An Interview with Martin Sheen | Robert E. Lee, Gettysburg & Thomas Paine

[@VloggingThroughHistory]

Martin Sheen is absolutely one of the nicest men I've ever had the privilege of meeting. I think everyone who encountered him that weekend felt the same way. Great interview Garry!

[@MrCrazychristian86]

Love your KZbin channel!

[@mattpiepenburg8769]

I felt Martin and Tom did exceptional work in their portrayals of Lee and Longstreet and were directly responsible for helping a generation of viewers seek a deeper interest in the critically important understanding of the civil war in general and the American story in particular. Bravo and thank you for this.

[@marvthedog1972]

the thing with longstreet that didnt come out in the movie was that he really did not like or want to be under Lee again. he'd been detached and operating independently for a good while and view Lee as an equal by then and not as a superior commander. He thought the attack was a fool's move and he drug his feet much like he did previously with Stonewall in Northern Virginia. He didnt want to attack.

[@lebojay]

Surely the performance of Berenger’s career.

[@lebojay]

@@marvthedog1972As someone who knows little about the war besides what I saw in the movie, I definitely got that Longstreet expected defeat and thought the attack was foolish, but not that he regarded Lee as anything less than a Great Man. That is new information for me. In the film, when Longstreet asks Pickett if the attack is viable - with great doubt in his expression - and Pickett’s only reply is a sly smile, it seems apparent that Longstreet knows the battle is lost before it begins.

[@Alex-ej4wm]

His portral of Lee is what got me into civil war history as a teenager. They are weak in the cen-toor!

[@winstonsmith8482]

they will break in the center

[@LUC66631]

Why ? Because Lee was a loser ? 🙄🙄🤦‍♂🤦‍♂👎👎

[@tommythetemplar]

@@LUC66631no but his performance is incredibly powerful and believable

[@fettfan91]

The fact that Martin Sheen had barely any time to prepare and still killed the role just shows how great of an actor he is!

[@bobs1728]

Sheen was not able to make it back to Gettysburg in the summer of 2023 on the 30th anniversary of the movies release to participate with the other actors. Good to have this interview.

[@jeffreymanestar5319]

Great job Gary. U let him talk which was so smart. Not trying to b a wise guy but u asked him a short question about Lee and he took it from there.

[@robertallen7186]

Amen Jeff !! Many interviewers don't let the interviewee talk !!

[@MithridatesOfficial]

What a wonderful interview.. glad to see Martin alive and well. I must say, his portrayal of Lee was truly powerful.

[@RavenGent]

Martin Sheen was a great portrayal of General Robert E. Lee, Both him and the actor who portrayed General lee in Spielberg Lincoln. Martin Sheen also got the accent well too. As a civil war reenactor myself, I would so love to have him visit the reenactment event I do every year.

[@larrrywells7932]

I'm not one who cares about celebrity but I've always appreciated Mr. Sheen. Seems so kind, smart, interested and curious. I love listening to him talk. He feels like a grandfather that I've never met. It doesn't hurt that I grew up in his home town. O-H!

[@jesterboykins2899]

Watching “the Civil War” as a boy of 9, it awoke my mind and heart simultaneously to the affair of the mid 19th century and the largeness of it all. It blew me away. I’ve never been able to get enough of it. Even to this day. I love the topic. Thank you ABT. For all your work.

[@jared7964]

i was about that age when I first saw it, too. No one forced me because it was that transfixing. It seemed so absorbingly wonderful, but as the years go on I view it quite differently. But it is still one of the best documentary films ever made.

[@RHampton]

Great interview. So glad to hear his perspective. Thank you.

[@DeSaxofoonVanPeter]

When you've got movies like Martin Sheen in em you can't lose!

[@EmeryPage-s3c]

Love these videos about Gettysburg! Keep up the good work Gary and thank you!

[@jankovarik9714]

The commitment required to produce the film was nearly insurmountable. Every actor rose to the occasion. But it was the contribution of the thousands of re-enactors who participated that made the film become the classic that it is today.

