Gods and Generals

[sbl]

You have to remember that Wild Wild West was science fiction, a precursor of "Steam Punk." Everything was exaggerated in the movie.

Now I've listed a bunch of recent movies and old movies with positive Confederate/Southern characters, or told from the Southern side of the story. The only one you seem to think is "fair" is GAG because, from what I get, there are two loyal slaves in the movie.

The "PC" issue was reversed in the older movies to get white Southern "a$$es in the seats" to watch the movies.

[Doug Cooper]

About 3 weeks prior to the release of this King of Turkeys, some PR folks came all the way up to Boise ID to screen a portion of the movie at a church. My church heard about the screening and put it in our bulletin. So I show up and watched what appeared to be the most religious portions of the movie strung together in a trailer of sorts. In the room was a family movie theme lobbying firm from Hollywood, a member of the local Black History Museum, a bit actor in the film and about 100 curious audience. The object of course was to drum up support among Christians for what Maxwell knew was about to be a disaster. They billed it as the "wholesome movie Hollywood hates to make."

The astoninshing thing was that the movie was not finished...only 3 weeks prior to release. When I asked the presenter how long the movie would be, I got this answer:

Ron is trying to decide whether he will remove some material to make it less than 4 hours but may add some more. We will know more soon. Huh?

So 3 weeks later I stood there in front of a packed house at Boise's major theatre for the premier talking about battlefield preservation and how if this film moved you, please consider donating to CWPT or your local historical preservation group (we had found a CS cannon in Idaho). The audience was moved all right...moved to leave early shaking their heads. It was awful. So awful that Maxwell's plan to give a portion of the profits to CWPT (as payback for reenactors working for free) never materialized because there weren't any profits. But, to his great credit, he donated 500K anyway - must have been his own money. Maxwell really cares about preservation...he just can't make movies.

[sbl]

"...They billed it as the "wholesome movie Hollywood hates to make.""

Doug,

They were framing GAG with a "family values voter" label as if church folks have to like the message over any any artistic merit.

Nice about Maxwell's $500K though.

[Steve Blancard]

The GaG scenes at Fredericksburg had the Rappahannock river flowing in the wrong direction...

[sbl]

I love that stuff. Glory had the battle going in the wrong direction.

The Russians are Coming, The Russians are Coming had the geese flying "south" in the wrong direction against a late afternoon sky in September on an US east coast island. It was filmed in California.

Whadda ya gonna do?

[DColeman]

No idea who your Leesburg residents are Pvt Coleman. Gimme a clue...

Brian,
Robert Duvall, or Bobby as he is known round these parts, used to live in The Plains, VA Southwest of Middleburg. It is my understanding he now owns a farm in Leesburg VA where I live. Never seen him though.

[40AcreMule]

I do like GWTW, The Littlest Rebel, The Raid, Drums in the Deep South, and Birth Of a Nation.

You like the Birth of A Nation?

I don't think I've ever met any reenactor who has publically admitted to liking TBoaN.

[5 th Alabama Infantry]

You like the Birth of A Nation?

I don't think I've ever met any reenactor who has publically admitted to liking TBoaN.

It is recognized as one the finest pieces of cinematography ever filmed.
President Wilson said it was “History writ with lightning.“

[40AcreMule]

It is recognized as one the finest pieces of cinematography ever filmed.

For cinematography and technical innovations, yes. But only film students view it for that reason and that reason alone. The story is reprehensible garbage.

The Birth of a Nation is one of the most vile, racist films ever made and is notable today only for its technical innovations and the fact that it was the first feature length film ever made. Beyond that it is nothing but historical lies and Ku Klux Klan propaganda. The film caused protests and riots when it was released. Yes, it became very popular and made a lot of money, but it almost single-handled sent civil rights even farther into a corner it could not escape from.

There are scenes in the film that promote the usual black stereotypes such as the black politicians sitting in session at the capitol. barefoot and eating chicken and watermelon. Most blacks in the movie are portrayed as villains and rapists lusting for white women. Except for the faithful "Uncle Toms" of course who obediently bow and scrape to every white in the film. Keep in mind there are only a handful of real African-Americans in the movie, the most black roles went to whites in black face because few black actors could be induced to be in such a nauseating production.

President Wilson said it was “History writ with lightning.“

That quote is still affixed to prints of the film that are screened for film students who watch the movie for technique, not history.
Wilson was a racist retrograde who attempted to diminish both justice and democracy for American blacks—who were enjoying little of either to begin with at that period. Upon taking power in Washington, Wilson's cabinet brought Jim Crow to Washington. Before his arrival, DC's large black population had access to federal jobs and even worked with whites in largely integrated circumstances. Wilson and his cronies ended that bringing about such things as segregated public toilets, removing black Federal employees from their jobs, and preventing the DC police and fire departments from hiring any more blacks.

I'd go on, but I am totally disgusted.

[sbl]

"I'd go on, but I am totally disgusted."

I actually read the Dixon's The Klansman! My chest became bruised from my jaw dropping at the hateful nonsense! The DVD copy I picked up has "Ride of the Valkyries" as a sound track for the "rescue!"