Jackson maintains steadfast discipline in his ranks during the battle despite suffering a wound to his left hand from a spent ball. During his evacuation, his litter bearers are targeted by artillery and drop Jackson on the ground. Before long, the confederate capital of Richmond is threatened by the Union army under McClellan. He survives by shielding himself with a corpse until nightfall; eventually he and surviving members of 20th Maine are ordered to retreat and spend 2 nights on the battlefield, sleeping with the dead. United States Senators George Allen (R-Virginia) and Robert Byrd (D-West Virginia) also have cameo roles, both playing Confederate officers, Phil Gramm (R-Texas) appears as a member of the Virginia Legislature early in the film, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-California) plays a Union officer, and Rep. Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts) appears as an Irish Brigade officer. It's just an entirely different story, and I have to tell you, I've heard from literally thousands of people through my website, and I get emails every day and try to be as accessible as I can, and the overwhelming percentage of those that wrote me said, 'How could you let them butcher your book like that?' Gods and Generals is widely viewed as championing the Lost Cause ideology by creating a presentation more favorable to the Confederacy. We are introduced to these men in the years just prior to the war and goes until the days just before the decisive Battle of Gettysburg. Later, Jackson discovers the child has died from scarlet fever and he begins to cry.

"Gods and Generals" is the kind of movie beloved by people who never go to the movies, because they are primarily interested in something else--the Civil War, for example--and think historical accuracy is a virtue instead of an attribute. After this there is a series of thrilling confrontations.

Martin Sheen was prevented from reprising his role as Lee due to contractual obligations to The West Wing. The book follows four of the most influential military commanders of the American Civil War. Darius N. Couch was portrayed by actor Carsten Norgaard. State's rights, slavery, and the vast cultural gulf between north and south all contribute to the national turmoil, which eventually breaks out in full fledged civil war. Woodworth concludes that the film, through "judicial omission," presents "a distorted view of the Civil War. In the final days before the imminent battle of Gettysburg, we witness him slowly succumb to his wounds and the infections brought on after amputation. Jackson is soon reunited with his wife and newborn child just before the Battle of Chancellorsville. The final chapter of the book shows that Lee decide to invade the north to gamble everything in order to end the war. At Antietam his entire division is put in a useless position and never sees any action. The movie was filmed in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, western Maryland and in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. In 2003, the film score was composed by John Frizzell, with some minor contributions by Randy Edelman, who composed the score for the previous Gettysburg. Synopsis

| Taglines Jackson and Lee return to the city, and Lee is confronted by an angry citizen whose house has been destroyed by Union artillery. In the Director's Cut the entire sequence at Antietam is shown; the Antietam battle scenes mostly depict the fighting in Miller's Cornfield, where soldiers from the opposite sides fired at each other from just a few meters away. Directed by Ronald F. Maxwell, the film is an epic, dramatic prequel to "Gettysburg," the classic 1993 film also directed by Maxwell.

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. While scouting a path at night, Jackson is caught in no-mans-land between the 2 armies and badly wounded by his own men, who had mistaken him and his staff for Union cavalry. [12], Author Jeff Shaara originally liked the movie,[13] but he later said that he was disappointed it wasn't more similar to the book. [7], The director's cut was released for Blu-ray Disc on May 24, 2011. He excoriates the film for allegedly implying, in agreement with Lost Cause mythology, that the South was more "sincerely Christian." [6] Although Tom Berenger desired to reprise his Gettysburg role as James Longstreet (which he called his favorite role) he was unavailable because of scheduling difficulties. He also criticizes the relative lack of attention given to the motivations of Union soldiers fighting in the war.

