I once said casting Martin Sheen as Robert E. Lee (in the movie "Gettysburg") was like casting Jane Fonda as Mother Theresa," Robertson said.
And I quote Bert Lahr -
"AIN'T IT THE TRUTH ... AIN'T IT THE TRUTH!!!"
Posted on 01/30/2003 8:52:27 AM PST by stainlessbanner
DANVILLE, Va. - Dr. James I. "Buddy" Robertson said Wednesday that emotion is the key element in the movie "Gods and Generals."
Robertson, a renowned Civil War historian, was the historical consultant on the Warner Bros./Ted Turner movie that features Confederate Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson as its main character.
"Gods and Generals" is an adaptation of a book written by Jeff Shaara and is the prequel to "The Killer Angels," on which the film "Gettysburg" was based.
The movie deviates from the book with a healthy dose of Jackson's character taken from Robertson's biography.
"This is the greatest Civil War movie ever made," Robertson said as he spoke to a Danville's Wednesday Club. "What college professor can say his book was made into a mega-movie? This is not a war movie like 'Gettysburg.' It is the emotion that will sell this movie."
While discussing the movie, Robertson always returned to the central character.
Robertson spoke about Jackson as one speaks of a favorite relative, with an understanding and reverence that seemed to elevate the esteem of the general in the eyes of the audience.
"I probably know Stonewall Jackson better than any person alive today," Robertson said. "Unless you understand the emotion of the Civil War, you can't understand the war."
Robertson offered a thumbnail sketch of Jackson's life - including the fact that his mother gave him up when he was 7 years old, and he worked on his uncle's farm until he was old enough to leave. Robertson also told the audience that he had gone to a family psychiatrist and asked about an unnamed person with Jackson's background in order to better understand him.
The primary points Robertson said the movie captured was Jackson's faith and his personality.
Robertson said when the first three battles of the Civil War fell on Sunday, Jackson changed the days of the week, allowing for a day of worship every week.
"When Jackson hits you with a prayer, you will not be ready for it, but you will be better for it," Robertson said. "Stephen Lange (the actor who plays Jackson) paid me one of the most supreme compliments. He was being interviewed by a reporter and the reporter asked Stephen how he could play the part so well. Stephen said, 'It was easy. I had a Bible under one arm and Bud Robertson's book under the other.'"
Robertson offered the audience insight into actor Robert Duvall, who plays Robert E. Lee. According to Robertson, Duvall took the role because he said he always wanted to play Lee in a movie.
Robertson showed the audience a picture of Duvall as Lee and commented, to much vocal agreement, that he looked very much like the Confederate general.
"I once said casting Martin Sheen as Robert E. Lee (in the movie "Gettysburg") was like casting Jane Fonda as Mother Theresa," Robertson said.
The four-hour movie will be in theaters in February. A full-length DVD version - 6 1/2 hours long - will be available next year.
Contact Cathy Koplen at ckoplen@registerbee.com or at (434) 793-2311 Ext. 3043.
Humble, aren't we?
I hope that he is close to right - Gettysburg was an excellent movie, and this looks to be also. Despite Ted Turner being involved, I'll be seeing this.
Thanks for posting this. I read this line and about fell out of my chair. Can't wait for the movie
Shaara wrote the book, I recommend reading any of his or his father's books and Jeff was consulted on the production of this movie. It would be interesting to hear what he thinks about the movie "deviating" from his work....especially Roberston's input about Jackson.
...and lemon peels.
I actually hear that Jackson and Lee are portrayed as very strong Christians, just as they were in life.
Now I've read some of Shaara the younger's work and have concluded he ain't his old man. I'm hoping the movie can improve upon his work.
...Longstreet, to whose sturdy breast the approach of battle seemed to bring gayety, said to Jackson: "General, do not all these multitudes frighten you?"
He replied: "We shall see very soon whether I shall not frighten them."
~Prior to the battle of Fredericksburg, as the generals looked upon the vast Union army lining up to do battle~
The younger Shaara wrote "Gods and Generals". Haven't read it, don't plan to. He continues in his father's footsteps as a hagiographer of J. L. Chamberlain, an officer for whom I have little use.
I once said casting Martin Sheen as Robert E. Lee (in the movie "Gettysburg") was like casting Jane Fonda as Mother Theresa," Robertson said.
And I quote Bert Lahr -
"AIN'T IT THE TRUTH ... AIN'T IT THE TRUTH!!!"
It comes out 2-21-03.
I'll let y'all know how good it is.
You better tell us how it is - make sure you enjoy it.
PS: Wear the 'ol butternut and gray to the preview : )
free dixie NOW,sw
With his Klan background you could hardly expect him to play a Union general, could you?
Why if you have such a dislike of slave owners then I can only imagine what you have to say about Davis and Jackson and the rest of the southern leadership.
