Gettysburg

Production year: 1993

War/Military PG   Running time: 4:14 

IMDB rating:   7.7     Aspect: Wide;  Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese;  Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German;  Audio: DD 5.1

Three days in the summer of 1863, at a place called Gettysburg. Based on Michael Shaara's book The Killer Angels, this film takes a refreshingly slow, thorough approach to the intricacies of battle. In ordinary circumstances, those intricacies might seem of importance only to fans of military strategy or Civil War enthusiasts, yet in Gettysburg they come across as the very stuff of life, death, and unexpected heroism. If the film has a problem, it's that it climaxes too early: the first long segment, detailing the struggle of a "civilian soldier," Union Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (Jeff Daniels), to hold his ground against long odds, is an enthralling piece of moviemaking. Daniels, in a heartbreaking performance, does his best film work. Other cast members include Tom Berenger, Sam Elliott, and Martin Sheen as Robert E. Lee. Richard Jordan, in his final role, gives a powerhouse performance as Confederate general Lewis A. Armistead. Oh, and you can also try to spot Ted Turner, whose company produced the film, as a Confederate soldier. Writer-director Ronald F. Maxwell seems inspired by the gravity of the battle; long as it is, every moment of Gettysburg is informed by a nobility of purpose.

Features

Audio commentary
Cast biographies/profiles/filmographies
Featurettes/Behind-The-Scenes/Documentaries
Interviews
Trailers/TV spots

Special features

Behind-The-Scenes Documentary The Making Of Gettysburg, Narrated by Martin Sheen
Vintage Oscar-Nominated Documentary The Battle of Gettysburg, Narrated by Leslie Nielsen
Cast/Crew Interview Gallery
Battlefield Maps
Feature-Length Audio Commentary by Director/Screenwriter Ronald F. Maxwell, Cinematographer Kees Van Oostrum, Pulitzer Prize-winning Author James M. McPherson and Military Historian Craig Symonds
Gettysburg