Gettysburg (1993) Clip

This is an epic 4 hour movie about the battle of Gettysburg, which was crucial in the American Civil War (aka the War of Northern Aggression). It gives a bit of the flavor of how complex the military situation was and how unlike our modern concepts of warfare these battles were. It has an excellent cast.

[@ronaldmcdonald3965]

Who agrees that Sam Elliot (Buford) delivered one of the best movie/military set of lines ever?

[@jacobrhodes5655]

Chills every time!

[@Onegoodman68]

“ well general Reynolds, we held the Highground.” I cry every time I hear that

[@anthonyhengst2908]

No doubt about it. I love when he pounds his chest and you can see the dust flies.

[@BlaneNostalgia]

same, that was deep

[@joshwine4081]

I don't think Elliot ever played in anything he didn't stand out in

[@stewartpartridge8345]

As a Brit, I can impartially say that this was one of the greatest and most epic battle films ever made.

[@MisoElEven]

Its just missing cannon balls tearing people apart like it did in reality.. and cannons moving to the back as they go off.. actually everything I dislike about this movie is pretty much revolving around how poor the cannons are depicted. When a cannon ball hits a line of men they dont just jump around to different directions, if it hits the ground it doesnt just make a little smoke effect..it tears them apart throwing whats left of them quite a long distance away, if it hits the ground its going to continue rolling and bouncing for a while too (amputating soldiers legs/feet as it rolls).

[@BritneyStinson]

@@MisoElEven like in the patriot

[@azmike3572]

Equal to your "Zulu" (1964)

[@stewartpartridge8345]

@@azmike3572 Yep Mike, Zulu was good. I think the best ever British-made war film was "A Bridge Too Far" which showed the Arnhem campaign, warts and all; and a lot of good American actors too. For the best German made war film, see the original "Stalingrad"; and "Das Boat".

[@kw7807]

The United States existence as a Republic hinged on this battle.

[@LtRee96se]

This movie is my absolute favorite. Without the reenactors, it wouldn't be half the movie that it is. Thank you, gentlemen, all!

[@A.-Real]

What an outstanding performance of Jeff daniels as Chamberlain. The tears in his eyes in the scene as he hear of kilrains death give me goosebumps everytime.

[@jennymacallan9071]

Jeff Daniels as Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain stole this movie. He gave an iconic performance.

[@bumaximous45]

This movie never gets old. Great cast on both sides of the movie.

[@constancemiller3753]

The only thing that gets old is the audience. Watched this on VHS dating my husband. We've been married for almost 22 years and Chamberlain, Buford and Lee are still beautiful.

[@firingallcylinders2949]

@@constancemiller3753 I remember the next tape started at Longstreet visiting Hood in the hospital.

[@michaelvaughn8864]

@@firingallcylinders2949 Yup, I remember having Gettysburg on VHS and seeing the 2nd tape begin with him entering the hospital grounds. It was a very somber moment🙁

[@michaelvaughn8864]

@@constancemiller3753 That's the great thing about recorded video, , Mrs. Miller. The ppl in it never get older, only the aging of the video itself

[@michaelvaughn8864]

It was an amazing film. Even Ted Turner had a cameo as Confederate General Tazewell Patton during Pickett's Charge on Day#3. He was shot and fell against the Emmitsburg Road fence

[@sanchoproudfoot2]

Col. Gamble is one of my favorite characters in the movie, laying out the situation in plain English. And then, "Don't worry about me Sir, I'm the soul of caution!" Perfect understatement

[@williamfindspeople4341]

That line can actually be found in one of his personal journals.

[@manilajohn0182]

It may interest you to know that Buck Taylor- the actor who portrayed Colonel Gamble- played the role of Newly O'Brien on the old TV series Gunsmoke for eight years (from 1967-75).

[@robertrowlett5070]

I agree. his line of " Sir, he doesn't NEED his whole division.." is perfect!

[@TheGosslings]

Perhaps someone can enlighten me here but why did Buford react to Gamble's last couple of statements the way he did? This is one of my favorite movies of all time and I've never been able to figure out why Buford reacted to Col Gamble's statement about the rain and "not needing his whole division" at 12:25 with what seems like morose irritation. Differences in personality or is there an underlying subtext that I'm missing, not having read The Killer Angels?

[@rebeccalewis6983]

when someone tells me to be careful or safe those words are usually my response!

[@xyPERSON]

A lot of people cannot stand lengthy films but Gettysburg is just one of those films that is so well-made and engaging that the running time becomes irrelevant. As a viewer I did not mind sitting through four hours of this film because it was so good.

