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| Fremantle (James Lancaster) carries tea, because he's British, you see. |
Arthur Fremantle
Before
I get into a general rundown of the battle scenes and a few other points, I
should provide some background on Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Fremantle (James
Lancaster). A British officer, he wanted to see the American War up close,
particularly from the Southern side. Believing him an official observer, the
Confederates gave him access to various major generals and politicians.
Amusingly, however, Fremantle was actually on a leave of absence, and this was
his idea of a vacation. He had quite the trip, starting with a pursuit by a
Union blockade vessel, getting a look at Texas, and viewing Bragg’s Army of
Tennessee.
Then
he got to personally travel with the Army of Northern Virginia to Gettysburg.
After witnessing the greatest American battle, he traveled to New York for departure, arriving
just in time to witness the infamous Draft Riots. He published his experience
in the book Three Months in the Southern
States. In the movie Fremantle adds a little color (literally with his
inaccurate red uniform) and humor while getting the Confederate characters to
open up about their causes and beliefs. In a wider-scoped Gettysburg movie not based on Shaara’s novel, his scenes would
definitely be considered unnecessary fluff. Now to look at the action itself.
June
I love the opening credits. Backed by Randy Edelman’s stirring, if heavily synthesized musical themes, photos emerge, first of the historical figure, then the actor in costume portraying him. On earlier rewatches this becomes a fun game of identifying which movie character belongs to each photo. W. Morgan Sheppard, who already plays Trimble, provides the opening narration over a map showing the army’s routes northward.
Actor-turned-spy Harrison (Cooper
Huckabee), scouts out the Union Army and reports what he’s found to Longstreet,
who in turn notifies Lee. They’re surprised because the Union Army is drawing
close and fast. They are also frustrated because General J.E.B. Stuart (Joseph
Fuqua) should have reported this. Famously, Stuart was criticized by the press
for being caught by surprise at the Battle of Brandy Station. Seeing his
reputation attacked, he found a loophole in Lee’s orders and tried to lead his
cavalry on a third epic ride around the Union Army. By depriving the infantry
of most of their cavalry screen, he was responsible for the surprising
collision at Gettysburg. Later in the movie Stuart finally show up and Lee has
his one loss of temper.
Meanwhile, Buford’s cavalry division
arrives at Gettysburg and realizes that the Confederate Army is going to concentrate
Buford plans to hold the ground north of town so that the Army of the Potomac
can take the heights to the south. Because this is a movie, Buford’s internal
thoughts are repurposed as spoken monologues, and they’re great because of Sam
Elliott’s voice.
July
1
The first action scenes are centered on
McPherson’s Ridge and Woods, though the characters do discuss what’s happening
in other parts of the battle. The battle scenes don’t have as much energy and
drama as the later ones and are chopped up so that we can get the commanders’ wider
perspectives on how the day is unfolding. Still, the action is well shot. By
the way, the Union soldiers with tall hats belong to the Iron Brigade. This was
a brigade of made up of westerners and is often considered the best unit of the
Army of the Potomac. We don’t get to see them rout the Rebels in McPherson’s
Woods as the action here closes with Reynolds’ death.
The Iron Brigade (https://seeingthingssecondhand.com/2016/12/19/gettysburg-1993/)
One problem with the lower budget is
that some scenes would have been better shown than told. That’s why it’s really
important to listen to Lee’s dialogue in the July 1 scenes in regards to
Cemetery Hill. Lee sends a message to General Ewell to take the large hill
south of town “if practicable.” New to corps command and given leeway with the
“if practicable” phrase, Ewell balked at taking the hill while the Federals
were still disorganized.
This is explained in a memorable rant
from General Trimble. Trimble recounts the famous story where he repeatedly
asked Ewell to send men to take the hill, only for the corps commander to do
nothing. The movie doesn’t say it, but Trimble actually had no fixed command
position and was just hanging around the I Corps. He would get a chance to lead
men as officers were disabled throughout the battle. Perhaps the best addition
in the director’s cut (which restores various scenes that only appeared on
television), is Lee’s conference with Richard Ewell, Jubal Early, and Robert
Rhodes. It’s just nice seeing the major players of the I Corps actually show up
and it better clarifies the grievous failure to take Cemetery Hill on the first
day.
July
2
Longstreet wants to disengage and move
south so the Confederates can choose their site of battle, but Lee instead
orders a sequential attack plan on the Union left, with Ewell striking for the
north to prevent reinforcements. The movie does an excellent job quickly and
clearly explaining the tactical situation and plans. Here General John Bell
Hood (Patrick Gorman) shows up. In reality he was a young general just over 30,
but here he’s older and comes off as Longstreet’s generational peer.
