Movie Review – Gettysburg (1993)

Michael Shaara’s award-winning novel The Killer Angels brought the famous Battle of Gettysburg from the American Civil War (a.k.a. War Between the States) into a new perspective.

Nineteen years after the first publishing of The Killer Angels the world was presented with an epic scale film adaptation of the novel.  Released in 1993, the film was simply called Gettysburg.

Directed by Ronald F. Maxwell, produced by Turner Pictures, and given an outstanding music score by Randy Edelman, Gettysburg stars Tom Berenger as Confederate General James Longstreet, Jeff Daniels as USA Colonel Joshua Chamberlain, and Martin Sheen as CSA General Robert E. Lee.  Supporting them are Sam Elliott as USA General John Buford, Stephen Lang as CSA General George Pickett, Kevin Conway as USA Sgt. Buster Kilrain, C. Thomas Howell as USA Lt. Thomas Chamberlain, and Richard Jordan as CSA General Lewis Armistead.

Fans of the Civil War prequel Gods and Generals will notice that most of the actors play the same role in both films even though ten years separates the two movies.  Apart from different actors playing the roles of Generals Lee and Longstreet, the biggest difference is that Stephen Lang plays two separate roles, both of them major characters.  In Gods and Generals Lang stars in the role of CSA General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, and in Gettysburg he has a smaller but still important role in that of CSA General George Pickett.

Gettysburg begins in late June of 1863 after the Confederate victory at the Battle of Chancellorsville.  General Robert E. Lee has taken the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia north through Maryland and into southern Pennsylvania.  By taking his army north he hopes to accomplish two tasks: show the Yankees that their towns can also be threatened by the war and having their citizens put pressure on their politicians about ending the bloody war, and by drawing the Army of the Potomac out into the open so it can be destroyed, thus leaving Washington unguarded and ripe for attack.

Remember that by this point in time CSA General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, General Lee’s right hand man and arguably one of the greatest generals in the Confederacy, has been killed.  He was accidentally wounded by friendly fire at the Battle of Chancellorsville and died a few days later.  A couple of months prior to that General Lee suffered from a minor heart attack.  These are heavy factors in the mind of General Lee, and at this point in time he wants this bloody war to end.  He’ll take a few risks and attempt to destroy the Army of the Potomac if he’s presented with an opportunity.

Gettysburg (1993) – (c) New Line Cinema

On June 29, 1863, Henry Thomas Harrison (Cooper Huckabee), an actor who became a spy for the Confederacy, makes a startling discovery.  He finds Union cavalry in northern Maryland, roughly twenty miles away from the Army of Northern Virginia.  Where there’s cavalry, infantry will follow.  Alarmed by the northern speed of the Army of the Potomac, Harrison races north and finds the Confederate encampment.

Harrison presents this information to CSA General James Longstreet (Tom Berenger), who then takes Harrison to meet with CSA General Robert E. Lee (Martin Sheen).  As crazy as the information about the Federalists sounds, Lee cannot afford to not take the spy’s report as false.  Lee orders his army to turn south and meet the approaching Union army.  It’ll be a confrontation at a Pennsylvanian town called Gettysburg.

Meanwhile, in the Army of the Potomac, Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (Jeff Daniels) is now in command of the 20th Maine Infantry.  His younger brother, Thomas Chamberlain (C. Thomas Howell), has been promoted to the rank of lieutenant and he’s one of the regiment’s officers.  During the battles, Joshua frequently has his brother positioned some distance away from him so that a stray cannon shot won’t kill both of them and give their mother real bad news.

One morning Sgt. Buster Kilrain (Kevin Conway) wakes Colonel Chamberlain with news that they’re about to receive a whole company of mutineers, 120 men, from the disbanded 2nd Maine.  The men signed a three-year agreement to fight with the 2nd Maine.  When the 2nd Maine was disbanded and the rest of the men who signed a two-year agreement were sent home, the 120 men who mistakenly signed a longer contract decided to rebel and no longer fight.  Company commanders decided to send the mutineers to the 20th Maine for Col. Chamberlain to handle.

