I told all of my friends to watch for the release. Luckily, it took a long time and some of them forgot. After I saw the film I didn't remind anyone.
First of all, it's not my fault. I had no speaking parts and just one close-up when we carried General Reynolds from the field. In one day, we filmed that and some scenes from the first day of battle. None of them were combat scenes. Mostly it was just bits of Reynolds, in a column of Cavalry, riding up to Gen. Buford at the Seminary. I can see why films cost millions. We worked more than six hours that day for maybe 30 seconds in the finished movie.
I rated this film to reflect how I felt as I watched such a pitiful portrayal of those that history has made larger than life. Like an unwanted song that I can't get out of my mind, I recall one endless scene where Jefferson Davis and a room full of southern notables, including Lee, are standing around like statues. The voice-over, I swear, was an adult trying to imitate a 3rd grader reading history to the class. Prominent southern men and women, coldly delivered muted lines (so we wouldn't miss any of that voice-over). 147 years ago these angry words invoked fury, violence, and war against the North. Except for some slight and ambiguous body language, the only thing moving about this scene was their lips. I don't have sufficient courage to watch this thing through a second time. If it wasn't for the miracle of fast forward, it would never be played again. My wife took video of the the filming so we have something to look at. The movie Gettysburg from the book The Killer Angels is the one to watch.
Okay, I said horrible things so I must confess this. When you walk around a video store and find a movie on the shelf that you are in, it's a pretty cool feeling. I have to smile, but I walk on by.
First of all, it's not my fault. I had no speaking parts and just one close-up when we carried General Reynolds from the field. In one day, we filmed that and some scenes from the first day of battle. None of them were combat scenes. Mostly it was just bits of Reynolds, in a column of Cavalry, riding up to Gen. Buford at the Seminary. I can see why films cost millions. We worked more than six hours that day for maybe 30 seconds in the finished movie.
I rated this film to reflect how I felt as I watched such a pitiful portrayal of those that history has made larger than life. Like an unwanted song that I can't get out of my mind, I recall one endless scene where Jefferson Davis and a room full of southern notables, including Lee, are standing around like statues. The voice-over, I swear, was an adult trying to imitate a 3rd grader reading history to the class. Prominent southern men and women, coldly delivered muted lines (so we wouldn't miss any of that voice-over). 147 years ago these angry words invoked fury, violence, and war against the North. Except for some slight and ambiguous body language, the only thing moving about this scene was their lips. I don't have sufficient courage to watch this thing through a second time. If it wasn't for the miracle of fast forward, it would never be played again. My wife took video of the the filming so we have something to look at. The movie Gettysburg from the book The Killer Angels is the one to watch.
Okay, I said horrible things so I must confess this. When you walk around a video store and find a movie on the shelf that you are in, it's a pretty cool feeling. I have to smile, but I walk on by.