[@72mossy]

Martin's mother is from a Town called Borrisokane Co. Tipperary Ireland. I met him once in Kenmare Co. Kerry. A nice man to talk to. I'm from Tipperary.

[@vickistevens423]

Incredible interview, Garry. Martin Sheen is the essence of a real gentleman. His portrayal of Robert E. Lee was so powerful, and is in large part responsible for not only the iconic success of the movie but also in getting so many people interested in the Civil War. His comment about the tune Ashoken Farewell really resonates with me. That tune is so hauntingly beautiful and is now forever associated with the Civil War. Excellent job.

[@anglohero6295]

What a fine interviewer you are sir! Mr. Martin Sheen seems to be a lovely,gentle and sincere human being. Thank you, I so enjoyed this. Greetings from England.

[@Vasyla77]

As a British former American civil war re-enactor based in the UK this is superb.

[@stonecoldku4161]

The movie Gettysburg has become a July 4th tradition for me. As much as fireworks, bbqs, and parades.

[@danitahanna5076]

Yes, I thought I was the only one!

[@eaonhendrickson8666]

Same!

[@brocksargeant1134]

I think it's great how he really seems into the history behind his work, much like this movie brought many of us into the history field. I was 12 when I saw Gettysburg, and I was hooked.

[@Ultimate_Sin-ry9iw]

Pretty awesome to be honest. It's professional to talk about things that most people (or media wise) want to cancel. Proud of Martin.

[@frankstefini3392]

Martin Sheen did a magnificent job of portraying General Lee. Probably the best I’ve ever seen. Robert DuVall also did a great job but Sheen was above and beyond. I don’t even like him very much but he deserves the kudos.

[@Ironhide1283]

I could have honestly listened forever. What a great interview. Mr. Sheen was one of my dad's favorite actors. Whom I watched a great deal of movies with and introduced me to his work. Nothing against Robert Duvall's portrayal of Robert E. Lee. Mr.Sheen just had it and in my mind is him.

[@amberbleu1598]

Woah! Thanks so much for making and sharing this interview, fabulous.

[@dougmarkham6791]

You two always do good with whatever material you are handling; Martin Sheen has been special in our era.

[@arthurrafferty4102]

Martin has visited west Belfast many times and not only is a great actor but a man of wit and conscience.

[@752brickie]

General Lee would be proud of you Martin !!! I love Gettysburg !!! It is one of the most amazing small towns in America !!! The people are truly amazing too ! I had three family members there. One died from wounds in the Wheatfield.

[@George_L-w7o]

Very newsworthy. Through his silence, Gary agrees with Martin Sheen that Gettysburg is the turning point of the war. Fascinating!

[@DavidHowell-dq7vj]

I absolutely love Martin Sheen! Always been one of my favorite actors.. and I don’t say that very often

[@robinburke2036]

Wonderful interview! Thank you!

[@william121852]

I have visited Gettysburg many times , one of my favorite places , Gettysburg movie is one of my all time favorites !

[@danielkitchens4512]

Anything about Robert E Lee will get my attention.

[@bipslone8880]

You like to study evil?

[@danielkitchens4512]

@bipslone8880 Luke 18.19 19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

[@bipslone8880]

@@danielkitchens4512 Your death cult is evil

[@1legomaster]

@@bipslone8880 Lee was not evil. Complicated and flawed, yes. But it's easy to throw stones when we speak from 2024 about his actions taken in 1861.

[@marknewton6984]

​@@bipslone8880Who is evil? Sherman?😮

[@JeffreyLang-j5i]

APPRECIATE YOU ABT! Absolutely one of my favorite films of all time!

[@TheMosinCrate]

I don't like his politics, but as an actor he's fantastic and I appreciate that he took this role and did it such justice.

[@mrguy560]

What a class act. This man is first rate, and he did an amazing excellent portrayal of Lee. I can’t imagine anyone doing it better. And in today’s political environment I doubt anyone will ever get the opportunity to best it.

[@jko9481]

Great interview! Gettysburg is my favorite battlefield to visit, been there a few times.

[@michaelmorgan9824]

Wonderful interview I concur with all the other comments!

