Best Civil War Movies

[LennG]

 Since this is the 150th anniversary of the Civil War,and we are talking movies here, what are your favorite Civil War related movies??

#1--Gone With The Wind
#2--Gettysburg
#3--The Red Badge of Courage (Audie Murphy version)
#4--Glory
#5--Birth of a Nation
#6--Cold Mountain
#7--Shenandoah
#8--Friendly Persuasion
#9--The Outlaw Josie Wales
#10--The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

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[jimv]

Looks like a good list to me, Lenny.  When you come down to it, there aren't really that many CW movies.

[weeze]

"gods and generals". great movie. part of the triology by ted turner. first one was gettysburg and the third will be called "the last full measure."

[jimv]

Here we are talking about Civil War movies and while channel hopping, I see TCM broadcasting the 1936 movie "The Littlest Rebel."

[weeze]

lenn, have you seen "gods and generals"?

[MightyGiants]

Glory is the one that stands out to me.  When I saw the title of this thread, that movie was the first one that came to mind.

[spiderblue43]

I enjoyed "Gettysburg" despite some obvious production flaws. The Chamberlain narrative was compelling and honorably played by Daniels. Stephen Lang also gets high marks for his flavorful, stylish General Pickett (true to his nature). Plus, a great soundtrack (Randy Edelman) that propels the film like solid shot through its saggy set pieces.

"Gods and Generals" (the prequel) was not so effective with its ponderous speech-making, especially the Jacksonian kind. A sad, almost morbid movie that never crackles with suspense or discovery. The actors looked frustrated, cold, bored and dying to get to their trailers to get the thing over with.

[spiderblue43]

"Glory" is terrific in many ways but especially how it captured the instant horror of war so well with its production values (union heads exploding, etc.). "Gettysburg" was a re-enactor movie instead that favored sprawling numbers and dialogue over realistic, intense battle field action.

[weeze]

well i totally disagree with you spider, but thats ok. i thought it was a great movie but you have to remember im the only living survivor of this board that thought danny kannell got a bum rap!
 there really is a shortage of historically accurate civil war movies that deal with the war itself. thus, for me, as much as i never miss a showing of gone with the wins, to me thats a great movie, but not one id group as a civil war movie.
 hey we all are entitled to our opinions right,
 [so you better agree or ill secede from the board"................................

[jimv]

How about "The Horse Soldiers?"  Wayne & Holden, directed by Ford, based on a true incident.

[LennG]

Weeze

 Your gonna hate me for this, but I didn't like God's and Generals that much. I also thought it a bit too long, and jsut too many speeches. Yes the detail was great, but I would have liked more action.

Sorry Johnny Reb

[weeze]

no , not at all, i wont hate you for not liking a movie I happen to like, ill just hate you for all the usual reasons............nah.
 gee, guess my tastes in movies doesnt match anybodys else here. mustve been being brought up in a log cabin and reading by the firelight that did it.

[jimv]

How could I forget this one.  Perhaps the best of them all - Buster Keaton's classic 1927 movie "The General."  If any of you haven't seen it, rent it or buy it.  It's GREAT!!!  And, weeze, it's about a Confederate hero!  It's based on a real story about the Union Army trying to capture a rail line in Tennessee.  The locomotive on the line was actually name the "General."  Keaton researched the entire history of this Union raid and it is said that the Civil War uniforms & settings are the most realistic ever used in a movie.

[Sam56]

The Red Badge Of Courage (1951)

Written by Stephen Crane
Directed by John Huston

Audie Murphy as Henry Fleming
John Dierkes as Jim Conklin
Bill Mauldin as Tom Wilson
Douglas Dick as The Lieutenant
Tim Durant The General

The Red Badge Of Courage was based on Stephen Cranes classic short story published in 1894. What better person to play the part than the most decorated war hero the United States has ever had, Audie Murphy.
 
 The Blue And The Gray (1982, CBS Mini-Series)
 An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge (1962)
 How The West Was Won (1962)
 Gone With The Wind (1939)
 USS Hunley (1999)
 The Good The Bad And The Ugly
 Wicked Spring (2002)
 Major Dundee (1965)
 The General (1927)
 The Birth Of A Nation (1915)
 Shadow Riders (1982)
 Gettysburg Three Days Of Destiny (2003)
 Drums In The Deep South (1951)
 Cold Mountain

[Slick]

How ironic that I happened to check in on the porch and see this topic. The last two days I spent about 6 hrs looking at civil war memorabilia at a local museum started by a Dr.who served in the war. The display will last until July,and focused more on citizens of Pa. but not entirely, who were involved one way or the other in the war. There were many interesting photographs,relics,and printed stories of so many episodes that took place in Pa alone. My favorite attraction was a copy of the Philadelphia Post where their reporters gave a day by day, just about hour by hour  description of the events of the epic battle.

Outside the museum there was a traveling trailor with other great things to view and read. I spent about 3 hours in both places,and thoroughly enjoyed it. I've been to Gettysburgh about 5 times,and I learn something new with every trip,but sadly won't be returning.

It's hard to imagine one man turning the results of the war around,but I will always wonder if Lee's disastrous strategic moves could have been stopped by the presence of Stonewall Jackson. Lee said he lost his right arm when Jackson died, and had a great respect for his council. Longstreet and others failed to change Lee's mind but Jackson may have been able to at Least make him rethink his decisions on that final day. Picket's charge was a pure disaster.   

With regards to the movies Gettysburgh was easily my favorite among those that I saw. Sheen was very good as Lee,and Daniel was also convincing.What cheapened the movie was so many lousy fake beards.
I recommend "The Killer Angels" to anyone wanting to read about the 3 day battle.