The Last Full Measure

[Bobbie]

Originally Posted by M E Wolf

I would love to see Robert Duvall portray General R. E. Lee. Don't know if any caught his interview but, he did mention he was related to General Robert E. Lee. In addition, if you see the death mask of General Lee and Robert Duvall--not that much different.

I also read that a few scenes of Gods and Generals were filmed on Duvall's estate in Virginia, where some skirmishes had taken place during the Civil War.

In The Last Full Measure I'd love to see Stephen Lang playing U.S. Grant.

I have lost the site and information however, the US Military took to the field in strength to do a re-enactment of First Bull Run/Manassas around the 1950-1960s period. I think it would be wonderful to have the military do it again if we had peace time again.

Have you seen Sergei Bondarchuk's version of War and Peace? There are some great battle scenes (the best I've ever seen), filmed with 120 000 soviet army soldiers as reenactors. Stunning impression

[M E Wolf]

Dear Bobbie,

I haven't seen the Sergei Bondarchuk's version of War and Peace. I bet the soldiers enjoyed doing something other than the 'goose step.' [Grins]

The actor Stephen Lang is definately a fantastic actor. Having done General T. Stonewall Jackson and General Pickett--I know that General Pickett would still be alive and an active character and to switch him back out again from General Pickett wouldn't be fair to my eyes. Further, someone with a fuller/rounder face would be better as Grant. Hollywood has had Grant portrayed once before.

I would love to see the actors that portrayed Col. Thomas C. Devin (2nd Brigade) and Col. William Gamble (1st Brigade) be reassigned to an acting part. I think the actor who played Col. Gamble is a better horseman than the actor who played Col. Devin, so he could possibly play the part of Grant. I would put Stephen Lang into either Sherman or Sheriden 'if' Pickett's appearance isn't there in the third movie. I would use the Actors who can really ride a horse to do the more active scenes. I haven't a clue who the General was that greeted Gen. Buford (Sam Elliott) in the dark of night and escorted him into the house and entered the house before Gen. Buford as to report to General Hancock. I think that actor would make a good General Grant. Grant wasn't that tall and he rode a Morgan horse which by breed standards would be close to a pony [Reference-Winchester]. In Gettysburg I had to cringe seeing General Lee on a small horse--the aides dwarfed him with leggy horses. The first horse was better suited for Martin Sheen but, went lame [when Lee approaches to get a report from Gen. Heth the horses head bobbed seriously--that is when Sheen was remounted on another horse. I noticed that Sheen kept getting up out of the saddle and sit down repeatedly even though the horse was standing still--maybe he was sitting on burrs].

I would love to see a Native American Indian--if it is possible to get a Seneca Tribesman to portray General Ely Samuel Parker--the General to whom drafted the instrument of surrender while General Lee and General Grant talked. I feel the Native American Indians who did fight in the Civil War are nearly forgotten and lumped in the "Colored" troops--and that has been assumed only Negro troops. I knew of a few Indians who fought but there is way too much that hasn't been told. I mean--who knew that there were Native American Indians who were at the Battle of Fredericksburg and were sharp-shooters for the Union side?

[Excerpt from www.nativeamericans.com/CivilWar.htm]
In an interesting twist of history, General Ely S. Parker, a member of the Seneca tribe, drew up the articles of surrender which General Robert E. Lee signed at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. Gen. Parker, who served as Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's military secretary and was a trained attorney, was once rejected for Union military service because of his race. At Appomattox, Lee is said to have remarked to Parker, "I am glad to see one real American here," to which Parker replied, "We are all Americans." [End of excerpt]

I think this statement is profound myself.

Native American Indians served on both sides. I also cannot find but one Civil War Memorial to the Native Amerian Indians listed in an AOL search.

I'm sure the Native American Indians would be thrilled to have a chance to participate and tell a part of Civil War history that has been over looked. Darn--where is Ted Turner and or those who be fired up and excited to tell this little known bit of the Civil War!!! I'm angry that in my history class and guided tours of Civil War battlefields haven't said 'boo' about the Native American Indian's participation.

In addition to the Battle of Fredericksburg--NAI has fought at Pea Ridge, Second Manassass, Antietam, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Union assaults on Petersburg.

Just some thoughts,
M. E. Wolf

[J_Man0507]

Ted Turner won't ever produce the third movie. I don't remember when Gettysburg came out in theaters (it didn't play in the theater where I grew up) but it has done extremely well in VHS and DVD sales from what I have seen. Gods and Generals was a flop and lost Turner alot of money, though I am sure it wasn't too big a set back for him.

