portrayals in years to come.

Sam Dolan

[militiaman1835]

Re: Best Civil War films (or rather, the lack thereof)...

Anyone remember the 1960's film JOURNEY TO SHILOH..starred a young James Caan and every young actor from 60's shows. Also take a look at HEARTS IN BONDAGE a 1940's film on the Montor & Virginia. SMITHSONIANS GREAT BATTLES OF THE CIVIL WAR three discs. All except JOURNEY are available from blockbuster online along with GHOST BRIGADE.....Jim Hensley

[csabugler]

Re: Best Civil War films (or rather, the lack thereof)...

It's post war and sorta off topic, but I giggled thru "3:10 to yuma" last night. One of the main bad guys looks like he's wearing a leather frock. Maximus, I mean Ben Wade, wears a hat that is prominant and questionable. The hero has a Spencer carbine, but seldom ever uses it.

[Pvt.Tyler]

Re: Best Civil War films (or rather, the lack thereof)...

One thing about "Glory" , that many people may not Know is when Morgan Freeman is talking to the slave children when the 54th is marching down the road by the plantations the kids wave to them. If you look closely at on kid and pause it when their hands are up, one kid is wearing a digital watch
Tyler McHone

[ArtilleryNick]

Re: Best Civil War films (or rather, the lack thereof)...

I personally select a scene from the movie "Gettysburg" to top my list... July 3rd, the massive artillery barrage. Watch that on DVD with the surround sound turned to a level to just below that which will shake windows, and it's all good