[@jordangustafson1365]

My Dad and I were cautious about watching this as well. We started at noon and finished after 4 barely noticing.

[@irish89055]

You mean Millennials and gen Z

[@lancelangdon7569]

I’ve watched it so many times that I wish it was longer. So many details in this monumental battle.

[@MichaelGibbons-uk2mc]

I have an original tape, two cassettes because the original is six hours long and it still never gets old. I think I have it memorized.

[@specom]

Ioved this movie so much. Made God's and Generals even harder to watch.

[@HugsBach]

Great credit goes to the many Civil War reenactors that support the actors.

[@lestat1591]

6:59 I bet Lee is thinking: Why does every time Longstreet shows up that damn band plays?

[@andrewcrumb8027]

In 1862 my great, great, great uncle John Tribe Jr was in Buford's brigade on the Rappahannock River in Virginia. Buford asked for volunteers to burn the bridge at Waterloo. My uncle stepped forward. They successfully destroyed the bridge. Belatedly in 1895 my uncle was awarded the Medal of Honor. By Gettysburg my uncle's regiment the 5th NY Cavalry was then under Kilpatrick's command.

[@brianmallen8887]

That bridge burning was to cover McClellan's retreat at the end of the Penisula campaign? I worked in a wearhouse in Sacramento many years ago with a guy who said he was a descendent of Robert E. Lee. His last name was Lee and I think he said he was great× nephew. The guy was short and fat, but I shit you not his face looked just like Robert E.

[@Trazyn_the_Infinite_40K]

One of my 3 grand relatives who fought in the Civil War was in the 7th Michigan at Rappahannock.

[@butteminers]

@@Trazyn_the_Infinite_40K One of my relatives was with the Second Michigan Cavalry Volunteer.

[@peterpage9560]

Pennsylvania 61st my third great granddad fulburt alabran

[@wesbodine6102]

@@butteminers My great uncle X3 Oscar Caldwell was a Sergeant in the 2nd Michigan Cavalry👍

[@craigmorgan8493]

9:06 Saluting your Commanding Officer with a cigar in your hand.... now THAT's soldiering.

[@jspee1965]

BRILLIANT!

[@Arathor82]

BY GOD SHARPE , THIS WILL NOT DO !!

[@kevinlovell2404]

I knows what makes a good Soldier, Sharpe. Do you? Yes sir. The ability to fire three rounds a minute in any weather.

[@Trazyn_the_Infinite_40K]

Chosen Men!

[@ray.shoesmith]

On first sighting my commanding officer, I naturally lit my cigar. That is my style, sir.

[@charlesmaximus9161]

This is a really great film. The main musical score really gets me emotional because it brings back such an overwhelming flood of nostalgia and lovely memories from when I was growing up watching this. I don’t know who composed that but whoever did really hit the nail on the head with that one. It truly captures the entire mood of the film. Sam Elliot is so fantastic as Buford.

[@prairiedweller8917]

One of my favorite movie soundtracks

[@Edamame417]

Randy Edelman is the composer!

[@jeremymarshall7319]

I'm sure many will correct me, but it appears to me that Buford was the real Union hero, being there first, smart enough to assess the terrain, and seize the it as fast as possible.

[@thexalon]

Absolutely Buford deserves credit. However, picking one hero doesn't make sense. The Union won at Gettysburg because so many made smart choices, from Lincoln putting Meade in command to Meade's brilliant use of reserves and reinforcements to Henry Hunt's ruse to convince the Confederates that the Union artillery was out of action when it wasn't.

[@Huganis]

Meade hade chosen a battleground 20 miles from Gettysburg, the reason why Meade ask if this is good ground is because if it wasn't then the army would redeploy to that field. Then again Lee could have chosen different tactics if that happened. Buford wasn't the hero, but he was one of them.

[@nocturnalrecluse1216]

Huganis - *had

[@waltermoriarty5157]

Buford changed cavalry by having them fight on horseback, instead of riding to the battle, dismounting, fighting, then remounting..

[@thexalon]

Actually, more like the exact opposite: Buford's idea of cavalry was 1. Get to the key location first, because you have horses. 2. Dismount and hide behind stone walls or whatever else you can to get cover. 3. Fight with repeating rifles so you get off about 3 times the number of shots as infantry. That's almost always how Buford fought, and very effectively at that. Fighting on horseback was what everyone had thought was a good idea before the Civil War, because that's what had been done back in the Napoleonic Wars. It turned out not to be.

