Posted on 06/23/2013 7:09:54 AM PDT by DeaconBenjamin
Ron Maxwell wasn't done with the Civil War.
The director behind the critically acclaimed epics "Gettysburg" and "Gods and Generals" revisits the familiar subject of the War Between the States with his new film, "Copperhead," which will host its world premiere at the State Theatre June 28 at 7:30 p.m.
“I wanted to explore something more intimate," Maxwell said of the film. "My previous pictures focused on officers and leaders, but, in reality, the war was fought by teenage boys, most from small towns whose families ended up devastated by the war even if no battles were fought nearby."
Copperhead will be screened at 7:30 p.m. June 28 and again on June 30 at 2:30 p.m. at the State Theatre. The fee per ticket for the premier will be $15 with the meet-and-greet VIP ticket at $25 for the 75-person capacity. All tickets for June 30 will be $15.
The movie is based on the 1893 novel “The Copperhead” by Harold Frederic, who was a child during the conflicts of the Civil War. The title refers to the name given to Northerners who wanted to negotiate a peace settlement with the Confederates, and the story portrays the war’s effects on both families and communities.
“What has remained unsaid, and what Civil War films never fully show, is that within each society, North and South, there were many, many factions," Maxwell said. "You had Southerners with no interest in owning slaves, or seceding from the union. To the north, you had differences of opinion that were just as fractious, even violent. Not everybody who hated slavery or loved the U.S. Constitution was willing to send their children off to die or be maimed in a bloody battle against fellow Americans. That fascinating reality is the force driving Copperhead.”
The film stars Billy Campbell as Abner Beech, an anti-war farmer who defies his community, and Angus Macfadyen as Beech’s neighbor and enemy, Jee Hagadorn. Two-time Academy Award nominated actor Peter Fonda plays the character of Avery.
“If there’s a political point to the film,” said screenwriter Bill Kauffman, “it’s a defense of dissent.”screenwriter Bill Kauffman, “it’s a defense of dissent.”
Loved both his earlier films especially soundtrack of Gods and Generals.
And Culpepper was out in the boonies when I was a kid growing up in Virginia. It is where I fell in love with Bluegrass music. I imagine it’s all developed and ruined by now, hope not though.
The secession of 11 states in 1861 was not a Constitutional crises. The USC is totality silent on the issue. To bad the Copperhead Democrats could beat the Goon in the 1864 election. McCellan was a bad candidate.
For much of 1864, Lincoln himself believed he had little chance of being re-elected. Confederate forces had triumphed at the Battle of Mansfield, the Battle of the Crater, and the Battle of Cold Harbor. In addition, the war was continuing to take a very high toll in terms of casualties. The prospect of a long and bloody war started to make the idea of "peace at all cost" offered by the Copperheads look more desirable. Because of this, McClellan was thought to be a heavy favorite to win the election. Unfortunately for Lincoln, Frémont's campaign got off to a good start....
"If there's a political point to the film," said screenwriter Bill Kauffman, "it's a defense of dissent.
My family used to run the Exchange Hotel in Gordonsville which served as a Confederate hospital during the War of Northern Aggression. My grandfather and his brothers were all born there.
Where did you grow up?
I hope this is a little less awkward and unrealistic and farby than Gods and Generals. About the only thing in G&G that didn’t make me wince was the sound track. Now, Ang Lee—that ol’ boy knows how to make a period movie that actually looks and smells and feels period.
Alexandria near Mt. Vernon
IOW: Northern pro-slavery Democrats.
That conclusion isn’t logical or accurate historically. Economics, not slavery, led to the war. in 1861 Lincoln would have helped cement slavery into the constitution to prevent secession. The US couldn’t afford to lose access to the Mississippi river and the excise taxes that flowed from southern ports: Charleston, New Orleans and Galveston. Slavery was a state issue, not a federal one. Copperhead was a perjorative label applied to politicians who were strict constructionists of the Constitution. Almost all hated the institution of slavery but believed the federal govenment had exceeded its powers by making war on states optin to leave the union they had entered freely.
Copperheads were virtually all northern democrats sympathetic to the slavrocracy.
John Barrymore played a Copperhead in a movie by the same name (in 1920).
The Copperheads didn't all "hate slavery." Some of them really liked it.
You just killed any chance you ever had of hosting a show on The Food Network with that cartoon.
How many times is this going to raise its head? There...were...no...taxes...on...exports. Tariffs are placed on imports and there is no evidence that the South paid more than their fair share of those.
Almost all hated the institution of slavery but believed the federal govenment had exceeded its powers by making war on states optin to leave the union they had entered freely.
On the contrary, few if any Copperheads had any real problem with slavery.
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