Gettysburg Film Review

Emilie Spencer

History 101-Levesque

Paper 3-Film Review

Gettysburg Film Review

In 1993 the movie Gettysburg, written and directed by Ronald Maxwell, hit the big screen. This epic 254 minute film, was filmed on location in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and depicted the Battle of Gettysburg. Called the bloodiest battle of the Civil War because of the enormous casualties, 51,000 men died and there were over 20,000 men wounded. This film incorporated an all star cast featuring Martin Sheen as General Robert E. Lee, the Confederate General, Tom Berenger as Lt. General James Longstreet of the Confederacy, Jeff Daniels as Col. Joshua L. Chamberlain and Sam Elliott as Brigadier General John Buford, both of the Federal Army. The film also utilized Civil War reenactors to supply the extensive amount of extras needed to portray this colossal event.

Based on the novel The Killer Angels by Micheal Saara, Gettysburg portrays the three day battle from the view of both the South and the North. The movie is divided into two parts, the first, covers the day previous to the battle and the first and second day up to the conclusion of the battle for Little Round Top. The second half of the movie, covers the rest of the second day and the third and final day.

The film portrayed the event in dramatic fashion including using several monologues throughout. One monologue in the first half that was especially moving, it was given by Col. Chamberlain to the 125 detainees from the 2^nd Maine Brigade.; in his attempt to persuade the men to continue in their military service. Chamberlain reminds the men of the purpose of the war, that they are doing is something unique “We are an army out to set other men free.” (Daniels) He goes on to describe what America should be “America should be free ground. All of it. Not divided between slave state and free. All the way to the Pacific Ocean.” (Daniels) Chamberlain, a professor before the war, is particularly charismatic and resolute.

The film also addresses relationships, whether it is Col. Chamberlain and his conflict between being the leader and protector of his younger sibling, or between Gen. Lee and Lt. Gen. Longstreet and their endless debates over strategy. However the most thought provoking relationship is that of Brig. Gen. Armistead and his dear friend Gen. Hancock., two Mexican War veterans’ now common enemies, a friendship torn by civil war. Armistead in particular laments over a promise made to Hancock at the end of the Mexican War where he promised never to be on opposing sides. His internal struggle is evident throughout the film and is brought to a head when he gives Gen. Longstreet, also a Mexican War vet and dear friend, a package to be delivered to Gen. Hancock’s wife in the event of his death, a foreshadowing of the next days events.

Because the film is based on true events its portrayal relies on actual documentation of the war. As a companion to the film, the documentary The Battle of Gettysburg is an additional DVD feature. This short 30min Oscar nominee was filmed in 1955, at the Gettysburg National Military Park. It conveys facts about the Battle of Gettysburg, while panning over the actual battleground, incorporating sound of battle and dramatic pauses. (Nielsen)

Our textbook dedicates only one measly paragraph to this monumental episode in American history. The text depicts Gen Lee as a gambler, a man whose “greatest blunder” (Foner p.511) was in sending in his finest to be decimated on the third day of battle as they advanced on the center of the Union line, losing over half of the 14,000 men before they reached the trees. The film shows Lee as a man of resolve, determined to break the forces of the Federal Army. He is portrayed as a religious man, who prays for his men and for guidance. He repeatedly states that “It is in God’s hands.” (Sheen) Lee was a man of loyalty, knowledge and experience, and a commodity even the Union Army wanted to lead their forces. “A brilliant battlefield tactician, Lee had been offered a command in the Union army but chose to fight for the Confederacy because of his devotion to Virginia.” (Foner p.488)

While viewing the movie with my husband he mentioned that he felt that although Martin Sheen portrayed Gen Lee adequately, Robert Duvall’s depiction in the prequel Gods and Generals seemed to “catch the spirit of the man better”. We also felt that it failed to mentioned Maj. Gen. Jeb Stuart’s battle on the last day with soon to be famed Col. Custer. Stuart was portrayed as a floundering, glory hunter. In the end we both felt the film stayed close to the actual events of the war, was enjoyable to watch, and gave us a greater understanding of the significance of this historic moment in history.

Works Cited

Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty. New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 2009.

Gettysburg. Dir. Robert F. Maxwell. Perf. Jeff Daniels. 1993.

Gettysburg. Dir. Robert F. Maxwell. Perf. Martin Sheen. 1993.

The Battle of Gettysburg. Dir. Herman Hoffman. Perf. Leslie Nielsen. 1955.