He is called to battle at the Union invasion of Fredericksburg. Later, when Booth is offered the chance to meet with Lincoln, he refuses. Most of the extras were American Civil War reenactors, who provided their own equipment and worked without pay. When the army is stuck on the wrong side of a river at Fredricksburg he finds a way across, but cannot convince his commanders to use it. [11], Woodworth criticized the portrayal of slaves as being "generally happy" with their condition. help you understand the book. He said, "It's enormously different, it's radically different from the book. Gods and Generals is a 2003 American period war drama film written and directed by Ronald F. As the book begins when we find all of them a bit uncomfortable with life during peace time. "[11], Historian William B. Feis similarly criticized the director's decision "to champion the more simplistic-and sanitized-interpretations found in post-war "Lost Cause" mythology". Jackson's body is returned to Lexington, accompanied by VMI Cadets and covered by the new Confederate flag. With Stephen Lang, Robert Duvall, Jeff Daniels, Donzaleigh Abernathy. everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Gods and Generals. In the world of Gods and Generals, slavery has nothing to do with the Confederate cause. He described it as "a Civil War movie that Trent Lott might enjoy" and said of its Lost Cause themes, "If World War II were handled this way, there'd be hell to pay." He was a professor of "Natural and Revealed Religion" and takes some time getting used to leading his troops. At one point, two Irish units are forced into battle against one another, to the anguish of a Southern Irishman who believes he is killing his kin. Outside the city, Lee, James Longstreet and Jackson have prepared an elaborate defense on Marye's Heights outside the town, and the movie focuses on Confederate defenses behind a formidable stone wall. Chamberlain is the only character with no military experience before the war. He is put in full command of his regiment during the midst of the battle of Fredricksburg, leading his men to within one hundred yards of the enemy before getting pinned down. The battle was seen mostly from the perspectives of Jackson (who played a major strategic role in the battle) and Chamberlain (whose corps was held in reserve). "[14], The Bootleg Series Vol. Ted Turner has a cameo in the film as Colonel Waller T. Patton. 8: Tell Tale Signs, "Ron Maxwell Interview - 'Gods and Generals' Extended Directors Cut", "Interview with Best-Selling Author Jeff Shaara", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gods_and_Generals_(film)&oldid=979138619, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2013, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Brian Mallon as Brigadier General and later Major General, This page was last edited on 19 September 2020, at 01:07. | He also faulted the film for its music and "pithy quotations."[10]. Meanwhile, Chamberlain makes his transition from teacher to military officer and practices drilling his soldiers, and is taught military tactics by Col. Adelbert Ames, the commander of the 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Seen from the points of view of leaders such as Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, Winfield Scott Hancock and Robert E. Lee, the film begins just after the attack on Fort Sumter in April 1861, and culminates with the battle of Chancellorsville in May of 1863. Major Jackson, who is a professor at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington at the outset of the war, leaves his family behind to do battle at Manassas Junction. [11] Woodworth called the movie "the most pro-Confederate film since Birth of a Nation, a veritable celluloid celebration of slavery and treason." The Battle of Bull Run, which is the first battle of the war goes in favor of the south, but the advantage does not last. They plan an audacious flanking attack of their own and collapse Hooker's army into a near panicked retreat. Plot Keywords While the southern commanders enjoy incredible successes, Hancock is forced to watch his commanding officers bumble and fumble the battles. Based on the best-selling historical novel by Jeff Shaara, "Gods and Generals" covers the events of the American Civil War before the climactic battle of Gettysburg.

Chamberlain leads an unsuccessful attack against Longstreet's defenses, led by Brig. Part One, Chapters 1-5 Summary. [citation needed]. 8: Tell Tale Signs. Although his men initially rout the opponents, they quickly become confused in the melee, and Jackson's attack is stalled. The new commander of the Union Army, General Hooker, outflanks the confederates and catches General Lee off guard. The soundtrack is notable for containing a new song commissioned for the movie and written and performed by Bob Dylan, Cross the Green Mountain. Outside Chancellorsville, Lee identifies that the southern army faces an opposing force almost twice their size. Chamberlain and the defeated Union soldiers depart Fredericksburg. Jackson is asked by a retreating General Barnard Bee for assistance against the Federal army who is pursuing them after a brief stand on Matthews Hill. Gods and Generals Summary & Study Guide Jeffrey Shaara This Study Guide consists of approximately 44 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Gods and Generals. At the start of the war, Lee takes a rather thankless post as commander of Virginia's militia. He is an excellent officer, but not high enough in rank to truly change the course of the war. Jackson then leads his forces in a surprise attack on an unprepared Union 11th Corps. The southern forces are consistently outnumbered and under supplied, but they defeat the Union Army repeatedly. Gods and Generals is a 2003 American period war drama film written and directed by Ronald F. Maxwell. The third and final installment, The Last Full Measure, was in pre-production but lost financing and has been suspended indefinitely.

Instead, the Confederates are nobly fighting for, rather than against, freedom, as viewers are reminded again and again by one white southern character after another. This study guide contains the following sections: This detailed literature summary also contains Topics for Discussion and a Free Quiz on Written by Jeffrey Shaara after his father Michael's death in 1988, the novel relates events from 1858 through 1863 during the American Civil War, ending just as the two armies march toward Gettysburg. Gods and Generals Summary The book follows four of the most influential military commanders of the American Civil War. Lee, with Jackson as his right hand general, wins at the Seven Day's Battle, the Second Battle of Bull Run, Antietam, and Fredricksburg.

Jackson calls upon his chaplain, Beverly Tucker Lacy who knows the area, and asks him to find a route by which the southern forces can infiltrate in secret. [2] It is an adaptation of the 1996 novel of the same name by Jeffrey Shaara[3] and prequel to Maxwell's 1993 film Gettysburg. [5] Actual historic locations in the film include Virginia Military Institute and Washington & Lee University, known as Washington College during the Civil War. God's and Generals is broken up, chapter by chapter, between the perspectives of its four main characters, Robert E. Lee, Thomas Jonathan Jackson, Winfield Scott Hancock, and Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. Jackson and Hancock are both given brigade commands for their respective armies and Chamberlain becomes a lieutenant colonel in the 20th Main regiment.