[@jesterboykins2899]

Wow to have been a reenactor during that time. What a dream

[@007ndc]

The movie Gettysburg and the novel it was based upon The Killer Angels highlights the Shakespearean tragic quality of the Civil War, the participants and the reason for the cataclysmic slaughter.

[@raymondhummel5211]

This was such an up close revealing interview about the subjects explained. Gettysburg and Martin Sheen's view on what he thought about playing the part of Robert E. Lee.

[@MasterJ1963]

OMG, Gary, so wonderful. Wow. So great to have this sit down with the great Martin Sheen. What a nice conversation.Loved this.

[@trajancanada]

"Gettysburg" is one of my favourite movies. It has enormous scope, really well cast and acted.

[@chieffamilygenealogyoffice621]

One of my favorite movies-even bought it off KZbin so I would always have it to watch whenever I want-been there twice-the kids fell asleep in the back seat🙄🇺🇸

[@JasonAlexander-uz4ns]

Great interview great actor

[@judyhopkin5106]

President Bartlett meets General Lee…🥰

[@toddgreve6587]

Wow! Burns is doing the American Revolution!? Is that's even half what the Civil War was in the 90s, it will be HUGE!

[@ironcladranchandforge7292]

Gettysburg is one of my favorite movies. I have it on DVD. Mr. Sheen did a wonderful job in that movie!! Now I'll have to pull the DVD out and watch it again. Hopefully it's not worn out.....🤔

[@jimallison6125]

I read Killer Angels for a Civil War class I took at the University of Florida back in the early 80’s and it was one of the best books I ever read on the Civil War. This movie too was excellent and very realistic. Martin Sheen and all the other actors did a wonderful job on this film.

[@marchess286]

Wonderful. Thank you.

[@Rebelmediainc]

Great interview! Gary never disappoints.

[@dianawalker1622]

Lee was a cousin on my mothers side of the family. My great grandmother rode in a carriage with him as a little girl right before he died. His portrait hangs in my house. Proudly i might add.

[@bipslone8880]

You are proud of a relative who fought for slavery? Most people would hide that shame

[@Rick-jf6sg]

@@bipslone8880 Chill, youngster.

[@bipslone8880]

@@Rick-jf6sg I'm old enough to have a moral compass that tells me that owing another human being is wrong and fighting for slavery is immoral. Does growing up mean losing that moral compass?

[@dianawalker1622]

​@@bipslone8880General Lee inherited the slaves from his wife's family. He would not fight for the Union, because it would mean fighting against his relatives, INCLUDING MINE. During that time in our history, people were loyal to their states. Place yourself in that time period, in HIS shoes, you'd do the same. Religion, family and friends were of uttermost importance. He had already served the Union and his father was a revolutionary war hero. He had a decision to make, he made the one that was right for him under the circumstances. As a Christian, I'm sure slavery was not something he enjoyed. As I said, he was married to Martha Washington's adopted granddaughter and he INHERITED them. Have you ever inherited something you didn't want? I have, seems the same was true for him.

[@Rick-jf6sg]

@@bipslone8880 With all due respect, your moral compass does not apply to people, events or societies of the distant past. Passing judgment on them? That's such an easy, convenient tactic. And taking these folks out of their own time and place to judge them, especially by today's PC standards? Petty.

[@andrewmacdonald4833]

Best General Lee I've ever seen on TV...can't fault Martin Sheen...fabulous actor.

[@RTheWalkerOfGreenB]

My parents worked at the filming of Gettysburg when I was a baby. I think Martin Sheen even held me

[@therabbitify]

By far my favorite Lee portrayal! Although because of 9/11 I'm glad the studio didn't call him in for that flight....

[@txmoney]

Martin Sheen is an American treasure. I could listen to his anecdotes all the live long day.

[@thomradice8680]

A brilliant interview! Garry was perfect allowed ‘Ramon’ to wax poetically of his experiences. Too many interviewers become enthralled with their own agenda. The capper was Garry doing a perfect segue to his role as preservationist asking Martin about the place and value of the Gettysburg Battlefield. I tested up a couple of times listening and watching such a marvelous editing of this interview. Wow! Experiences such as these continue to inspire and motivate my involvement in both preservation and my small part with an HO model of the Western and Atlantic RR, summer of 1863. Thank y’all for what you’ve done here and continue to do.