Gettysburg (1993) – (c) New Line Cinema

Upon meeting the men from Maine, Col. Chamberlain shows them respect and gratitude.  He orders the cooks to feed them and tells the mutineers a little bit of the history of his regiment and how they’ve also been fighting hard in this war.  Chamberlain’s speech works and 114 of the 120 men decide to fight with the 20th Maine, thus eliminating their need for a court martial.  The remaining six men are kept under guard while the Army of the Potomac continues its fast march north to Pennsylvania.

Gettysburg (1993) – (c) New Line Cinema

Meanwhile, General John Buford’s (Sam Elliott) dismounted cavalry unit spots Confederate dismounted cavalry moving south into Gettysburg.  General Buford’s men are their first and have the advantage of choosing their ideal spot for battle.  A problem arises when General Buford learns that it’s not just Confederate cavalry heading towards the town.  Reports claim that it’s the entire Confederate army heading his way.

Gettysburg (1993) – (c) New Line Cinema

General Buford places his men behind a small stone wall atop of Seminary Ridge, just west of the town of Gettysburg.  The battle begins when a division of A. P. Hill’s corps attacks General Buford’s men, believing them to be from a local militia guarding Gettysburg and not the leading edge of the Army of the Potomac.

Buford’s cavalry initially holds the line of battle on Seminary Ridge, but they’re hit hard by Confederate reinforcements.  Just as his line is threatening to fold, General Reynolds (John Rothman) arrives with reinforcements and the Federalists hold their position.  Back at the Confederate headquarters, General Lee receives news about the engagement but is hesitant to commit more troops to the fight.  The general has no idea what’s happening with the Union army as General J.E.B. Stuart has not reported in a number of days.  In other words, General Lee is operating in the blind.

Gettysburg (1993) – (c) New Line Cinema

CSA General Ewell’s corp advances on Gettysburg from the north and attempts to flank General Buford’s men.  Upon hearing this news General Lee recognizes the advantage and orders his men to attack Seminary Ridge and push back the Federalists.  The battle continues and General Reynolds is killed by a Confederate sniper.

Gettysburg (1993) – (c) New Line Cinema

The Confederate attack is successful and General Buford’s men are pushed back and off of Seminary Ridge.  We later learn that General Ewell makes a tactical error and fails to seize the high ground of the neighboring Cemetery Hill.  Instead, the Army of the Potomac takes control of Cemetery Hill along with Cemetery Ridge and the high ground south of Gettysburg, forming a solid defensive line.

Gettysburg (1993) – (c) New Line Cinema

As the first day of battle draws to an end, Lt. Chamberlain takes a few minutes to speak with some Confederate soldiers captured in battle.  He learns that the soldiers aren’t fighting for slavery but rather states’ rights, the concept that states should be allowed to govern themselves versus an overall ruling by the federal government.  Lt. Chamberlain reveals that he’s there to fight against slavery and for the preservation of the Union.  The meeting concludes with each soldier offering to meet the other in Hell after they die.

The somber moment continues when Col. Chamberlain’s men discover an escaped slave by a creek.  Although the man doesn’t speak English, Chamberlain is in awe of seeing such a human being, something that he’s only heard about back home in Maine.  The colonel orders for a medic to examine the man’s wounds and offer him whatever treatment is available.

After meeting the runaway slave, Col. Chamberlain and Sgt. Kilrain have a discussion about their personal beliefs.  Both of them agree that those people who judge a man by his race are basically bigots and fools.  Sgt. Kilrain has seen such violence back home in Ireland while Col. Chamberlain gained his views from the world of academia.

Gettysburg (1993) – (c) New Line Cinema

That night CSA Major General George Pickett (Stephen Lang), a flamboyant but dedicated man, arrives at the Confederate headquarters with his corps along with his corps commanders, Generals James Kemper (Royce D. Applegate), Richard Garnett (Andrew Prine) and Lewis Armistead (Richard Jordan).  The four men meet with General Longstreet and spend time bantering around the fire pit.  They also meet British Colonel Arthur Freemantle (James Lancaster), a soldier observing the Confederate army on behalf of Her Royal Majesty.