Family Psychiatrist? Is this a shrink that specializes in families, or does Robertson's whole family need a shrink?
Gentlemen,,it's a must see movie!!!! I am no movie critic and will not attempt to be one. It's a very good movie and well worth your time and money to go see. It was well worth the 300 mile round trip and the 14 hours I spent Sunday the 16th to go to Charlotte NC to view this movie. The private showing was aranged by the MAJ. EGBERT A. ROSS Camp 1423 SCV of Charlotte NC. Be warned, it is a long movie, about 4 hours. I suggest that you see it at your earliest opportunity!!!!!!
You Gotta See This Movie!
By Chuck Baldwin
February 18, 2003
This Friday, February 21, 2003, a blockbuster movie produced by Ron Maxwell will debut in theaters across America. It is titled Gods And Generals, and it is one movie you must go see!
Gods And Generals is the second of a movie trilogy by Maxwell about the War Between the States. Gettysburg was the first, and there is yet one more in the works.
Gods And Generals could be the most influential and powerful movie to be released since Braveheart. It has the potential to change the hearts, minds, and attitudes of millions of people who disdain the Old Confederacy, who misunderstand Southern slavery, and who hold Christianity in contempt.
The film portrays the life and battlefield campaigns of Lt. General Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson. Any truthful depiction of General Jackson must include his deep Christian convictions. This movie captures those convictions in great detail. In fact, Christianity permeates this movie.
One of Jackson's premier biographers, James "Bud" Robertson, was on hand throughout the filming to help insure the movie's historical accuracy. He said Gods And Generals is "the greatest Civil War movie I have ever seen, and I have seen them all."
Historian Bill Kauffman said, "Gods and Generals is not only the finest movie ever made about the Civil War, it is also the best American historical film. Period."
The movie is produced by Ted Turner Pictures (believe it or not) and was filmed in and around Sharpsburg, Maryland, the site of the Antietam Battlefield, and on actual historical locations in Virginia and West Virginia. Veteran actor Robert Duvall plays Robert E. Lee and Stephen Lang plays Jackson. You will also see several actors from the movie Gettysburg reprise their roles in this film. New characters introduced in Gods And Generals are "Stonewall" Jackson, Mary Anna Morrison Jackson, Myra Hancock, and Fanny Chamberlain. The film is rated PG-13 for battlefield violence.
I encourage all my readers to take advantage of this opportunity to watch a rare, rich, and truly remarkable film. Go see Gods And Generals!
© Chuck Baldwin
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free the southland,sw
But then, we're decadent -- not they.
More comments later -- I'm trying to dig up on an old thread which Blair it was who communicated President Lincoln's offer of the command of the Union Army to Colonel Lee. That episode is portrayed here, with a couple of digs at Blair, but it also manages to make Lee look like a traitor, by collapsing into seconds the four or five days that elapsed before he was presented to the Virginia secession convention by Governor Letcher; and it doesn't show at all when he tendered his resignation, so that it looks as if he went to the secession convention while still in the Army, in uniform.
For the Union side, Jeff Daniels and Brian Mallon return as Chamberlain and Winfield Scott Hancock, and the actors portraying Chamberlain's brother and first sergeant (Kevin Conway) are also back. The top Confederate generals are portrayed by different actors, but many of the characters in the next rank are played by the same actors as before. Lang, who plays Jackson, was Pickett in Gettysburg, for instance, but the actors playing John B. Hood, E. Porter Alexander, Kemper, Garnett, Trimble, and the spy Harrison are all back.
And Francis P. Blair was the person in question.
They got me. Didn't twig until I saw the credits. Forewarned, you may do better.
Here's a flash: Robert Duvall is Robert E. Lee. Dammit, he did it again. The man's a chameleon.
"Gennulmen, these deplo'ments ahh sound." So's your acting, Mr. Duvall.
Don't you have anything better to do?
On the contrary, I think Lang did a good job of acting, and of portraying something of Jackson, but I don't think he captured his charisma, which was what Jackson mostly was -- the man was, in all accounts I've heard or read about him, a walking bundle of charisma, even more so than Robert E. Lee.
The problem with G's & G's is that they didn't give both the Jackson and Lee roles to Robert Duvall -- the only man on the set who could have mastered either. The gave him Lee. I've asked my movie-maven cousin whom he would have cast as Stonewall Jackson, and I await his reply. Other than Duvall, I can't think of a modern actor who could handle that role. I just can't.
Someone commented about Martin Sheen as Lee in Gettysburg.....yes, I'd have to agree. The man is so turgid with liberal brain-fat that he couldn't act Bobby Lee if he were inspirited with the general's own ghost. It was a real disappointment, almost as bad as Tom Berenger and what my cousin noticed was a terrible false beard as General Longstreet.
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