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

A rare "editing" compliment, thank you! - Andy P.

[@warrenarmour]

Martin Sheen is Brilliant.

[@ronmoore5827]

Nice interview sir, I always thought Martin did a good job portraying General Lee. Although none of us ever saw or heard him in person I think he made me believe I was watching Robert E Lee.

[@d.a.2742]

His politics aside ,he is my favorite Lee portrayal .

[@colinwolf9730]

Even more then Duvall? I can say Jeff Daniels nailed Chamberlain even though I don't agree with his- or the way he expressed his views. Same thing with Stephen Lang- plus Stephen Lang seems like a genuine individual through and through.

[@d.a.2742]

@@colinwolf9730 I think since Duvall is related to Lee they should have offered him the role first as he would have been my first choice as more of an accurate portrayal of how Lee would have looked and his mannerisms that made him "The "Marble Soldier "at that time as he portrayed Lee almost to a T in Gods and Generals . Sheen however got the role and I think he did exceptionally well in Gettysburg and came off as the fatherly figure that Lee was known for with his men ....I completely agree on Jeff Daniels portrayal of Chamberlain in both movies . Stephen Lang was exceptional in both his portrayals as well in the movies .

[@kylemeltzer7473]

thank you for publishing this -- would love to see more interviews with actors from Gettysburg!

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

If you haven't already be sure to check out our interview with Stephen Lang as well as our panel discussions featuring actors from the movie.

[@brontewcat]

I would love to hear Martin talk more.

[@megladon89]

I like Martin Sheen and was interesting to see how much an impact this movie and the Civil War had on him. I think he found a spark and it became a flame.

[@buffalonickels657]

Good interview, you let him run with it. Question though - what discussion preceded this interview portion as I see Mr. Sheen giving a Catholic hand gesture right before. Very nice gentleman.

[@marchess286]

Thank you

[@alexamerling79]

When I think of Lee I think of Sheen.

[@4catsnow]

When I think of Sheen I think of Bartlett...When I think of Lee..I think of Gettysburg,,I think of Pickett's charge...then I think of nutjob...

[@flatcat6676]

A lot of people pan Sheen's portrayal of Lee, but I think he did a pretty good job. Maybe he played Lee as being a bit more passive than he was in life, but I think that actually helps to illustrate that, as good as the Army of Northern Virginia was, it was also suffering issues in command & control stemming from a very recent reorganization following the battle of Chancellorsville, which had been fought barely over a month before the battle at Gettysburg.

[@AWFULWORKPLACES]

We should teach this in public school with American History and New Language Class "Southern Draw" We must maintain History to be Taught for All Time Until America is no more

[@FordHoard]

I would pay good money to have Mr. Sheen read Shelby Foote's The Civil War a Narrative audiobook.

[@jankovarik9714]

Garry was struck mute...amazingly so.

[@WIldwes5530]

God bless Robert E. Lee

[@lisad476]

Awesome

[@oldrestless]

Great video

[@claudioproteo3039]

It takes talent for an actor to be personally and politically much more like Jed Bartlett and still being able to play Robert E. Lee to a degree that convinces the public, and without any preparation. It is a complex thing to play someone as complex as Lee in such a complex context as the Civil War. And then Sheen probably never read the right-on-the-mark evaluation that W.E. DuBois made of the character of Lee and his legend.

[@alanmoberly64]

Robert E Lee sounded like an English man not a southerner. This was reported by an Englishman who met him.

[@davidgoddard594]

Ken Burns Civil war theme song , Martin mentions, is called “Ashokan Farewell”. Not a period song. Written in 1982. Played it many, many times in a Civil war period band I belonged too. Hardtack and Harmony.

