CONSENSUS #63 - Gettysburg (1993)

SYNOPSIS: "Gettysburg" is based on the novel "Killer Angels". It tells the story of the Battle of Gettysburg mainly from the command perspective.  The movie covers all three days of the battle and concentrates on the fight for Little Round Top and Pickett’s Charge.  Although the main unit covered is Joshua Chamberlain’s (Jeff Daniels) 20^th Maine, the movie is mostly from the Southern perspective.

BACK-STORY: “Gettysburg” is a war movie that began as a TV miniseries produced by Ted Turner. The finished product pleased the millionaire so much that he decided to release it to movie theaters. It may be the longest American movie (254 minutes) ever to appear in theaters. It appeared in a limited number of cinemas and did not recoup its cost, but the publicity was golden and when it was first shown on Turner Broadcasting Network, it was the most viewed basic cable program up to that time. The movie is based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel Killer Angels by Michael Shaara. The title was changed to the battle name after it was discovered that potential viewers thought the original title indicated a motorcycle gang movie. The National Park Service allowed filming on site, although much of the action was lensed at a nearby farm. The film made use of over 5,000 reenactors. There are also cameos by Ted Turner and Ken Burns. Turner is killed during Pickett’s Charge (rumor has it by Jane Fonda masquerading as a Union soldier). Burns plays an aide to Hancock.

TRIVIA:  Wikipedia, imdb

1.  The movie is based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel “Killer Angels” by Michael Shaara.  It was going to be entitled eponymously, but test audiences thought it was a biker movie. 

2.  The project was pitched to ABC as a miniseries, but after “Son of the Morning Star” flopped, ABC passed.  Ted Turner picked it up. 

3.  Turner has a cameo as Confederate Colonel Waller Patton (“Old Blood and Guts” great uncle).  The real Patton was actually hit in the face by shrapnel during Pickett’s Charge. 

4.  Ken Burns, the famed documentarian, appears as an aide to Gen. Hancock.  Historian Brian Pohanka is the Union officer who gathers all the swords after Pickett’s Charge. 

5.  It was the first time the National Parks Service allowed filming at Gettysburg.  The scenes at Devil’s Den and Little Round Top were filmed on site.  The rest of the film was done at a nearby farm.

6.  In postproduction, Turner decided the movie was good enough to be released in theaters.  At 271 minutes, it was the longest American film to ever appear in theaters.  It appeared in 248 theaters.  The TV premiere drew a record audience. 

7.  Over 13,000 reenactors took part in the film.  They were in Gettysburg for the 125^th Anniversary of the battle. 

8.  Sam Elliott was  the only star who treated his uniform so it looked old and worn.  He did the treatment in his hotel room.

9.  The movie cut a Chamberlain brother.  John, a doctor, was with the 20^th Maine on Little Round Top. 

10.  The ASPCA commended the film for its treatment of horses.  The explosions were low-noise to avoid scaring the horses. 

11.  Stephen Lang was actually thrown from his horse during Pickett’s Charge. 

12.  Longstreet was Tom Berenger’s favorite role.

Belle and Blade  =  4.5

Brassey’s              =  5.0

Video Hound       =  4.4

War Movies         =  N/A

Military History  =  #46

Channel 4             =  no

Film Site                =  yes

101 War Movies  =  no

Rotten Tomatoes  =  no 

OPINION: “Gettysburg” has been harshly judged by critics who are not familiar with the Civil War, "The Killer Angels", or the way people talked and groomed in the 1860s.  If you criticize the screenplay, you are essentially criticizing a Pulitzer Prize winning novel. The movie follows the book very closely. The dialogue is almost word for word from the book, which is a good thing. It could be argued that the movie improves on the book. There is little reason to read the novel if you see the movie.   Thanks to the magnificent reenactors, we get two of the great battle scenes – the defense of Little Round Top and Pickett’s Charge.  It is the second best Civil War movie, behind “Glory”.  It belongs much higher on this list.