The Movie Gettysburg

[kat1121]

I love Gettysburg! I first saw it in Gettysburg, the October after it came out; it was playing on all the screens at the theater in town.

I thought I was going to hate Sheen, especially since he didn't physically resemble Lee but after watching the movie a zillion times I find I'm comfortable with his portrayal. Lee was ill at the time and did suffer a mild heart attack soon afterwards, so I thought the tiredness in Sheen's performance was valuable to the characterization.

I also liked that almost everyone has a vision about what is going to happen -- it gives the story an eerie quality that the characters can all "see" what will happen but are helpless to stop it.

Redeye, I am also sympathetic to Gen. Garnett -- one of my best friends in the world has gone through life with the first name of Garnett due to a pre-Civil War family encounter with Richard Garnett which ensured that the eldest male in every successive generation carried the name.

One thing I find chilling -- when Kemper says to Fremantle, when are the British going to get involved? I'm currently writing my dissertation on Great Britain's policy of intervention during the War and have documented that Britain made the decision right after Antietam to not get involved. By the time July 1863 rolled around, it was already a done deal that Britain would never get involved. It gives me a twinge to hear the remarks by Kemper & Fremantle.

Also, speaking of Fremantle, if, as his diary indicates, he lost his luggage upon entrance to the country in Galveston and had to go about in borrowed civilian clothes, where the heck did he get the flashy red uniform?!

So, inaccuracies aside (and what Hollywood historical film has not had its weaknesses?), it is maybe bad movie-making from a technical sense but what a story! Sit back and enjoy!

Kat in NJ

[hoosier]

I enjoyed the movie greatly the first time I saw it and every time since. It is, of course, over four hours long, but doesn't seem like it at all. First time I saw it, I felt surprised that it was over so quickly - and even more surprised when I looked at my watch.

Different people can view a certain character in different ways, and who's to say which view is closest to the truth? For me, the important thing was that the movie brought to life so many of these characters I'd only read about.

[redeye]

Kat, that's very interesting about your friend named Garnett. Do you know exactly which fact originated such a legacy? I was moved by Garnett's destiny when I bought the Osprey book about Gettysburg and learned that his body had never been located. I know that the same happened to countless others just as worthy of compassion, but it felt so sad. It's good to know that others are touched by his story.

[kat1121]

Redeye -- My friend Gar is very closed-mouth on the story of his name. All I know is that his great-grandparents were Cherokees in Texas and had some sort of encounter with Richard B. Garnett prior to the Civil War. It was promised that the first-born male of each generation would carry Garnett's name in rememberance. Gar is the third generation to carry the name; his son has it as a middle name. I know that Gen. Garnett was somewhere between Texas and California prior to the War. It is frustrating to have friends named after famous generals and who have no interest in history -- including their own!!! Well, I'll try again to get the story out of him!

In the meantime, have you ever read the article posted at: www.richmondguide.com/returnmain.shtml It is about the return of Confederate remains to the cemetery in Richmond; there is a headstone in the Hollywood Cemetery there which reads to the effect "Herein lie the remains of 19 Confederate soldiers, including it is believed, the remains of General Richard Brooke Garnett" There is a photo of the headstone somewhere on the 'net; if I can find it again, I will post the link for you.

[redeye]

Yes, I've read that Garnett spent most of his career in the Territories and in the South-West, though there are not many sources on the Net about it. Thanks for the link. Though recently I've read the suggestion, I don't remember where, that since he wore a blue coat to fight fever during the battle, he was buried with the Union dead. I guess it will remain a mystery.