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This 4-hour epic starring Jeff Daniels and Sam Elliott is a must-see Civil War film

This 4-hour epic starring Jeff Daniels and Sam Elliott is a must-see Civil War film

Summary

  • Gettysburg is an underrated war film based on true events, with a brilliant cast and an accurate portrayal of the Battle of Gettysburg.
  • The film’s storytelling is incredible: it covers all three days of the battle with historical accuracy and features a great cast.
  • Filmed on a real battlefield, Gettysburg brings the history of the Civil War to life through the extraordinary performances of actors like Jeff Daniels.



Long epic films can make time fly or feel like they will never end, but fortunately Ronald F. Maxwell’s war epic Gettysburg agrees with the first. The film deals with the story of the three-day battle between the American Union and the Confederate Army and everything that led to it. Gettysburg is more than just a Civil War film, it is also a film about one of the most important battles in American history.

With a gross revenue of $12.7 million on a budget of $20 million, Gettysburg is incredibly underrated. Although it should be considered one of the best war films of all time, it was only shown in theaters on a limited basis and did not have the impact it deserved. The film finally gained a wider audience since its release in 1993, and many recognized it as a war film that radically changed the genre. After all, it is the first film about the Battle of Gettysburg. Not only is it the first of its kind, but it is also simply an excellent film with a great cast that maintains historical accuracy.


Related

Where can you see Gettysburg?

The 2011 American Civil War documentary Gettysburg delves into the real-life experiences of soldiers and can be viewed on multiple platforms.


Gettysburg is a great film about the American Civil War

The entire four hours are worth it for the flawless storytelling

GettysburgThe detailed coverage of all three days of the battle is what makes the film’s plot so incredible. Each day changes the focus of the film, allowing viewers to gain a true understanding of the characters and their importance in this battle. Not to mention, changing the focus each day prevents the film from dragging on any longer than necessary. Four and a half hours is a long runtime. But Gettysburg manages to convey meaning in every minute of the film with these three storylines.


Another film documenting the battle is the
Gettysburg
Documentary film that aired on the History Channel in 2011.

The plot of Gettysburg is not the only aspect that makes it a great film. The American National Park Service allowed the film to be shot on the real battlefield of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania. This was the first time a film was allowed to be shot on this site. The scenery takes the audience back in time so they can actually see what the battle looked like. The fact that the filmmakers convinced the National Park Service to allow filming for Gettysburg on the battlefield really shows the dedication they put into making this a great Civil War film.


Gettysburg has a brilliant cast with Jeff Daniels, Sam Elliott and others

They really bring the characters to life

Moxley Sorrel in Gettysburg.

As mentioned, Martin Sheen is another outstanding actor who stars in “Gettysburg” alongside Jeff Daniels and Sam Elliot. This type of cast should make it one of the best ensembles in war films. All of these actors have very strong reputations as outstanding performers regardless of genre, so it’s no wonder that each of them brought the Civil War characters to life with so much emotional depth. They all convey an understanding of the viewpoints each of the characters took during the battle and the war as a whole.

Jeff Daniels stars in another film about the American Civil War:
Gods and generals.


Given the experience most of the actors have with war films, it is no wonder that they deliver outstanding performances in Gettysburgh. They know exactly what it takes to perform in an action-packed and tense environment. Acting as a soldier, No matter which side you are on, it requires a certain way of behaving. Each of these Gettysburg The actors obviously know how to do it. These performances are convincing and make the film a great work about the Civil War.

Is Gettysburg historically accurate?

The Battle of Gettysburg certainly took place

Robert E. Lee (Martin Sheen) and James Longstreet (Tom Berenger) in Gettysburg.


Apart from the fact that the Battle of Gettysburg was real, the characters the actors played were also real people. Of course, the dialogues they had with each other were in Gettysburg is certainly fictional. Some plot points were also fictional, such as when Chamberlain and his soldiers moved into the center of the Union on the third day. Therefore, there are some changes compared to the Gettysburg The true story of the film. Despite these changes, the film largely accurately depicts the historical events of the Battle of Gettysburg and the days leading up to it.

Although
Gettysburg

Although it contains some historical inaccuracies, it is one of the most accurate depictions of the Battle of Gettysburg.

Gettysburg is also Based on Michael Shaara’s book The Killer Angelswhich is also very close to real combat. The film also does justice to the literary source material, as it remains faithful to the original storyline. Without the accurate depiction of the battle in this book, Ronald F. Maxwell’s screenplay might not have been faithful to the actual historical events. The novel ultimately allows Gettysburg to have a great plot and a precise storyline.


Although Gettysburg has some historical inaccuracies, but offers one of the most accurate depictions of the Battle of Gettysburg. This accuracy, along with the cast and plot, make it a highly underrated war film. There are other great Civil War films, but Gettysburg also stands out among these and is a must-see not only for fans of the genre.

Gettysburg 1993 movie poster

Gettysburg

Gettysburg is a 1993 historical war drama that adapts the novel The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara, written and directed by Ronald F. Maxwell. The film tells the story of the titular battle during the Civil War, examining the strategies of both sides and the personal stories of the characters as the soldiers prepare for one of the bloodiest battles in American history.

director
Ronald F. Maxwell

Sales Partner
New Line Cinema

Authors
Ronald F. Maxwell

Pour
Tom Berenger, Jeff Daniels, Martin Sheen, Kevin Conway, C. Thomas Howell, Richard Jordan, James Lancaster, Stephen Lang, Sam Elliott, Maxwell Caulfield

Duration
254 minutes