Gettysburg (film)
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | Gettysburg |
| Original title | Gettysburg |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1993 |
| length | Cinema version: 244 minutes Director’s Cut: 271 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 16 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Ronald F. Maxwell |
| script | Ronald F. Maxwell |
| production |
Moctesuma Esparza , Robert Katz , Ted Turner , Mace Neufeld |
| music | Randy Edelman |
| camera | Kees Van Oostrum |
| cut | Corky Ehlers |
| occupation | |
Gettysburg is an American movie from 1993, which happened during the Battle of Gettysburg on July 1 to 3. July 1863 during the American Civil War dramatized. The events are portrayed from the perspective of the main characters Colonel Chamberlain , General James Longstreet , General Robert E. Lee , Brigadier General John Buford and a few other officers.
The screenplay, directed by Ronald F. Maxwell , is based on the Pulitzer Prize- winning novel, The Killer Angels, by Michael Shaara . In 2002 director Ronald F. Maxwell directed Gods and Generals, a prequel to Gettysburg .
action
The film tells the story of the bloodiest battle ever fought on American soil, the Battle of Gettysburg. In the three days of this battle 5,500 soldiers lost their lives and about 38,500 more were wounded. It represents one of the turning points of the Civil War in favor of the northern states .
In addition to large-scale battle sequences, the conflicts between the commanding officers on the Confederate side , played by Martin Sheen and Tom Berenger, are dealt with in detail. In addition, the episode about General Armistead shows how strongly the war divided the entire American population into two camps: the general's former best friend, General Hancock, is now his enemy.
Another aspect is the recruitment and the social structure of the army. On the one hand, it tells of a unit that is “motivated” to fight despite its expired service period. On the other hand, it is shown that no professional soldiers meet here , but normal Americans. Ultimately, the militia soldiers saw themselves as free men who were used to electing their leaders according to democratic rules.
The historical events and the course of the battle are presented in detail and for the most part historically correct.
prolog
In the opening credits of the film, original photos of the officers and soldiers involved in the battle are superimposed on the image of the respective actor.
First day
During the Pennsylvania campaign, Confederate General Longstreet learns from spy Harrison that the Potomac Army is marching on him from the south. Longstreet immediately reports this to his Commander-in-Chief Robert E. Lee. Having lost contact with his cavalry , Lee decides to turn south and concentrate his three corps at the small town of Gettysburg .
U.S. Cavalry General Buford realizes the Northern Virginia Army is moving south. He decides to take up position on Seminary Ridge to keep the enemy off the hills south of Gettysburg.
The regimental commander Joshua Chamberlain was assigned 120 refractors . With a remarkable speech he convinces the mutineers to join his 20th Maine regiment .
The battle begins with the Confederate attack on Mc Pherson's Ridge. Buford holds his position against a growing superiority. When the Union soldiers finally retreat, advancing reinforcements have already occupied the hills of Gettysburg.
Second day
The 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment and some snipers from the 2nd United States Volunteer Sharpshooter Regiment (Berdan-Sharpshooters) are relocated to the Little Round Top south of Gettysburg at the last minute. Chamberlain quickly realizes the importance of his position on the far left flank of the Union Army when he is ordered to hold the position at all costs ("Hold to the last"). Shortly afterwards, the outnumbered southerners attacked. Chamberlain's men throw back attack after attack with heavy losses. When the 20th Maine runs out of ammunition, Chamberlain decides to launch a bayonet attack on the attacking enemy. The exhausted southerners are taken by surprise and pushed off the hill. A little later Union troops arrive for reinforcement - the Little Round Top is held.
third day
Since both flanks of the Union have repulsed the attacks from the previous day, Lee decides to launch a frontal attack on the center. He orders General Longstreet to attack Cemetery Ridge with three divisions . Longstreet thinks this is madness, but obeys anyway.
When Colonel Chamberlain is brought by his brother, who serves as a lieutenant under him in the same unit, the death report of his friend Sergeant Kilrain, all hell falls on Cemetery Ridge. 120 Confederate cannons begin firing for the upcoming attack. As Chamberlain looks for cover, he sees Corps Commander Hancock calmly riding through the hail of bullets and giving commands to defend himself ("There are times when a corps commander's life does not count." - There are moments when the life of a corps commander doesn't count) . 15,000 Northern Virginia Army soldiers march across the field in front of Cemetery Ridge as if in a parade. After a murderous battle, the attack finally collapses in the defensive fire of the Union soldiers. The brigade of General Armistead achieved as only the Union position, which is commanded by Armisteads friend Hancock. Armistead is mortally wounded and almost all commanders and most of the soldiers in the three divisions are killed or wounded. When Lee asks General Pickett to assemble his division for the defense, which was disorganized during the attack, the latter replies brokenly: "General Lee, I have no division." At that moment, Lee realizes how serious the defeat and how serious his decision to attack is on the heavily defended central position of the Union.
