What Civil War Story, Person, Event Would Make A Great Movie?

It is Morgan's raid into Indiana and Ohio. It make a great movie. As diane wrote, he was daring, handsome and a great horseman cavalryman. The perfect movie but I don't know who could play him. As you can see he is one of my favorites.
 
Absolutely agree with this one. The possibilities are endless in expanding the story line. The hero would be a black man, his comrades and their families, without any "white" influence like Glory, which covered white families and officers and politics. Successful movies always seem to have clear cut good guys and bad guys.

Also a movie about the Arkansas. A movie from the common sailor/artillerymen viewpoint serving aboard her during her naval career, with a Das Boot theme. To fight against overwhelming odds, the intensity of the banzai-type battle, the sense of fatalism, the vague hint of hope (of victory), the camaraderie, a sense of duty? honor? desperation?, the lack of resources, determination, etc. In a sense it's about the "bad guys".


That's James Street's "By Valor and Arms" an historical novel with footnotes that I read in the eighth grade. Hooked me on Civil War forever.
 
Just realized the other thread was this:
Your perfect documentary...
Discussion in 'Campfire Chat - General Discussions' started by Pat Answer, Yesterday at 6:00 PM.

That's where I mentioned a mini series on Missouri - which you could bring thru to Truman. The story I recollected about his mother-in-law was actually about his mother " This harsh treatment left Martha with a lifelong resentment for the winning Union side in the war, and she was well-known for her Confederate sympathies (so much so that it was reported that when she first visited the White House in 1945, she refused to sleep in the Lincoln Bedroom, although this story was later denied by her family)." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_Ellen_Young_Truman
 
Whoa- it really is endless. Probably what would work would be to pick subjects that would appeal to today's movie goers even thought they've never heard of the folks involved. I'd have to guess the spy stories ( sans lapel cams, may be, er a stretch? ), the Locomotive chase, any of the Ranger stories- stuff which young people would identify with HOPEFULLY in lieu of small cars driving at stupid speeds for reasons which are never quite clear ( but there's a bad guy somewhere whose small car is also driving stupidly fast ). I'm agreeing with whoever said there's probably going to have to be a good guy/bad guy in the script- problematic given the viewing public.

And yes, wouldn't it be great to have some of our Civil War personalities drawn clearly for us? Some might always remain enigmatic- ask Mark- with an awful lot of evidence to pour through he has a subject whose privately held personality apparently is awfully tough to draw a bead on 150 years later. Plus, when there's someone like Grant or the person whose name is eluding Nate at the moment there's going to be a LOT of different takes on them! I'm guessing some Hollywood would give a wide berth too on that account, thinking if 50% of movie goers detest either man it's 50% less proceeds.

Would ' Reveille in Washington ' make too dreary a movie? They could switch back and forth, macro and micro views of the city at war, keep a common these running.
Well, Lincoln worked. Maybe we don't give the average movie goer too much credit. But when Glory was released it didn't even play here! The home of the US Army 10th Mountain Division afterall!
 
Laura Jackson Arnold, Stonewall's sister, would make an interesting flick. She was Unionist, acted as a nurse for the Federals - said she could patch 'em up quicker than her brother could shoot them! As kids, she and her brother were each other's best friend. Then she began doubting God, which deeply concerned Thomas. Then she went for the Union - which didn't concern him at all since her spiritual well-being was what was important. It was rumored that she had some flings with some of the Union soldiers she patched up and it might be true - her husband eventually left her. He was secessionist and, when asked why he couldn't do something to control his wife, he threw up his hands and replied, "She's a Jackson!"
 
Be careful what you wish for. Remember "Gods and Generals"?

"Lincoln" was a hit because there wasn't too much to chew on. Same with "Glory" and "12 Years a Slave." Of course, it didn't hurt to have them very expertly produced, written and directed by some of the top pros in the business.

And, as we have seen, the funding is perhaps the most important part of the equation. If the money isn't there, there is no movie or documentary.
 
Well, Lincoln worked. Maybe we don't give the average movie goer too much credit. But when Glory was released it didn't even play here! The home of the US Army 10th Mountain Division afterall!

Still, little weird not to have played 150 years later? Just sounds SO odd, anywhere at all the movie would not have been chosen for viewing by any public at all- it's part of flat History, not to be mistaken as divisively only black History.

The reason there's good guy/ bad guy in ' Glory ' is that there really was that whole dynamic going on, with an awful lot of white people genuinely being really, really bad. It would be silly to make a film on black soldiers of the era without white people in it simply because they had to surmount prejudice just to brush their teeth every morning- an African American soldier's entire professional life had to be hampered by the fact he was black 150 years ago. Just an awful, stupid, infuriating fact for them.

OH my gosh Diane, I'd have to guess a movie about Stonewall's sister would open to zero seats sold south of the Mason-Dixon line? I'd never heard of her being a Unionist, or that she existed at all- bet it's not something which is discussed despite Stonewall himself not minding as long as she was straight with God. And fair enough- Mary Lincoln is still getting it in the neck 150 years later for retaining her sister's friendship while living in the White House. Of course, can't at all compare the 2 as far as who is considered an icon- didn't see Mary Lincoln making an appearance in ' Anchorman 2 '. :roflmao:

A movie tying together threads of stories about female soldiers would be cool- although one or two of them are strong enough stories all by themselves to pull off a whole script. In the event there would not be, you could have some singular center person perhaps investigating the reports, then have the stories revolving around the investigations. OR- have a first-person account being told by one of them, then she ' tells ' other stories she's been told, as they unfold on the screen. Be tough to pull off, bet some talented writers could do it.
 
This may have been asked in another thread? Not that I've encountered one, just makes sense there would have been one. Try searching for that, however without coming up with far too many results to pick through!

In another thread Mary Tepee came up- I was just thinking that her Civil War time would have made a great movie- would make one although being Hollywood I'm guessing they'd make us suffer through the rest of her life, too. It made me think, what other personalities of the era would make great movies? OR entire events ? They'd have to be things or folks which would capture the attention of non-Civil War geeks, too. Well heck, ' Lincoln ' did and that was pretty much about the politics at the time. That kind of thing is generally a big snore. If that movie was a hit, all bets are off when it comes to predicting what General Joe Public will watch.

The McCook family saga might make one- as would the Red River dam although the budget would be WOOHOO, ships and setting?

Yes, sorry to post in Ladies Tea- claimed it on the grounds that Mary Tepee was mentioned first. Makes sense to me, I'm female.
Two people whose stories I would like to see on the big screen would be Edwin Stanton and James Longstreet. Both were surrounded by plenty of controversy and both played huge parts in the drama of the Civil War.
 
Sam Watkins' Co. Aytch would also make a good film or series.

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I wish they would do a mini series and start with the young officers at west point, go into the mexican wars, then go into the civil war and then post civil war. So a mini series that would cover about 1825-18780. Not focus so much on the battle scenes as much but more on the after math of the battles and the retreating, victories and maneuvering etc...And focus on the relationships between the officers as they fight one another and later on reconcile or don't reconcile.
I would like to see this, too.
 
I would definitely like to see a movie about Grant, it is deserved. Also was just thinking about this the other day, a movie about Gettysburg from the perspective of her citizens
 
The McCook family saga might make one- as would the Red River dam although the budget would be WOOHOO, ships and setting?

The Red River dam bit would be great, and quite feasible with computer graphics.

@AndyHall, didn't Grierson also have hemorrhoids, which made horseback riding quite painful? Or am I thinking of another cavalry general?

Something on Grant would be good, too. Maybe the upcoming Ron Chernow biography will inspire someone. Maybe another rap musical?
 
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