Plot
In 1863, the Northern and Southern forces fight at Gettysburg in the decisive battle of the American Civil War.
Release Year: 1993
Rating: 7.6/10 (13,718 voted)
Director:
Ronald F. Maxwell
Stars: Tom Berenger, Martin Sheen, Stephen Lang
Storyline The four and 1/4 hour depiction of the historical and personal events surrounding and including the decisive American civil war battle features thousands of civil war re-enactors marching over the exact ground that the federal army and the army of North Virginia fought on. The defense of the Little Round Top and Pickett's Charge are highlighted in the actual three day battle which is surrounded by the speeches of the commanding officers and the personal reflections of the fighting men. Based upon the novel 'The Killer Angels'.
Writers: Michael Shaara, Ronald F. Maxwell
Cast: Tom Berenger
-
Lt. Gen. James Longstreet
Martin Sheen
-
Gen. Robert E. Lee
Stephen Lang
-
Maj. Gen. George E. Pickett
Jeff Daniels
-
Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
Richard Jordan
-
Brig. Gen. Lewis A. Armistead
Andrew Prine
-
Brig. Gen. Richard B. Garnett
Cooper Huckabee
-
Henry T. Harrison
Patrick Gorman
-
Maj. Gen. John Bell Hood
Bo Brinkman
-
Maj. Walter H. Taylor
James Lancaster
-
Lt. Col. Arthur Fremantle
William Morgan Sheppard
-
Maj. Gen. Isaac R. Trimble
/
Narrator
(as Morgan Sheppard)
Kieran Mulroney
-
Maj. G. Moxley Sorrel
James Patrick Stuart
-
Col. E. Porter Alexander
(as Patrick Stuart)
Tim Ruddy
-
Maj. Charles Marshall
Royce D. Applegate
-
Brig. Gen. James L. Kemper
Taglines:
Fate made them soldiers. Courage made them heroes.
Release Date: 8 October 1993
Filming Locations: Adams County, Pennsylvania, USA
Box Office Details
Budget: $25,000,000
(estimated)
Gross: $10,769,960
(USA)
Technical Specs
Runtime:|
Sweden:
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UK:
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Netherlands:
Did You Know?
Trivia: Martin Sheen's role in the movie as General Lee was at one time slated for William Hurt, who bailed on the project when the studio financing the film at the time went broke. Tommy Lee Jones was approached, but could not take it because his schedule was filled. Robert Duvall was the next most likely candidate, having approached the producers and done research on the role, Virginia accent and all, until Martin Sheen signed on a sudden last-minute deal.
Goofs:
Continuity:
During the first sequences of shots of General John Buford (played by Sam Elliott) arriving at Gettysburg, his pipe shifts from his mouth between shots. More specifically, he removes his pipe to speak; then the pipe is back in his mouth; and finally he replaces his pipe in his mouth. Comments have also been made about smoke appearing from below Buford's pipe in this scene. While this does happen, that smoke is coming from behind him and is clearly not associated with his pipe.
Quotes: Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain:
Tell me something, Buster... What do you think of Negroes? Sergeant 'Buster' Kilrain:
Well, if you mean the race, I don't really know. This is not a thing to be ashamed of. The thing is, you cannot judge a race. Any man who judges by the group is a pea-wit. You take men one at a time. Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain:
You see to me there was never any difference. Sergeant 'Buster' Kilrain:
None at all? Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain:
None at all. Of course, I haven't known that many freed men... But those I knew in Bangor, Portland... You look in the eye, there was a man. There was a "divine spark," as my mother used to call it. That is all there is to it. Races are men. "What a piece of work is man. How infinite in faculties and form, and movement... How express and admirable. In action how like an angel.
[...]
User Review
Gettysburg: All Time Top 10
Rating:
I've been reading all the other comments pro & con with great interest,
and I just have to add my voice to the "pro" side for this ambitious
and stirring epic. Gettysburg is indeed one of my "all time top 10"
movies. I was especially curious to see it on initial theatrical
release because of the casting of Martin Sheen as Lee; were I to cast a
civil war movie, the name Martin Sheen would NEVER have entered my mind
as an appropriate performer for this make-or-break role. To my
astonishment, Sheen was MAGNIFICENT in his portrayal of Lee; in
appearance, demeanor, and aura of command, Sheen COMPLETELY sold me. A
stunning performance from an unexpected casting choice. I agree that
"Gods & Generals" would have benefited from Sheen's re-casting, though
Duvall did his best with the more limited part he was given.
Yeah, I agree that the script tended to a lot of bloviation and
speechifying by the principals. I do think we need to make allowance
for the fact that in this pre-technological 19th century era portrayed,
people DID communicate in ways that seem artificial and awkward by our
standards. This was a time when oratory, whether in churches, politics,
or general discourse, was valued both as communication and
entertainment. So even if the dialogue got a bit overblown, I was more
than willing to cut the production some slack.
The beards were a problem for me also, especially poor Tom Berenger's.
Still, he (like ALL the lead actors) transcended the limitations and
delivered what resonated for me as a credible interpretation of the
time and situation.
MANY details of the movie can be nit-picked, and of course, those
determined to hate "Gettysburg" can always find a reason, rational or
not. I was BLOWN AWAY by the quality and passion of this movie from my
first theatrical viewing and it was one of the very first DVD's I
purchased. After multiple viewings (all 4 hours) I'm still impressed
and grateful that Ted Turner had the desire and ambition to tackle such
a BIG project that would be sniped at from all corners for eternity. My
goodwill extends to the much weaker (but still defensible) "Gods and
Generals"; if they go ahead and produce "The Last Full Measure," I
promise I'll be first in line at the movie theater AND pre-order the
DVD!
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