"The 12 Best Civil War Movies" Topic

"It's now been over 150 years since the sureender at Appomattox Court House, which was the first step toward the end of the Civil War (May 10, 1865 marked the final march with the capture of Jefferson Davis). In the following century and a half, the effects of the war, and the original sin that propagated it, are still felt every day in the news, and with every election cycle that sees familiar lines of division amongst the states that participated in America's bloodiest conflict. And it has lived on in our fiction and our art.

As the most utilized era for American literature in the 20th century, the Civil War has captured the imagination in many a book and story. It has even occasionally found its way to the big screen. In this vein, we have assembled 12 of the best Civil War movies right here…"
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Amicalement
Armand

They say G-burg was the only time Lee invaded the North. I suppose Antietam doesn't count.

Well, technically, Maryland, being a slave state, was part of the "South," although not normally considered part of the Confederacy (except by the Confederacy).

That was 3 minutes of my life I cannot get back.

Not sure that at least three of those were Civil War Movies, as much Movies that had the Civil War in them!

I didn't know there were 12 Civil War movies!

(smile)

Amicalement
Armand

"Gone with the Wind" continues to be a "Lost Cause" movie.

(Remember the "Lost Cause" is an ideological movement that describes the Confederate cause as a heroic one against great odds despite its defeat. The ideology endorses the alleged virtues of the antebellum South, viewing the American Civil War as an honorable struggle for the Southern way of life while minimizing or denying the central role of slavery.)

For a further study may I recommend.

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There are some decent westerns in there but they have the War of the Rebellion as colour rather than central theme. I'd say there were only 4 good CI\ivil War Moies on the list:

Glory, Gettysburg, Lincoln and The Red Badge of Courage.

Thanks!.

Amicalement
Armand

I'd say Ride with the Devil gives a good feel for one part of the war (Kansas/Missouri) Plenty of down home cross boarder hatred going on.

I'd say there were only 4 good CI\ivil War Moies on the list:

Glory, Gettysburg, Lincoln and The Red Badge of Courage.

Agree.

Anybody remember one with a young Martin Sheen

No Drums No Bugles or something similar ?

I would still include the Horse Soldiers in with the other 4. Not sure how you could classify it as a western.

OK, I could agree with that.

Shenandoah

Which Red Badge movie? The 1950's one with Audie Murphy or the one made for TV in the 70's with the actor who played John Boy in the Waltons series.

When I was in school the Red Badge of Courage was required reading…twice….

donlowry,

Last time I checked Maryland was a Union state. They had regiments on both sides. Just because they are a slave state doesn't mean they all succeeded from the Union. Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky, and Missouri were all slave state but they remained in the Union. Despite the fact that the CSA claimed them, except for Delaware. At one brief time Missouri had two governments.

Lincoln was determine not to allow Maryland to succeeded. So he put pro-CSA politicians in jail. So yes when ANV invaded Maryland they were very much invading the Union. Lee was hoping to gain recruit's for his army in Maryland but few wanted anything to do with them.

In my opinion the best is "Gettysburg" and there are few others. I would defiantly classify "The Horse Soldiers" as a Civil War movie, not a western.