E-mail return by Jeff Shaara

[mt155]

5fish is correct about movies getting the masses interested in history. Everyone in my office knows that I'm a CW nut, and when Cold Mountain came out they all went to see it because they knew that I would and also because Renee Zelweger(sp?) went to high school not too far from us. For some time after they saw it they would ask me questions and such and the office would have our own round table discussions about the CW. Some even researched their family history and found some who served the South. Hollywood is usually not very accurate but it does open eyes to the past every once and awhile. Even while watching The Tudors on Showtime or John Adams on HBO I'll go and research bits and pieces on the subject. Speaking of CW movies, what is ya'lls opinion of Ride With the Devil?

Mike T.

[ttully]

Making a movie that is historically correct and appeals to the masses is not as easy as it seems. Titanic pulled it off by making a love story first and using the ship as a backdrop. Pearl Harbor was good, but correct? By the end of that movie it seemed like we won that battle. The 300 was great, lots of action but if the Spartans were wearing bow-ties, they could have called it "The Attack of the Chipendale Dancers!" Not everyone finds pure history interesting, AND it has to appeal to both sexes... I dont know one woman who says Saving Private Ryan is her favorite movie, though most guys loved it. To make a civil war movie that really captures the masses would be great but you have to find the perfect mix of historical fact and hollywood fiction

[ole]

Amen, Perfessor Tully. (Did I welcome you aboard?)

ole

[ttully]

actually i've just started writing, i've been doing a lot of reading and watching from the wings. thank you anyway ole

[M E Wolf]

Dear ttully and List Members;

Unfortunately, the quality of any movies of late is awful!

There are no historically based Westerns and even Westerns that are just--well--Westerns, aren't out there. This in turn starves the movie makers of any qualified horsemen to star in any historically based film requiring horsemanship. The film Gettysburg and Gods and Generalshas made that acutely clear.

The blessing was in both of these films, plenty of re-enactors/living historians ride! Few of the actors have had experiences in riding horses in character in previous movies. But, its clear to me--stunt riders and stunt horses are getting rarer still. And, for those who seek authenticity--I have to forgive directors when they don't mount actors on the 'historically' correct color mounts. I just 'forgive' when I see one mount ridden by three individuals in different scenes. [Smiles]

Can't find old Walt Disney's classics easily--e.g. The Horsemen, Scarecrow, Swamp Fox.

Just some thoughts.

Welcome to this wonderful list ttully--I'm rather new myself and have been treated most kindly.

Sincerely,
M. E. Wolf