[@JohnTalmadgeMD]

If you want to see great historical video tours, support Garry and the American Battlefield Trust. No one has a greater passion for history and greater love for his fans. He’s a true icon in the field. Cheers - T 👍🏼

[@aetius2277]

awesomeness

[@brontewcat]

I am not American, but I no exactly what Martin Sheen means when he talks about hearing the Ashokan Farewell. Between Ken Burns Civil War series and Gettysburg I would really love to visit the battlefield.

[@vincentsaia6545]

If I'm not mistaken, Thomas Paine was an American citizen but he gave it up when he became a French citizen when he participated in the French Revolution.

[@chipps1066]

I think the best shot of that movie was when Lee admonished Jeb Stuart for leaving his army blind.

[@calvinduke4810]

Amazing movie

[@kyleUT]

I hope Ken Burns does not do to the American Revolution what he did to the Vietnam War series.

[@NjK601]

Could you elaborate a bit? It's been a while since I saw that one, though remember him overusing the soundtrack.

[@gerrydooley951]

you mean telling the truth about our involvement in Vietnam and by the way, I'm not really a fan of Burns

[@kyleUT]

@NjK601 It focused more on the protests than what happened in the war. I was very disappointed.

[@kyleUT]

@gerrydooley951 I saw a documentary about the protesting and the actual war seemed like a sideshow.

[@seandilallo8718]

What is the Illusive Man doing in Gettysburg?

[@ConnorPatrickNolan003]

I just see Jed Bartlett who played Robert E Lee

[@George_L-w7o]

Gary looks stunned. “ Like a duck hit on the head.”

[@brianpress1392]

I've Always Thought Martin Sheen Was Very Underrated As An Actor, I remember One of the First Movie's, If Not The First Was, The Incident (1966-7) Tony Musante &Beau Bridge,s, He Was Excellent In This Movie, ,, The Subject Was Rose,s Jack Albertson, Patricia O'Neal, (1968), And Another Movie With Jack Albertson, Pick Up On 101, And So Many Other's, Im Supprised He Never Received An Oscar, Also Another Very Good Movie, Blind Ambition, The Story Of Watergate Informant John Dean, (1979) 👍🏻

[@Deacon_20]

Even though Duvall is a descendent of Lee and looked like him, Sheen better captured the spirit and essence of who Robert E Lee really was. Especially when you read the descriptions of lee through documents and writings from people of both sides.

[@chriskule4663]

Vested, in July?

[@bac-up6758]

is it my imagination, or did this interviewer ask just one question and then the whole video is sheen's answer?

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

Pretty much haha

[@bartsanders1553]

It's United States President of America Jason Davidson's brother!

[@vm.999]

❤

[@Malcio]

Holy crap it's the sheen

[@alanjones3874]

All the monuments shown and no Virginia , Robert E . Lee statue ?

[@bipslone8880]

Germany doesn't have a statue of General Erich Von Manstein either. Normal people don't celebrate evil people

[@marknewton6984]

​@@bipslone8880Lee was not evil.

[@bipslone8880]

@@marknewton6984 If slavery is evil then anyone fighting for it is evil. This is not complicated.

[@marknewton6984]

Most Southerners did not fight for slavery, including Lee. You are too simplistic.

[@bipslone8880]

@@marknewton6984

[@maddyg3208]

In Apocalypse Now, Willard was also from Ohio, so I guess Martin didn't need a voice coach to be able to play him

[@chipps1066]

The Ken Burns documentary is epic.

[@halavery562]

Ken Burns depiction of the civil war is always biased toward the North. Martin Sheens depiction of Lee though seemed very realistic. Robert Duvall's portrayal of Lee in Gods and Generals is my favorite.

[@GeorgeFloyd2023]

Did you know that Robert Mueller shares the same birthday as Robert E. Lee? And yes, he's always been obsessed with military history. Lee sounds like he was something of an academic genius. Or Lighthorse Harry was a hard-driver.

[@Angela-ph1ik]

The south will ride again artin sheen. Not a real man like. The southernen of the civil war

[@alanmoberly64]

Lee did not have southern accent. He sounded like an Englishman per an eye witness.

[@nimitz1739]

If everybody had bad teeth back then they wouldn’t mind showing them because it was so normal I would think lol His right though that town has a vibe about it