American Civil War Game Club (ACWGC)

http://www.history.com/shows/gettysburg

The History Channel is presenting a new documentary on Gettysburg on May 30th. It is being produced by Ridley Scott so I'm thinking it should be very well done. Check out the link for more info and a video peek.

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General Mark Nelms

3/2/XX/AoC "Blackhawk Brigade"

Union Military Academy Instructor

Thanks.

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General Ernie Sands
President ACWGC -Sept 2015- Dec 2020
7th Brigade, 1st Division, XVI Corps, AoT
ACWGC Records Site Admin

"If you do not know where you are going, any road will take you there."

Thanks,
That will definitely go on my calendar. Ridley Scott is a master of realistic
battlefield reenactments, this will be a must see and maybe something to
download and purchase for repeated viewings.

I am curious about the authenticity.

Their press release states:
"In collaboration with highly esteemed Civil War historians, HISTORY combed
through hundreds of individual accounts of the battle to find the unique
voices of struggle, defeat and triumph that tell the larger story of a
bitterly conflicted nation. "

I inquired about the "highly esteemed historians" to their marketing campaign people, but no one could get me a response even though they wanted me to post about it on my website and have Gerry mention it on Civil War Talk Radio.

Of course, that doesn't mean we won't watch it!

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1st Lt. Mark Gaff
Pennsylvania
Army of the Potomac
First Brigade/Second Division/I Corps


Webmaster of the Official Civil War Talk Radio website, Impediments of War; A Compendium of Civil War Talk Radio at http://www.impedimentsofwar.org/

It's hard to tell. I suspect they will follow the pack that thinks Longstreet had visions of WW I and Lee didn't know what he was doing. But I will watch it anyway because there is so little on the Civil War you have to take what you can get.

I did watch some of the video clips they had links too which I am not sure are part of the actual show or not. But some of them like the one on strategy made you wonder if they even read the "Civil War for Dummies" book.

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General Kennon Whitehead
Chatham Grays
AoT II/1/3 (CSA)

I'm not sure I would point to Ridley Scott as an enactor of historical events. His Higgins Boats in "Robin Hood" were too much and the real bombardment of Jerusalem in "Kingdom of Heaven" probably wasn't that spectacular. However, I suspect the production values will be high and that the uniforms would be authentic.

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Gen. Drex Ringbloom,
AotS ,Commanding

Once, dear Lord, can Hollywood make a movie where we Rebs actually win! If I have to sit through another overly dramatic Gettysburg love-fest I may puke. I sometimes wonder if thats the only battle that anyone has ever heard of west of the Mississippi. The Civil War has so many wonderful stories and personalities yet all we seem to do is celebrate the 20th Maine, John Buford, and the defeat of Lee on July 3.

Honestly, its May, why not make a movie on Chancellorsville?! Or, come July, a film on Bull Run? Nope. They are trotting out that old stand by Gettysburg again. We all know the storylines, we watched them in the TNT version, we have read them in books, there is no new angle on this battle that hasnt been written and filmed a dozen times. Stop beating the dead horse and move on to a new era of the Civil War, Hollywood. Give Gettysburg a rest and entertain us with other battles and stories from a war that actually did span four years - not just three days.

Sorry, had to vent

I would like to see Gettysburg filmed in three parts, one per each day since there is so much to tell. Chickamauga might be a good subject, centering on Thomas ,of course. As for the Rebs, who wants to film the losing side? Wait a minute, how about "Gone with the Wind"? That's all about the Rebs.

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Gen. Drex Ringbloom,
AotS ,Commanding

Gone with the Wind? Yeah, Atlanta burning.... starving women and children.... yay for us

You haven't seen "God and Generals" then? Both battles, as well as Fredricksburg are showcased in that film. All Rebel victories IIRC.

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General Philip A. Roubaud
Army of the Potomac
Commanding General
United States of America

"Forward! For God's sake, forward!"

I just never cared much for that movie to be honest. Gettysburg was better done as were films like Glory and even Cold Mountain.

A Grant vs. Lee miniseries could really be interesting!

Blake,

Now that you mention Grant vs Lee I see that the History Channel has something on about them on Tuesday night.

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Brigadier General Dale Lastowicka
2nd Brigade
Hindman's Division
Stewart's Corps
Army of Tennessee
Confederate Army

The movie is on tonight on the history channel at 9:00pm or 2100hrs for us military types, it was directed by the Scott brothers. They've done other films.

Oh, I hated that movie. The book was okay. The film was just....dull. But I have to say that I don't actually remember any other films about Gettysburg other than Turner's version...and that one had NOTHING to do with the Hollywood system-such as it is. Hollywood as an institution is barely functioning anymore. Eventually, the film industry will abandon California entirely, IMHO.

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General Philip A. Roubaud
Army of the Potomac
Commanding General
United States of America

"Forward! For God's sake, forward!"

So, OK! For those of you who saw the Scott Gettysburg presentation, how did you score it? A = Best, F = Worse. Favorite scene, least favorite?

I could not give it an "A" since there was barely any coverage on Little Round Top on Day 2.

I thought the best scene was the short, but powerful shot of the hand-to-hand struggles at the Stone Wall on Day 3! I also liked the mini scenes of 70-year old John L. Burns grabbing his musket (later a rifle) and joining the Union troops for some action on Day 1!

The worst scene had to be Lee (a pretty scruffy-looking Lee) on his horse alongside a column of Reb troops with no staff officers anywhere to be seen!

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General Jos. C. Meyer, ACWGC
Union Army Chief of Staff
Commander, Army of the Shenandoah
Commander, Army of the Tennessee
(2011-2014 UA CoA/GinC)