While at the camp, Armistead talks to Longstreet and expresses his desire to spend some time with his old friend General Winfield Hancock.  The only problem is that Hancock is serving with the Army of the Potomoc.  General Longstreet doesn’t see the two old friends talking to each other as a problem.  He advises Armistead to send a rider with a white flag over to the Union lines and arranging a meeting with General Hancock.

At the Federal headquarters, General Hancock (Brian Mallon) commends General Buford on his job of defending the Confederate attack on Seminary Ridge.  Hancock then mentions the death of General Reynolds and begins reminiscing about the three of them, Hancock, Reynolds and Armistead, and how they were such close friends.  Hancock knows that Pickett’s Division is opposing him on the other side of Gettysburg, and somewhere over there is Lewis Armistead.  He’s regretting the upcoming battle where he and Armistead will be forced to battle one another.

Gettysburg (1993) – (c) New Line Cinema

Back at the Confederate headquarters, General Isaac Trimble (W. Morgan Sheppard) reports to General Robert E. Lee and makes a request to be removed from General Ewell’s command.  Trimble makes it clear that Cemetery Hill was unoccupied when they pushed the Federalists off of Seminary Ridge, and they should have taken Cemetery Hill.  It was a painfully obvious tactical move that Ewell failed to see.  General Lee informs Trimble that his seeking of transfer will not be necessary.

July 2 arrives and it’s the beginning of the second day of battle at Gettysburg.

Gettysburg (1993) – (c) New Line Cinema

The Confederate leaders analyze a map of the surrounding area and form a battle plan.  It’s noted that the Union forces are strong on top of Cemetery Hill and Cemetery Ridge, but their forces are believed to be weak at the end of the ridge.  Two hills at the base of the ridge are believed to be unoccupied.  If the Confederates can attack those hills then they’ll have a perfect striking position to attack the Union’s flank.  Of course, these beliefs are based on battlefield reports as General J.E.B. Stuart is still nowhere to be found.

General Lee insists on attacking this perceived weakness on the Union’s lines.  He orders General Longstreet to attack the unoccupied hills and seize the high ground, using it as a platform to attack the Union’s flank.  Each moment that they delay gives the Union more time to reinforce and strengthen their already strong defensive lines.

Gettysburg (1993) – (c) New Line Cinema

Across the battlefield the Union army continues massing men on top of the high ground.  The 20th Maine is sent to Little Round Top, the first of the two unoccupied hills at the end of the Union’s defensive line.

Longstreet’s men are forced to move into position and attack the hills despite being visible to the Federalists on the higher ground.  General John Hood (Patrick Gorman) tries to convince General Longstreet that this is a bad plan and they need to move further south to be more effective, but Longstreet won’t listen to Hood’s pleas.  General Longstreet himself was making the same arguments to General Lee, but Lee’s insists in attacking in this manner.  Therefore Longstreet’s men will also attack in that manner.  There’s no time to reorganize as this attack is part of a grander attack on the Union lines, and it depends on Longstreet’s men to attack the correct position on time.

Gettysburg (1993) – (c) New Line Cinema

While Longstreet’s men are moving into position, the 20th Maine arrives on top of Little Round Top.  There Colonel Chamberlain is given his instructions.  His men are the absolute left flank of the Union army.  They cannot withdraw.  They cannot fail.  The 20th Maine must make a stand to the very end, protecting the Union flank at all costs.

Confederate forces push their way through the Devil’s Den outcropping of boulders and begin making their assault up Little Round Top.  Col. Chamberlain’s man repeal wave after wave of Confederate attacks, but each attack brings the enemy closer and closer to the top of the mountain.  At one point the Confederates reach the Union line and the soldiers have to use hand-to-hand combat until the Confederates retreat and re-organize themselves for the next attack.

During the fighting Sgt. Kilrain is shot a few times in the arm and severely wounded.  He continues fighting until the end of the battle before he’s sent to the hospital for treatment.

