Gods and Generals, Glory or Gettysburg (1 Viewer)

[jazzeum]

Rod,

Have you thought about the Ken Burns series. That may be worth picking up.

 

[debrito]

Good morning Brad,

I will check for sure, but I am not sure if they have available here in Canadian-Blockbusters....I know that all of the three movies mentioned are available....

Thanks for the suggest.

Regards

Rod,

Have you thought about the Ken Burns series. That may be worth picking up.

 

[Scott]

Did none of you see or like "The Red Badge of Courage", with Audie Murphy playing the lead? I know it is an older BW film and doesn't have the accuracy aspect that so many of us appreciate, but it is an excellent POV movie of the common soldier and his thought and fears of "seeing the elephant". -- Al

Yes and Yes. Murphy does carry an Enfield in the close ups if I remember correctly. The rest of the kits are 1890s Span-Am gear. Good story and film but the violence was cut somewhat to keep from offending folks during the Korean war era.

 

[UKReb]

Did none of you see or like "The Red Badge of Courage", with Audie Murphy playing the lead? I know it is an older BW film and doesn't have the accuracy aspect that so many of us appreciate, but it is an excellent POV movie of the common soldier and his thought and fears of "seeing the elephant". -- Al

Al
Would have been a much better film if it had not been cut from 128 minutes to 69 minutes. There was a power struggle going on at MGM between Mayer and Schary. Mayer refused to release it over "his dead body". Huston then enquired that if he could find a part for Esther Williams (most successful MGM star in 1950/51) swimming in a lake in the forest would Mayer re-consider releasing it. Mayer exploded and swore he would burn the film-he really was a nasty piece of work.

Two months later Mayer was sacked from MGM but the damage was done as Huston's movie had been hacked to pieces and Mayer had ordered the editor to destroy all the scenes that were cut from the original shoot. A real shame that as Huston always stated that it was the best film he ever made.

As an aside the first action of the film where the youth runs away(although not mentioned in Crane's novel) was based on the Battle of Chancellorsville.

Bob

 

[Nooooo9]

Thats funny about Ester Williams. They made her swim in every movie, regardless if it made sense with the storyline or not. They also had her sing "Baby it's cold outside" with Ricardo Monteban in a film set in Southern California, where it hasn't snowed for years. As for Civil War movies, as much as I like Cold Mountain and Glory, Gettysburg is tops for pure storytelling. It does suffer a bit from the fact that is was meant to be a TV show and the violence is toned down a bit. It is a little bloodless and antiseptic compared with the realism that we see in films these days. I also didn't buy Martin Sheen as Robert E Lee. I've nothing against his acting, but he doesn't look like the guy. One last thing, I remember one of the film critics wrote when the film was released "It looks like General Longstreet bought his beard at Woolworths".^&grin

 

[lancer]

Al
Would have been a much better film if it had not been cut from 128 minutes to 69 minutes. There was a power struggle going on at MGM between Mayer and Schary. Mayer refused to release it over "his dead body". Huston then enquired that if he could find a part for Esther Williams (most successful MGM star in 1950/51) swimming in a lake in the forest would Mayer re-consider releasing it. Mayer exploded and swore he would burn the film-he really was a nasty piece of work.

Two months later Mayer was sacked from MGM but the damage was done as Huston's movie had been hacked to pieces and Mayer had ordered the editor to destroy all the scenes that were cut from the original shoot. A real shame that as Huston always stated that it was the best film he ever made.

As an aside the first action of the film where the youth runs away(although not mentioned in Crane's novel) was based on the Battle of Chancellorsville.

Bob

I had read or heard somewhere that the film had been hacked up and severely shortened but never knew the reasons. A real shame as I liked the film, as is, quite a bit. Thanks for the insight. -- Al

 

[lancer]

Yes and Yes. Murphy does carry an Enfield in the close ups if I remember correctly. The rest of the kits are 1890s Span-Am gear. Good story and film but the violence was cut somewhat to keep from offending folks during the Korean war era.

Don't remember the equipment inaccuracies as I am not an ACW uniform era expert. I just assumed that there would be because that is what Hollywood does so well.:rolleyes2: I am much better with WW1 or 2.:wink2: Thought Audie did a very credible job with his part. -- Al

 

[Scott]

Don't remember the equipment inaccuracies as I am not an ACW uniform era expert. I just assumed that there would be because that is what Hollywood does so well.:rolleyes2: I am much better with WW1 or 2.:wink2: Thought Audie did a very credible job with his part. -- Al

The lucky thing is that Audie Murphy could act and had that "youth" look. He also had an audience already rooting for him as an actual hero. There must have been tons of Span-Am and Indian Wars gear around including the 45-70 "Trapdoor" Springfield (I have one) that has the side hammer and "looks" Civil War-ish. I have seen bins of trapdoors adapted to look like Arab Muskets, pistols, and flintlocks in an L.A. prop shop. The blue dress uniforms from the late 1800s make Union uniforms for movies.

If you roll your eyes about Hollywood, remember that it is a company town, based on a meritocracy, and is an American industry that still exports product.

 

[Terp152]

Throw in Raintree County and The Horse Soldiers for context.

Never tire of the charge over the bridge at the end of Horse Soldiers. Uniforms were not accurate but a great movie nonetheless. Holden and Wayne were at the top of their form.

Saw Gods and Generals on sale for $4 today but passed it up. Chris

 

[Scott]

Never tire of the charge over the bridge at the end of Horse Soldiers. Uniforms were not accurate but a great movie nonetheless. Holden and Wayne were at the top of their form.