The battle ends with the catastrophic attack on Cemetery Ridge. Lee takes the blame for the debacle in front of his soldiers ("This is all my fault") and orders a retreat to Virginia.
Cast and dubbing
The German dubbing was created under the dialogue direction of Christoph Seeger by the dubbing company Hermes Synchron GmbH in Potsdam .
Production and publication
The film was originally intended to be shown on television as a mini-series. Because of the high costs, the TV broadcaster ABC dropped out of production, which is why media mogul Ted Turner took over the production and released the film in selected cinemas in the USA.
Much of the film was shot on location in and around Gettysburg. This was the first time that it was allowed to film there on such a large scale.
More than 5000 extras (English reenactors ) appear in the film. More than 40 faithfully reproduced guns were used in the scenes of Pickett's attack.
In the USA there is a TV version of the film that has been extended by approx. 15 minutes and was released there on VHS and laser disc (but not on DVD ). This version contains, among other things, some extended scenes with General Buford on the first day of the battle and a meeting between General Lee and his Generals Ewell , A. P. Hill , Rodes and Early after the first day of the battle. In Germany the film was not released in theaters, but was released on Blu-ray Disc and in DVD format in full length (271 minutes).
Trivia
- Producer Ted Turner made a cameo as Colonel Waller T. Patton during Pickett's attack.
- Filmmaker Ken Burns plays an aide to General Hancocks during Pickett's attack.
- Actor Richard Jordan passed away shortly after the shooting ended.
- Although the production seems to strive for the highest possible authenticity in plot and setting, the portrayal of the British battler Arthur Fremantle (played by James Lancaster ) was probably incorrect. Fremantle was a captain in the British Coldstream Guards and at the same time a lieutenant colonel in the British Army. He had taken a vacation for his trip to the USA and was not on an official mission. Accordingly, it is highly unlikely that he should have worn uniform (as shown in the film) during his trip, especially since he mentions in his notes that he only had a single civilian suit on the way.
The British uniform shown in the film is also historically incorrect. In the year of the Battle of Gettysburg, the British Army still wore the uniform model from 1856. For officers, a red braided silk cord was prescribed on the left shoulder (to fix the sash worn over the shoulder); colored cloth shoulder flaps for officers (as incorrectly shown here) were only introduced in 1881/87, for the field uniform, but not for the parade skirt , in which Fremantle is represented.
The badges of rank made of braids, stars and crowns were not worn on the shoulder but on the collar until 1868: Fremantle, as a guard captain, would have to mark a crown at the end of the collar in addition to the gold braid running along the upper and lower edge of the collar; but this is missing. The second gold braid of a captain is also missing on the cuffs. The regimental badge (star of the Order of the Garter ) and the surrounding black silk ribbon with an oak leaf pattern are missing from the headgear ( forage cap ) . Finally, the sword belt should be colored white and not brown, as shown. - Colonel Chamberlain wears (at least temporarily) the uniform of a Lieutenant Colonel with the two silver leaves. The silver eagle would be correct.
- The arming of the officers with swords and the command on horseback directly behind the fire line are also historically inaccurate. While the sword was officially part of the officer's uniform, it also made the wearer a preferred target for enemy snipers . Even after the first skirmishes, surviving officers quickly got used to adapting themselves optically to the common soldiers.
Reviews
"A well-photographed, moving film that depicts the course of the battle from the patriotic point of view of the losers at the time," said the lexicon of international film . The TV magazine Prisma praised the film in more detail:
“In grandiose pictures, director Maxwell ('Little Beasts') depicts the problems, thoughts and fears of officers and soldiers from both warring parties, shows tactical skirmishes and strategic mistakes such as refinements and does not ignore the unbelievable brutality of the slaughter of this war. But it does not bathe in superfluous splatter effects. Overall, one of the best films of 1993, which - despite the outstanding and well-known cast - was unfortunately not shown in the cinema. "
Web links
- Gettysburg in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Gettysburg bei Rotten Tomatoes (English)
- Gettysburg on timeout.com (English)
- Comparison of the cuts from the theatrical version to the Director's Cut from Gettysburg at Schnittberichte.com
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Gettysburg. In: synchronkartei.de. German synchronous file , accessed on January 19, 2017 .
- ^ Gettysburg. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed March 2, 2017 .
- ↑ See prisma.de