Civil War re-enactor finds notoriety with his reel face

Daily Record ^ | July 17, 2003 | CARYL CLARKE

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Civil War re-enactor Earl Salisbury of Goldsboro holds the DVD cover that features him charging in a scene from ‘Gods and Generals.’ Both he and his son, William, appeared in the book-inspired movie that filmed from summer to December 2001.

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A detail from the ‘Gods and Generals’ DVD cover shows Earl Salisbury charging during a battle scene. ‘Right, smack, dab in the center,’ he says. ‘I’m the tall, skinny guy with stripes on his arm.’

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[Zavien Doombringer]

"It was every Civil War re-enactor's dream to be in a movie rather than a PBS program," William Salisbury said.

I know that feeling William! My unit is in the PBS program, "The Battle of Great Bridge"...(see my profile)

[WhiskeyPapa]

I was an extra in "Andersonville", which I understand will be offered as a freebie on the G&G DVD set. I was in several scenes that I thought would be surely in the final cut, including a group of us right behind the primary actors. That scene was in the movie, but your humble narrator was cropped out. One of the re-enactors in our little group had the complete Union army uniform with a checked shirt and everything and full set of whiskers. Alack and alas, he tended to a corpulence that didn't exactly suggest a half starved POW and was asked to step aside.

Walt

[RaceBannon]

I didnt see it in the movies, just heard a great deal about it.

So, I bought it when it came out.

I was disappointed in it. The atitudes of these men being so Christian, it seemed so phoney to me, not genuine, and way over acted. Not overacted to be boisterous, but overacted to be overly kind, gentlemanly, discreet...so much that it looked so phoney to me.

Also, the 'Christian' attitude of the southern generals, and the only time spent developing the Northern General, was that he quoted Shakespeare, not the Bible; both sides had a deep Christian Faith to rule their lives. Not just one. A little too one sided in that view.

They didnt act like men in combat at all

Not the super movie I was told to expect.

It was sad to see the re-enactments of the battles, the slaughter, the waste of life due to those days battle tactics.

Good movie to rent, clean language, battle scenes not overly gruesome, no sex, accurate historically

But, I expected it to be more of a Civil War movie, not a bio on Stonewall Jackson. Decent Flick, 2 1/2 stars

[RaceBannon]

I just bought G&D, no Andersonville DVD in that one for me...saw no special DVD set on sale yet in WalMart

[stainlessbanner]

The monolouge by Jeff Daniels before Chamberlin went into battle was really hokey and forced. What should have been the highlight of Chamberlin's character was silly.

[Old Phone Man]

I went out and bought Gods and Generals yesterday. If you are a Civil War history buff like me I think it's a must buy.
The cinematography is wonderful.. I've been to Fredricksburg many times and the depictions of the battle are very realistic...Jackson's flank march and attack at Chancellorsville was an epic endeavor not only by Stonewall but also by the director of this movie who used Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries to emphasize the drama involved.

[WhiskeyPapa]

I just bought G&D, no Andersonville DVD in that one for me...saw no special DVD set on sale yet in WalMart

Just as well. "Andersonville" is a dreadfully bad movie.

Some of the re-enactors I spoke to had been in "Gettysburg" and a few had been in "Glory" also.

Funny thing about being a extra on that movie. They asked us to show up in dark blue trousers and black shirt and boots, which I duly did. Some people showed up in blue jeans (which they specifically asked that you not do) and those people got the full costumes. All I got was a broad brimmed hat one day. Another day I got a calvary jacket and kepi. They would announce before almost every shot: "please remove modern looking glasses and any wristwatches."

Walt

[Zavien Doombringer]

"please remove modern looking glasses and any wristwatches."

We call these Farb material...

In our unit some hard up reinactor would approach anyone with either modern or inaccurate items and would say "far be it for me to say those do not look accurate for the period", since then, we call modern and inaccurate items "farbee" items.

The act of calling on Farbee items is Farbitized...

[WhiskeyPapa]

One thing we had to do also was sign a release that gave the film company the use of our image: "in any medium that exists or which may be invented anywhere in the universe forever."

Walt

[Zavien Doombringer]

We had to do the same...regardless, we had fun anyway...Man I love the smell of blackpowder!...flying ramrods do pose a hazzard though :)

[strela]

In our unit some hard up reinactor would approach anyone with either modern or inaccurate items and would say "far be it for me to say those do not look accurate for the period", since then, we call modern and inaccurate items "farbee" items.

This is the most clear, complete explanation I have seen thus far of the origin of the term "farb." I have seen that term several times but could never work out the etymology. Thank you.

(one who knows that the blue speckled enamel cookware seen in Army-Navy stores is also farb city, although used by some re-enactors I know)

[SquirrelKing]

I was an extra in "Andersonville",

Cool. That was filmed about 3 miles from the farm where I grew up. Used to shoot some trap across the field the prison was built. That whole area is being carved up for subdivisions now.

[AnalogReigns]

I was disappointed in it. The atitudes of these men being so Christian. . .

I heard in an interview that the script writer stayed EXTREMELY close to the dialogs in the in the book--which were direct quotes from various sources. It really is true that certain Southern generals (especially Stonewall Jackson) spouted scripture all the time. As for the Northern Generals? Well, I can't exactly picture the likes of Hooker or Grant quoting scripture much, and probably not Chamberlain either...sophisticated college professor that he was.

I think sometimes truth is stranger than fiction...and thereby that harder to make believable in a story or especially a movie.

[nathanbedford]

But, I expected it to be more of a Civil War movie, not a bio on Stonewall Jackson.

How sad for you. Read Lee's Liutenants by Douglas Southall Freeman and you will understand that this part of the War Between the States was primarily a biography of Thomas Jonathan (Stonwall) Jackson. If you read deeply enough you will come to learn that these people were Christians, who actually spoke as they were portrayed, who believed as they spoke and who comported themselves as they believed.

It is a great pity that you cannot ingest a historically accurate re-enactment because it was not Hollywoodized.

[strela]

"please remove modern looking glasses and any wristwatches." We call these Farb material...

One big reason that I'm not an active re-enactor today. I'd love to do it, but I can't see my hand in front of my face without my specs. (Contact lenses, LASIX, and period frames aren't effective for me for various reasons).

[Zavien Doombringer]

(one who knows that the blue speckled enamel cookware seen in Army-Navy stores is also farb city, although used by some re-enactors I know)

Here are some url's for some suttlers, mostly dealing with 18th century and early 19th century accuterments

http://www.gggodwin.com/catalog.htm

http://www.jastown.com/newhome.htm

For anyone interested.

[Zavien Doombringer]

You are correct!

All citizens were considered "Christian" and were to uphold a moral standard. Even in battle! No matter how hypocritical it may have seemed. If you were not a Christian, you were scrutinized publically.