Gettysburg (1993) – (c) New Line Cinema

The men of the 20th Maine are wounded and nearly out of ammunition.  Their reserves are depleted and nobody is in a position to reinforce them.  Knowing that they cannot withdraw, nor can they make another defensive stand against the enemy, Colonel Chamberlain is left with one option.  Attack.  He orders a bayonet charge and has his men run down the mountain and straight into the enemy line.  The risky maneuver works brilliantly and the Confederates flee.  Those who don’t make it out of the area are captured and taken prisoner.  The Union’s flank is preserved and Colonel Chamberlain’s actions on Little Round Top earn him a Congressional Medal of Honor.

General Hood was severely wounded in the conflict.  When General Longstreet visits him in the hospital, Hood repeats that he should have been allowed to go further to the right and attacked Big Round Top, using that hill as a base of operations to attack the Federalists.  The only person who wouldn’t agree to that plan was General Lee.  Longstreet reports the failed outcome to Lee back at headquarters, and he reminds him that attacking the Union flank is still an option.  Lee responds that he will think about it, and Longstreet informs him that they only have enough artillery left for one good fight.  The next day will decide the fate of the battle.

Gettysburg (1993) – (c) New Line Cinema

That evening CSA General J.E.B. Stuart (Joseph Fuqua) finally arrives at the Confederate headquarters.  General Lee reprimands the man for his failure of scouting the terrain and the enemy, leaving the Army of Northern Virginia in the blind and suffering for it.  Stuart attempts to resign his position but Lee will not allow it.  Instead he sends Stuart out to go scout the enemy and redeem himself.

Gettysburg (1993) – (c) New Line Cinema

The next morning Generals Lee and Longstreet formulate a plan to attack the Federalists.  Longstreet informs Lee that overnight the Federalists have heavily reinforced their flanks and also amassed a heavy amount of artillery.  Lee sees an opportunity to instead attack the middle of the Union lines where he believes they will be at their weakest.  If the Confederates can break through the middle of the line, they’ll split the Union army and be able to press their attack and destroy it.  Longstreet sees Lee’s plan as a suicide instead of a glorious and final attack against the Federalists.

On the opposite site of the battlefield, the 20th Maine is replaced by fresh troops on top of Little Round Top and they’re sent to the safest spot in the Union lines . . . the middle of Cemetery Ridge.

Gettysburg (1993) – (c) New Line Cinema

Longstreet and Lee ride down to get a better look at the Union lines.  Sure enough, the Union looks to be at its weakest right there in the middle of its defensive line.  If they bombard it with a massive artillery strike, then it stands to reason that their invincible soldiers can cross the mile of open ground and launch a successful attack.  Lee orders for Pickett’s Division to lead the ground attack as his men are the freshest troops available for battle.  After giving his battle orders, General Lee rides past the soldiers and rallies the troops.

Gettysburg (1993) – (c) New Line Cinema

General Longstreet proceeds with giving his instructions to the artillery commander as well as the generals in Pickett’s Division.  Afterwards, Harrison, the spy who successfully located the Union army before the start of the battle, speaks to Longstreet and expresses his desire to join the glorious charge against the Federalists.  Before granting his permission, Longstreet informs the spy of what will really happen to the troops, going into detail about the various obstacles and how most of them will be killed.  Knowing that it’s a suicide attack, Harrison still joins the division and assists with the attack.

The 20th Maine arrive at the Federal Center, and General Hancock commends Col. Chamberlain for his superior skills at defending Little Round Top.  Hancock then discusses the unfortunate position of having to face his old friend Armistead on the opposite side of the battlefield.  Afterwards, Lt. Chamberlain finds his older brother and informs him that he recently visited the hospital and discovered that Sgt. Kilrain died from his wounds.

Gettysburg (1993) – (c) New Line Cinema

At that moment the massive Confederate artillery bombardment begins.  Shells cross the battlefield and rain down upon the Union lines, causing the men to stay low and seek shelter.  Col. Chamberlain does so, and while he’s on the ground he witnesses General Hancock staying on his horse, refusing to seek shelter.  This act of bravery inspires Colonel Chamberlain.

Gettysburg (1993) – (c) New Line Cinema

Unfortunately for the Confederates, their artillery mostly overshoots the Union positions and causes little damage.  It’s just a matter of time until they run low on ammunition and it’s time to send in the forces.  General Longstreet finally gives his permission for General Pickett to assemble his men and commence their attack.