Anyways, Hood starts the second day of
battle at Devil’s Den. We go between the battle and the 20th Maine’s
deployment on Little Round Top, getting a good sense that the Confederates are
getting closer. Devil’s Den itself is a boulder-strewn hill and one of the more
unique geographical features of the battlefield. I was always struck by its
appearance when watching the movie as a kid. By the way, I have not identified
the Union officer who’s shot off his horse. If it’s supposed to be any
historical figure, my best guess is Colonel Augustus Ellis of the 124th
New York.
General Strong Vincent (Maxwell Caulfield on the right)
tells Chamberlain how important his position is.
The 20th Maine finds itself
fending off charge after charge from Alabamians in the most furious and
energetic battle scene. If I were to make a list of my top ten movie battles,
this would be on there. The main characters of the 20th Maine have
several close calls, Edelman’s music adds to the chaos, and Chamberlain proves
himself as a solid tactician, making several choices that save the day. The
last such choice is, with ammunition nearly gone, a thrilling downhill bayonet
charge. This serves as a finale for the pre-intermission part of the film and
to be honest I usually wait another day to watch the shorter second part.
July
3
The movie has been well-balanced between
Union and Confederate characters, but after the intermission it’s almost all
Confederate since Buford has done his thing. The 20th Maine
characters still get a few scenes. As in the novel they’re sent to the center
of the line on Cemetery Ridge to rest and resupply. This is a fiction to keep
Chamberlain in the story, as of course in real life they would have stayed in
position on the left.
Hancock tells Chamberlain about this friendship with Armistead.
A lot of time is spend on the planning
for Pickett’s Charge, with Longstreet voicing objections as he did in real
life. He could see that a charge across a large field against a well fortified
position (a stone wall was there to give them extra cover) with enemy artillery
fire from the flanks as well as the front was doomed to fail. Lee planned for a
massive artillery bombardment to devastate the Federal center and prepare the
way for a massive infantry assault.
One of my favorite mood whiplashes comes
after Longstreet explains the plan to Pickett, Trimble, and James J. Pettigrew
(played by one-time James Bond George Lazenby!). There was a big battle for
Civil War memory between the Virginian and North Carolinian participants of the
charge. The Carolinians were upset that it was called Pickett’s Charge, as this
ignored the other participants, and felt that the Virginians hogged all the
glory. They would be equally upset with this movie, as Longstreet has the
audacity to say Pettigrew is in support of Trimble when in fact his division
was at the forefront of the attack’s left wing. After trying to instill his
division commanders with confidence, and watching Pickett enthusiastically
smile and ride off, Longstreet, not bound by the need to assure his
subordinates, tells Harrison the spy what will actually happen, and it’s very
sobering.
Even with the lack of recoil on the
cannons (because they’re not firing real shells), the pre-charge bombardment is
very impressive. There’s no music, just the constant booming of guns. Still
quite a bit of time passes before the infantry actually attacks, and I can see
some viewers being put off by this. When Pickett’s division steps out of the
woods on Seminary Ridge, there’s a whole five or so minute sequence of marching
Confederates.
I want to talk about Garnett riding the horse due to his injured leg. The movie implies that he thinks this is a pivotal moment of the war and doesn’t want to miss it, even if he has to further expose himself to danger. However, according to a blooper reel, the movie was originally going to give the fuller historical explanation. Garnett had commanded the Stonewall brigade at the Battle of Kernstown, where he ordered a retreat when ammunition had run out. His superior, Stonewall Jackson, cashiered him for retreating without permission and accused him of cowardice. Though most everybody else in the army knew this was unfair, Garnett still felt he had to prove his courage. The movie doesn’t explain why Kemper is riding a horse, too (it was in solidarity with Garnett).
The start of the actual final battle is
somewhat weak, with more marching and very few kills, but the scene improves
when they get to the Emmitsburg Road. The fence rails were not as weak as
expected, so the Confederate line had a struggle getting past the road while
they were blasted by artillery. The final assaults on the stone wall climax
with the “high tide of the confederacy,” with Armistead putting his hat on his
sword to inspire a breakthrough.
The ending of the movie is quite powerful. With darkness starting to fall, Lee and Longstreet have one last conversation around the campfire. Dour music plays as Lee realizes the depth of his failure, knowing that the war is going to go on much longer and with much less chance of success. There’s a shot of the two generals just sitting there sunken and silent. Then we transition back to Cemetery Ridge where, after having been separated in the carnage of the artillery bombardment, Joshua and Thomas Chamberlain find each other. There’s no dialogue. They just look at each other and hug, relieved that they both survived this terrible battle. Then we close on a shot of the Union flag, showing that ultimately their cause will prevail. Great stuff.
Final
Rating
Gettysburg has a few flaws
because of its original intention as a TV mini-series, and there are a couple
parts that perhaps could have been trimmed down, but I just absolutely love
this movie. There’s no other Civil War movie of this scope that’s as good, and
none that has gone so in-depth on a single battle (ironic because there’s still
so much missing). There might be some nostalgia involved, but I give this a
very high score.
Rating: 9/10
This rally for Lee was an unplanned moment cooked up by the reenactors and was added to the film.
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