The Last Full Measure

[larry_cockerham]

Sam, Robert DuVal and Shelby Foote. It don't make that much difference to me what they say, I just like to hear 'em talk. Should I be more discerning? I thought Buford rode pretty well in Gettysburg. Admittedly he only crossed one pasture and it was neatly mowed. Those 1860s lawnmowers did a pretty good job.

[Bobbie]

Originally Posted by J_Man0507

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

I vote for Crispin Glover.

[ole]

At the risk of revealing my total lack of interest in movies, who is Crispin Glover?

I understand that Grant was a superb horseman, so maybe Robin Williams would not work at all. Remember reading somewhere that Grant could approach his horse and be in the saddle before you could notice that he put his boot in a stirrup. Just swoosh. He was seated. Not even Sam Elliot can do that.

ole

[ole]

Sam, Robert DuVal and Shelby Foote. It don't make that much difference to me what they say, I just like to hear 'em talk.

Probably the reason Ken Burns had Foote talking as much as he did. Who can resist that Memphis accent?

And DuVal has a distinctive voice as well. But, you know, I never did try to figure out where his accent might have originated. With you, I just enjoy the sound of it.

ole

[Bobbie]

Originally Posted by ole

At the risk of revealing my total lack of interest in movies, who is Crispin Glover?
ole

I don't know much about him besides he's an actor. Have no idea if he's a good horseman, but he reminds me of Grant. Look at his face
http://imdb.com/media/rm462068480/nm0000417

[ole]

Can't say I've ever seen the man.

Grant was not tall -- somewhat less than 5' 4". And he was blocky; i.e., barrel-chested and thick, and careless in his dress. Crispin Glover looks a bit too prissy to be Grant.

ole

[M E Wolf]

Dear List Members,

In reading the book - The Last Full Measure, I had to chuckle when President Lincoln and Secretary of War, had General Grant get onto a couch that was laced and really fine material, so the crowd could take a good look at him. I have been in the White House, the green room where this was to have taken place. I have also seen the stuffed/mounted Winchester- Grant's Morgan Horse. He is definately pony size-which is around 14.2 hands. With consideration to drying the hide, etc., and the crude manner of preserving--the skeleton though is the frame. The horse was fine boned but strong. Having driven and ridden Morgan Horses--I think General Grant would have been no bigger than 5'6". In visiting VMI, Manassas Battlefield --the displays of Civil War uniforms--they would fit boys in the 2nd grade--very tiny compared to what we have height wise today. I would love to see the actor who played General W. S. Hancock (2nd Corps) play General Grant, as he would indeed have the riding, height and such down. Plus the rugged face. However, if he was to be an active figure in the book version of "The Last Full Measure" he would be appearing in a horse drawn ambulance, to which he was riding to and from his battlefields, as the Gettysburg wounds hadn't healed.

As for actor Robert Duvall, he has the Leesburg/Middleburg accent. It is also an opinion, that since the Custis family and Lee family were located around Northern Virginia; my accent would most likely be very normal. Leesburg and Middleburg which isn't too far away, (where I use to fox hunt and horse driving competitions), it is more southern but not as pronounced as Lynchburg, which sound similar to Georgia.

But--and here is where you folks can help me get some sleep--I am driving myself 'batty' trying to find out/figure out 'who' the gentleman in the Gettysburg film, who is always close to General Buford, to include being with a Captain (unknown); where he announces--"Sir, Its General Reynolds!" There is no rank on this guy--but, he has just one row of buttons which is a hint. The Captain, who is always near Buford, is seen with a notebook of sorts--what character was he portraying? The Lieutenant was also not identified either. Otherwise, the other officers seemingly portray the officers in Col. Devin's, Col. Gamble's and Col. Merritt's cavalry.

Anyway, I completed the book in two days--I found it a wonderful read and easy to read for someone who hates to read books. I really am looking forward to seeing this movie made--even if its on DVD. I haven't heard a peep from Arch Cambell (Channel 7 Entertainment news) in return into my inquiries.

I also looked at www.wtj.com/archives/longstreet. It had a few chapters of General Longstreet's book and looked at these written pages with a skeptical mind. Well, I have changed my mind about some things I have heard about the man (Longstreet) and the supporting documents he accumilated. In summary, Longstreet may have not been the best of writing 'politically correct' as to draw Southern sympathies into his direction and definately a scapegoat was made of him for certain after Lee's death; supported by Lee's Staff Military Secretary General A. L. Long. Gettysburg's loss was not Longstreet's doing. And, this site is giving a view of the Appomattox surrender. Longstreet was one of the commissioners who sat in on the surrender terms. So, I am sure the actors from Gettysburg would be needed in the last movie. Seems Grant and Meade were camped close together at all times. And, Jeff Daniels will have to be prepared for being wounded an awful lot and be the one Grant sought out as to conduct the surrender of arms ceremony--Very moving and something Chamberlain did as to get the ball rolling, as far as starting the healing process and the moved General Gordon who salutes Chamberlain as he had saluted his (Gordon's) Army. I just hope they put Chamberlain on a white horse--this has been documented in other places that he rode a white horse which was given to him by his community in Maine.

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully,
M.E.Wolf