Saw Gods and Generals on sale for $4 today but passed it up. Chris

The Wayne movie makers knew that audiences also wanted a little love interest and maybe some T & A as in Wayne's non-cavalry westerns AND The Horse Soldiers. Wayne's movies also gave jobs to some minorities even if stereotyped. Lukie, the maid was the black tennis star Althea Gibson.

 

[Fubar]

Glory is by far the best movie in my book.A few tiny inaccuracies but by far the most compelling. Gettysburg is great simply because of the vast amount of reenactors{ too many LOOK like reenactors}available for Pickett's charge and of course the grand battery.Still a very dramatic and moving film.Just always had a TV movie of the week feel to it .
Gods and generals was simply GAWD Awful.

Red Badge of Courage , Yup a darn good old movie despite the incorrect packs, gear and trapdoor rifles.

Take a look at " WICKED SPRING"
Not a great movie but the troops / reenactors in it really impressed me.
FUb

 

[Warrior]

Saw Gods and Generals on sale for $4 today but passed it up. Chris

It's overpriced by 3.00...............

 

[lancer]

It's overpriced by 3.00...............

LOL. I don't know George, that USO sing-a-long was worth the price of admission, all alone.:rolleyes2: And where else could one witness Jeff Daniels quoting Shakespeare?{eek3} -- Al

 

[Warrior]

LOL. I don't know George, that USO sing-a-long was worth the price of admission, all alone.:rolleyes2: And where else could one witness Jeff Daniels quoting Shakespeare?{eek3} -- Al

What about the scene where the two soldiers met halfway across the stream and just stood there..........beyond weird................ok, I'd pay a buck to see the Fredericksburg battle again, I thought it was well done.

My only beef with Gettysburg was how sterile the battle scenes were, ie, tame compared to say SPR or The Pacific or Band of Brothers, it had a "TV movie of the week" feel to it.....probably because initially, it was going to be a miniseries on TV until Turner pumped a ton of dough into it to bring it to the big screen...............

 

[mk26gmls]

My favorite movie of the three is Gettysburg. Then Glory and last God and Generals.

On Father's Day, my wife gave me the extended edition Blu-ray versions of Gettysburg and Gods & Generals. I started off with G&G because they added an hour of footage to the film. I am about halfway through and the changes really made the film much better than I remember. Antietam was finally included though I didn't see Burnside's bridge. Lots more footage so far on the 20th Maine. Plus, John Wilkes Booth is in the movie now and you can see the guy morphing into the killer he would become. Still, Gettysburg and Glory are much better movies, but I really like the changes to this film.

I hope to watch Gettysburg with the added footage in the next week.

 

[Eazy]

My favorite movie of the three is Gettysburg. Then Glory and last God and Generals.

On Father's Day, my wife gave me the extended edition Blu-ray versions of Gettysburg and Gods & Generals. I started off with G&G because they added an hour of footage to the film. I am about halfway through and the changes really made the film much better than I remember. Antietam was finally included though I didn't see Burnside's bridge. Lots more footage so far on the 20th Maine. Plus, John Wilkes Booth is in the movie now and you can see the guy morphing into the killer he would become. Still, Gettysburg and Glory are much better movies, but I really like the changes to this film.

I hope to watch Gettysburg with the added footage in the next week.

Didnt realise there was an extended version of Gettysburg. How much extra is added?

I've seen Gettsburg a number of times over the years - even bought it on VHS and DVD so if an extended blu ray comes out i'll be there for it too i'm sure.

For those that know these things i remeber the first time I watched Gettsburg - it may have been on TV - i'm pretty sure it was edited differently. I seem to remember the first part ended on a cliff hanger in the middle of the Little Round Top fight. From memory it really worked in a dramatic sense.

 

[Ragnar]

Glory has much better production values but its something i could only watch every few years.
Gettysburg on the other hand gee how many times have i played that??.
Its just great to have on in the background if im on the net or painting toysoldiers.
I dont even notice the fake beards anymore oh and if the missus aint around i crank up the volume when the Confederate Battery gets going {sm4}

 

[mk26gmls]

Didnt realise there was an extended version of Gettysburg. How much extra is added?

I've seen Gettsburg a number of times over the years - even bought it on VHS and DVD so if an extended blu ray comes out i'll be there for it too i'm sure.

For those that know these things i remeber the first time I watched Gettsburg - it may have been on TV - i'm pretty sure it was edited differently. I seem to remember the first part ended on a cliff hanger in the middle of the Little Round Top fight. From memory it really worked in a dramatic sense.

Gettysburg has about 20 minutes of extra footage in the new Blu-ray release. I am looking forward to watching it.

 

[Warrior]

I seem to remember the first part ended on a cliff hanger in the middle of the Little Round Top fight. From memory it really worked in a dramatic sense.

You have an excellent memory; that is actually where the intermission was during the theatrical release, right smack dab in the middle of the LRT scene, talk about your classic cliffhanger......"Ok everyone, run to the mens room and get some popcorn on the way back (after washing your hands and courtesy flushing twice as well) and we'll pick right up where we left you hanging".......................

 

[Eazy]

You have an excellent memory; that is actually where the intermission was during the theatrical release, right smack dab in the middle of the LRT scene, talk about your classic cliffhanger......"Ok everyone, run to the mens room and get some popcorn on the way back (after washing your hands and courtesy flushing twice as well) and we'll pick right up where we left you hanging".......................

I'm really glad you remember that version too. I was starting to think I'd imagined it! As you say it really was a classic cliffhanger!