Gettysburg (1993) – (c) New Line Cinema

Pickett’s Division assembles and the commanders give their order to advance.  They do so and the long march to the Union lines begins.  As predicted by General Longstreet, the soldiers are constantly under fire by the Union artillery.  The casualties continue to increase and the Confederates take a beating as they cross the mile of open field.  The casualties and death toll increase dramatically when the Confederates reach a wooden fence blocking their path.  During this point a stray bullet wounds General Hancock, knocking him off his horse.

Gettysburg (1993) – (c) New Line Cinema

After General Garnett is killed, General Armistead rallies the troops and sticks his sword through his hat.  He leads what’s left of his men to the Union lines in a concentrated attack.  The Confederates reach the stone wall protecting the Federalists, but that’s as far as the attack reaches.  The Union forces repeal the attack and General Armistead is severely wounded.  General Kemper is also shot and wounded, but when Union soldiers try to capture him he’s rescued by Confederates and returned to the Confederate lines.

Thomas Chamberlain tends to the mortally wounded General Armistead as the battle continues to fight around them.  Armistead asks to see his old friend General Hancock, but Chamberlain informs him that Hancock was wounded as well.  Armistead asks Chamberlain to tell Hancock that he sends his regrets and that he is very sorry for everything.  Lt. Chamberlain promises to carry out Armistead’s last request.

Gettysburg (1993) – (c) New Line Cinema

The Confederate attack fails and the remaining men limp their way the mile back to their lines.  General Lee meets with the mortally wounded General Kemper, and he expresses his sorrow about the attack.  Lee takes full responsibility for the failed attack.  After that Lee finds General Pickett and instructs him to use his division to form a defense against any attacking Federalists.  Pickett informs Lee that he has no division.  His men were wiped out in the failed attack.

Gettysburg (1993) – (c) New Line Cinema

The final day of battle concludes with both armies collecting their dead and wounded.  Joshua Chamberlain finds his younger brother and the two of them hug one another, each of them overwhelmed with the emotions from what happened on the battlefield.  Gettysburg ends with a montage telling what happens to the commanding officers during and after the American Civil War.

So is Gettysburg a good film?

Gettysburg is an epic film that will not only appease to history and Civil War buffs, but many film goers as well.  The acting is great, the battle scenes are superb, the music is fantastic, and the event itself is simply mind-boggling.

If you’re read Michael Shaara’s The Killer Angels, then you’ll feel right at home in Gettysburg.  A significant amount of dialogue has been used from the book, and almost all of the scenes are represented in the film as well.  Both the book and the film compliment each other quite well.

Perhaps the biggest downside to Gettysburg is its running time.  At 254 minutes (over four hours), you’ll need to set aside quite a bit of time if you want to sit back and enjoy this film.  That’s even more of a problem for schools that want to show this film in their History classes.

Gettysburg (1993) – movie trailer

If you love American history, or are a fan of military films, then you cannot go wrong with 1993′s epic film Gettysburg.  This doesn’t matter if you’re a fan of the Union or Confederacy.  Both sides are represented very well in this film.  Once you’re finished watching the movie go out and purchase its soundtrack.  And then, if you haven’t done so already, read Michael Shaara’s The Killer Angels.

Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain – “Generals can do anything. There’s nothing so much like a god on earth as a General on a battlefield.”

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[speaking about General Pickett] Lieutenant General James Longstreet – “His record at West Point is still the talk of both armies. He graduated last in his class, dead last. Quite a feat, when you consider his classmates.”

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James L. Kemper – “Virginia would not allow itself to be ruled by… by some, uh, king over there in London. And it’s not about to let itself be ruled by some president in Washington! Virginia, by God, sir, is gonna be run by *Virginians*!”

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[after giving Col. Chamberlain his orders to defend Little Round Top] Colonel Strong Vincent – “Now we’ll see how professors fight.”

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General Robert E. Lee – “To be a good soldier you must love the army. To be a good commander you must be able to order the death of the thing you love.”

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Brigadier General Lewis A. Armistead – “Virginians! Virginians! For your land – for your homes – for your sweethearts – for your wives – for Virginia! Forward… march!”