hey fellas

there are a few civil war films out there and weve seen alot of them... some are good some not so much ... what ive really been thinking is why hasnt someone tackled a film that focuses on a historical campaign in the western theater that possibly had the two Most crucial Union Generals in the war.. Grant and Sherman (both Ohioians! ;-)    can you imagine a well told and historically accurate and well casted film about the seige of Vicksburg! or a really good movie about Shiloh? i mean what you guys think? who would be a good "grant" or what actor could play Sherman? haha i dunno... it just seems alot of the "popular" civil war films are about just the eastern theater and old bobby lee....  what u guys think?

im just drinking a lil bit and just wanted to kinda go off on a blog here .. im not even sure if this is the right forum for this ... haha

I've always kind of liked Nick Nolte. I think he'd make a good Grant. Just so long as neither are played by pretty boys.

Do you have an idea as to which book can be made into a film or are you thinking something brand new?

Guys,

When you think about it, most of the really great war movies had nothing to do with the "Big Picture". They've focused on the individul soldier, or small units. Such movies as "All Quiet on the Western Front", "The Red Badge of Courage", "To Hell and Back", "Battle Ground", "Glory", "Saving Private Ryan", "Pork Chop Hill", and "Platoon" all come quickly to mind. Even the movie "Patton" focused on just one man. A General, in this case.

Very few big sweaping war movies are commercial successes and nobody, but nut cases like us, care much if the actors are wearing the "correct" uniforms, or not.  

Ya Bill thats a really good point. Those all are great films you listed... It would just be interesting to maybe have a film focus on grant and how he was trying to take Vicksburg... It would be neat if done right and was visually spectacular... with all thegunboats on the river and putting the city under siege! Maybe we should make one  

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Private Glover wrote : I've always kind of liked Nick Nolte. I think he'd make a good Grant. Just so long as neither are played by pretty boys. Do you have an idea as to which book can be made into a film or are you thinking something brand new?

Very cool Mel...i could see this... ya im not really sure what book could use... I just think the whole event could be done... it could be real cool

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dave wellerding wrote :   Very cool Mel...i could see this... ya im not really sure what book could use... I just think the whole event could be done... it could be real cool

Dave,

You got ten or fifteen million dollars you aren't using? The last two "big" Civil War movies were also big money losers. It will be a long time before anybody takes that risk again. Now, if you can come up with a good story about a squad of Union soldiers, who goes looking for Mrs. Bicksby's sole surviving son, Tom Hanks and Stephen Speilburg might be interested.

 

haha yeah Bill unfortunately i am a little short of fifteen million. but i see ur point. gods and Generals was box office BUST and I bet old Ted turner had enough of making civil War films. But still i believe with the right plot and story it could be really awesome. you see it alot with WWII films and Vietnam ... why not the War Between the States?! i wanna see that fellas!

There was some scuttle about making another Andrews Raid film a year or so ago, anybody heard anything about that lately?

Quote :

Bill wrote :   Dave, You got ten or fifteen million dollars you aren't using? The last two "big" Civil War movies were also big money losers. It will be a long time before anybody takes that risk again. Now, if you can come up with a good story about a squad of Union soldiers, who goes looking for Mrs. Bicksby's sole surviving son, Tom Hanks and Stephen Speilburg might be interested.

Bill

Ya never know, the upcoming 150th's might spark enough interest for someone to try another Glory or Red Badge of Courage type film.  

Although you might see something more along the lines of a Cold Mountain so that it appeals to the women out there too.

The book "Play for a Kingdom" I thought would make a good movie.  It has that focus on members of the 14th Brooklyn who end up playing a series of baseball matches against a confederate unit while out on picket duty during the Wildnerss Campaign.  It is a bit of fiction there but a pretty neat story to read.

I've been thinking about red haired actors for Sherman--perhaps Damien Lewis?

greg

Ya thats a good point maybe there could bro a spark of interest with the 150 anni coming up. That baseball book you speak of.. . thats kind of a neat idea... i havent read that but it sounds cool.

mel you should be a casting director haha. ;-) not sure who exactly this damien fellow you speak of though... whats he in?    

He played Dick Winters in Band of Brothers. He's been in several other things too, but BoB is probably the most recognizable.

Great movie, BoB. Problem is, besides the red hair, Damian Lewis doesn't look much like Sherman after that.

Who's Bob?    

You know the guy--his head wiggles up and down as he walks...


My problem is that for Uncle Billy you need a good, grizzled guy who's not a pretty boy. Two that leap to mind were already in Gettysburg, Sam Elliot and Tom Beringer.

wow you guys are already locking down some actors haha ... im still trying to think of a good story line for Vicksburg... what would you focus on... grant trying to open up the mississippi for the Union cause :-D  and on the other end a southern family trying to survive in caves and living off rats and avoiding exploding shells over the city!  im telling you it could be compelling if done right!  

I think the most compelling would be a worms-eye view of a private in the ranks or a family within the city itself.

yeah i think youre right mel... but why not both ;-)

Mel,

Your private could start out in the trench like fortifications along the Yalobusha River (near present day Grenada, MS) that were to resist Grant’s over land campaign to take Vickburg.  Then he could be whisked back to the area immediately north of Vicksburg to face Sherman’s men as they unsuccessfully attacked through swamps and sloughs.  Your private could find himself near present day Greenwood, up in the Mississippi Delta, where another Federal attempt to get behind Vicksburg was turned back.  This time at a pile of cotton bales called Fort Pemberton.  Send the young man back to Vicksburg fortifications.  Then out of those fortifications where he participates in the Champion’s Hill Battle, followed by the Confederate debacle at the Big Black River.  Only then does your private settle into a siege.

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