But, I do believe that there is also a much more clear reason for why Turner wouldn't produce such a movie. If one has watched the first two, one knows that Turner had cameo roles in both. In Gettysburg, he plays a colonel leading a regiment in Pickett's charge, where he is shot down. In G&G he is seen with Lee at the musical performance during the winter encampment at Fredericksburg. He plays a Confederate. Turner is, in fact, a Southerner to to core. Don't know if he is a Lost Causer, but it wouldn't surprise me. Point is, what does The Last Full Measure depict? The end of the Confederacy and the surrender of the Cause. Why would he want to depict the moment of defeat? Thats just my humble opinion.

[M E Wolf]

Dear J_Man0707,

I do realize that Ted Turner had two cameo roles, portraying Confederate Colonel Walter Tazewell Patton. He lead the 7th Virginia Infantry when he was mortally wounded on July 3, 1863. He was buried in the same grave with his brother, Col. George Smith Patton, who was originally born and named George William Patton but, out of love for his father George Smith Patton, changed his name to George Smith Patton; and was the commanding officer of the 22nd Virginia Infantry when he was wounded at the Battle of Winchester in 1864 and refused amputation of his leg and died of his wounds Sept. 25th. The other brother, William McFarland Patton was attending VMI, and a cadet and rank of Sergeant, he lead his Company B in the Battle of New Market.

Ted Turner is a fan of General Patton and the connection of the "Fighting Pattons." I haven't even included the Revolutionary connection.

Anyway, I think if Ted Turner wanted to appear in a cameo again, I am sure there are plenty of parts. General Gordon comes to mind where he was very dignified at the surrendering of Petersburg and the formal surrender. General Grant (according to my grandfather's book Under Both Flags-A Panorama of the Great Civil War, published in 1896 by C. R. Graham, gave a dog to the wife of a General that was inside the lines of Petersburg, to which was sealed and nobody could go in or out shortly after surrender. The dog's name was Truce. Truce was a favorite camp dog and General Grant was very fond of him also, the dog would follow Grant around.

Anyway--It is up to Mr. Turner. Age may have changed things as well as ability. Its been 13 years since the making of Gettysburg and it doesn't seem like its going into production any time soon. If they cannot get Duvall to play Lee again--Ted Turner can sport a beard and act the part.

I am not so sure if being Southern and having pride in being Southern, really has Turner entrentched into the "Lost Cause." I believe he is more inclined to give the Southern side a fair chance in history and enlighten for the sake of thought and perhaps, get people to understand that the Civil War had all ethnicities involved on both sides.

Besides, Ted Turner might be broke due to the money sucked out of him by Jane Fonda--Her boots are still walking over him and Viet Nam Veterans.

Just some thoughts.

Sincerely,
M. E. Wolf

[Bobbie]

M E Wolf,

to me Stephen Lang played the role of Pickett admirably, making the character more likeable than he probably was in reality. I have no idea if this role would be important in the third part of the trilogy, but if it wasn't, Lang should be given someone more important to portray.
I think that Gavan O'Herlihy would be the best Sherman. This actor is great at playing villains Besides, he looks quite similar to Uncle Billy.


J_Man,

even beeing a lost causer, Ted Turner could be willing to depict the moment of defeat. The belief that "wars always end with strict regard to the laws of poetic justice" is not confirmed by history. One can show how the moral superiority lost with the superiority of numbers
All in all, Gloria Victis!

[Jamieva]

Gettysburg came out in theaters somewhere in the 92-94 time period because I remember I was in college when it did.

[J_Man0507]

I'm really just kidding around. Honestly, I think that if Turner could be convinced that the last part of the trilogy could be successfully made into either a movie or a mini-series, he would do it. Money in his pockets never hurt.

And I am sure that he could find another cameo role in a third installment. The idea of him playing General John B. Gordon would be a good one, I do think.

The only problem is the parts of Lee and Chamberlain. Duvall is getting up there, so who knows how long he will still be able to act. His last movie was We Own the Night and he didn't do much moving in it. We will have to see about that. And Jeff Daniels. It is safe to say that he put on a few pounds in the time between Gettysburg and Gods and Generals. I am sure some extra poundage might also have appeared in the last few years as well.

What about General Grant? Any proposals over who should play old Unconditional Surrender?

[ole]

Fer sher. Robin Williams.

ole

[larry_cockerham]

Anyone think Sam Shepherd could handle the biography of Nathan Bedford Forrest?

[ole]

No. For NBF we need someone younger. Sam didn't even make a good Buford. Guess I've lost track of who the thirties are. But for goodness sake, get someone who can sit a horse.

ole