May 10 - Gods and Generals

Hello. Here is today's movie.

GODS AND GENERALS

Robert E. Lee is offered command of the United States army, but refuses it. Virginia secedes and Lee is appointed commander of the states forces. Col. Thomas Jackson trains troops in the Shenandoah Valley and marches them to the First Battle of Manassas, where he saves the day and earns the sobriquet “Stonewall”. Lawrence Chamberlain, a college professor is appointed second-in-command of the 20^th Maine and drills them relentlessly. The Union army moves on Fredericksburg, Virginia and occupies the town.  They attack uphill into an entrenched Confederate position and suffer horrendous casualties. Lee and his officers celebrate Christmas.  On the front lines, Yankee and Confederate pickets trade coffee for tobacco. Jackson reluctantly orders three deserters shot.  Jackson stays with the Corbin family and becomes attached to the youngest daughter. Jackson is devastated when she dies of scarlet fever, crying for the first time to the amazement of his officers. Jackson’s wife and daughter pay him a visit. The Yankees cross the river to attack. Jackson leads his troop on an end around march and attacks their flank, pushing them back. That evening moving forward to do reconnaissance, Jackson is wounded by one of his own men in a “friendly fire” incident. His arm is amputated. Pneumonia sets in and Jackson dies on May 10, 1863. [3:30:09 to 3:32:57]  

 

This movie has some great battle scenes, but suffers from moving too slowly. It does a good job of striving for historical accuracy. Should have just concentrated on Jackson, instead of veering off to touch on Chamberlain and Lee. 

Robert E. Lee’s Civil War by Bevin Alexander (Adams Media, Avon, MA, 1998) at page 165 gives Jackson’s death date

Director - Ronald F. Maxwell

Producer -  Moctesuma Esparza, Robert Katz, Ted Turner, Mace Neufield and Robert

                    Rehme

Starring –

Stephen Lang as Lieutenant General Stonewall Jackson(CSA)

Jeff Daniels as Lieutenant Colonel Lawrence Chamberlain(USA)

Robert Duvall as General Robert E. Lee(CSA)

Kevin Conway as Sergeant Buster Kilrain(USA)

C. Thomas Howell as Sergeant Thomas Chamberlain(USA)

Jeremy London as Captain Alexander "Sandie" Pendleton(CSA)

Matt Letscher as Colonel Adelbert Ames(USA)

Brian Mallon as Major General Winfield Scott Hancock(USA)

Bo Brinkman as Major Walter H. Taylor(CSA)

Bruce Boxleitner as Lieutenant General James Longstreet(CSA)

William Sanderson as Major General A.P. Hill(CSA)

Billy Campbell as Major General George Pickett(CSA)

Alex Hyde-White as Major General Ambrose E. Burnside (USA)

Joseph Fuqua as Major General J.E.B. Stuart(CSA)

John Prosky as Brigadier General Lewis A. Armistead(CSA)

Royce D. Applegate as Brigadier General James L. Kemper(CSA)

Patrick Gorman as Major General John Bell Hood(CSA)

W. Morgan Sheppard as Colonel Isaac R. Trimble(CSA)

James Patrick Stuart as Colonel Edward Porter Alexander(CSA)

Jonathon Demers as Brigadier General Richard S. Ewell(CSA)

Andrew Prine as Brigadier General Richard B. Garnett(CSA)

James Garrett as Brigadier General John C. Caldwell (USA)

J. Scott Watkins as Brigadier General Raleigh E. Colston(CSA)

Fred Griffith as Brigadier General Robert Rodes(CSA)

Tim O'Hare as Colonel St. Clair Augustine Mulholland(USA)

Cooper Huckabee as Henry Thomas Harrison

Mira Sorvino as Fanny Chamberlain

Kali Rocha as Anna Jackson

Donzaleigh Abernathy as Martha

Karen Hochstetter as Roberta Corbin

Martin Clark as Dr. George Junkin

Christie Lynn Smith as Catherine Corbin

Screenplay - Ronald F. Maxwell

Released – February 21, 2003

Runtime – 3 hours 39 minutes

Watch Gods and Generals trailer