'Gods & Generals' Opens Nationally; Movie Critics Boo
By Kathryn Jorgensen
- April 2003

"Gods and Generals" opened in theaters with a media blitz - from television trailers and full-page ads in the New York Times, to newspaper and TV features, public appearances and photo ops
at the various February openings and previews.

While many in the Civil War community were enthusiastic about the movie, most general film critics didn't like what they saw.

At www.rottentomatoes.com the critical reviews far outnumbered positive comments about producer, director, writer Ron Maxwell's prequel to "Gettysburg."

Pre-release newspaper stories focused on the film's historical accuracy and reliance on James I. Robertson's definitive biography of Gen. Thomas J. Jackson. The film is based on Jeff Shaara's novel Gods and Generals. Maxwell's "Gettysburg" was based on the late Michael Shaara's Pulitzer Prize-winning The Killer Angels.

Post-release criticisms included the movie's 3-hour, 40-minute length, disjointedness, dull battle scenes, lack of attention to slavery, humorlessness, pro-Southern bias, focus on Jackson's religious fervor, and the confusion of too many characters.

What couldn't be said about many of the critics was that they were historians. They criticized some of what was correct for the period, such as manners of speech and religious beliefs, and what was historically accurate, such as Jackson's deathbed scene.

In one bizarre review, a female critic said she was "fascinated by all the phallic appliances used with muzzleloading cannons." She was referring to the rammer, worm and vent pick, which she called "prick."

The National Review came to the film's defense, criticizing the critics, saying, "But the moral and political indictment of the film as a 'whitewash of the past' is politically correct slander."

As one would expect, there were critics within the reenactor ranks who picked up on things like hair styles, flags, uniforms and women's clothing.

Regardless of the critics, the Civil War community made the most of the premieres. The Austin, Texas, Civil War Round Table raised $2,300, which it is donating for preservation of the Mansfield, La., battlefield. Gov. Rick Perry was among the 270 patrons.President Dan Laney and John Oeffinger, chairman of the Committee on Fund Raising and Public Affairs, reported that Confederate, Union, Buffalo Soldier and civilian reenactors attended the Austin event.

"Patience," the Capitol Guards Artillery Company's replica 6 pdr. and an authentic 1864 ambulance refurbished by the 173rd New York State Volunteer Infantry Regiment were displayed in the theater entrance.

Lobby and auditorium displays featured Union and Confederate surgeon's tables with reenactor surgeons, artifacts, and replicas.

Historian Frank O'Reilly, author and historian for the Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville battlefields, discussed events shown in the film and its accuracy.

Gov. Mark Warner attended the Richmond premiere, which was held on the anniversary of the day Jefferson Davis was sworn in as Confederate president.

Richmond's Museum of the Confederacy displays many artifacts related to characters in the movie, including Jackson's spurs, sword, forage cap, haversack, revolver and field glasses.

Some items in the collection, such as Robert E. Lee's hat, were copied for the film.

To complement the movie opening, the museum has a special lobby display with a rarely-seen oil portrait of Jackson and cartes-de-visite of Jackson aide Maj. Alexander S. "Sandie" Pendleton and Jackson's daughter, Julia. The simple braid hatband that Jackson took from his forage cap and gave to young Jenny Corbin, who lived at the estate that served as his headquarters, is also shown. The movie includes this scene.

The www.godsandgenerals Web site was not working at presstime and www.ronmaxwell.com had not been up-dated. It makes reference to filming of the trilogy ending with "Last Full Measure" being filmed next year. The Civil War News was not able to reach Ron Maxwell.