[@TheStapleGunKid]

The movie didn't say this, but one reason Buford's cavalry was able to hold out for so long against Heth's larger infantry force is because they were armed with breech-loading carbines, which had a much faster rate of fire then the typical muzzle loaders used by infantry.

[@ninurtathricemajestic7179]

TheStapleGunKid yep most confederate still had smooth bore muskets that’s what Gen . Alexander porter wrote in his book.

[@CFLsurfr]

The breach loader wasn't actually handed out to every cavalry corps as they didn't have that many yet in this time. It wouldn't be for another 5 or ten years did the breach loader start to gain total popularity. It's said Buford's corps had some, but not every soldier had them issued yet.

[@HyperK7]

You can actually see that in the movie if you pay attention.

[@hairydave82]

@Texas Chainsaw Jesus I imagine because they were more expensive ($38 as opposed to $20) for a Springfield rifled musket

[@michaelmccabe3079]

@Texas Chainsaw Jesus More expensive to manufacture, higher ammunition consumption (resupplying would become even harder), and they were shorter range than long guns. The US Army was paranoid about wasting ammo, and believed that long-range rifle fire was more important than rapid-fire. Ironically, most engagements took place within 150 yards, but the French in 1870 used long-range rifle fire more often against the Prussians (the Chassepot outranged the Needle Gun).

[@ryanh2479]

One of the best War movies ever. It's a masterpiece.

[@devanishant]

Near the end, after the final battle, you can see a car passing on the edge of the field, maybe a half mile from the camera.

[@Yoseman1]

If only 5'7" Martin Sheen didn't play 6'0" Robert Lee...it was a terrible casting choice.

[@devanishant]

@@Yoseman1 Sheen was the best thing about that movie. No accounting for taste.

[@Yoseman1]

@@devanishant He is a meh actor, and always was. But the fact that he is always the shortest guy in the shot is ridiculous, because Lee was a tall man for his time.

[@mckenzie.latham91]

A war historian told me, Gods and Generals is 90% Confederate propaganda But Gettysburg is where they got it right

[@fearlessfrankie6479]

One of the best Civil War movies ever made. An All star cast that'd be impossible to make this days! Sam Elliot is one of those actors that gives it his all!

[@vipergtsmre]

THE best Civil War movie made, IMO

[@EddieLeal]

Awesome film/actors. I a m a big civil war buff. Loved this film. Never gets old. Thank you for loading this up!

[@alvingill3374]

me too

[@billh.6135]

They made some great choices in casting. Glad they picked Sam Elliot to portray Buford. However, Martin Sheen doesn't seem to pull off the stature and charisma that Gen. Lee must've had. Not a swipe at Sheen; just can't help thinking he wasn't the best choice for the part.

[@muddhammer7834]

Will NorthWest49 not part of the movie but do you see a resemblencr between General Grant and Robin Williams when he had a full beard ?

[@davidpauljonesjr6793]

No hi

[@Ronbo1948]

...and think of how bad the troops must have smelled! Why did Lee and Meade need cavalry to tell them to spot the enemy? It looks to me all they had to was SMELL them coming! :-)

[@nykia31]

Always loved the intensity in which he says, "We can DEPRIVE the enemy of the high ground!"

[@doc6448]

I think Sam was born with that stash....I also believe he’s the only one in this movie using his own facial hair.

[@yurdi_yuri]

I think Jeff Daniels is as well, though I could be wrong

[@jspee1965]

Gettysburg is the most sacred place. I have visited the Park several times. I am an Australian living in the US for 20 years and this is beautiful ground.

[@rogerscollier7424]

A piece a ground that’s sacred. Every American should visit if possible. I’ve been there twice in my life.

[@jspee1965]

@@rogerscollier7424 I had the good fortune of living in Pennsylvania over a decade ago, otherwise I wouldn't have the opportunity.

[@rakaman27]

When Longstreet shows up "gentlemen, my beard and I have arrived"

[@leatherneck7296]

Thats hilarious, what's also funny is how fake his beard actually was.

[@aseriesguy]

To quote Bruce Willis in 5th Element, "NICE HAT".

[@orangejoe204]

Little known fact: Longstreet was actually a shoeless hobo who showed up at the recruiting office and was instantly promoted to Brigadier General and provided a marching band once they got a look at his beard.

[@MrDavePed]

@@leatherneck7296 Yeah you would think they could do better with beards. Making them absolutely uniform in density is an obvious flaw. And all those uniforms were so perfectly clean. Ridiculous. ..

[@Xenamare1]

@@orangejoe204 OMG ! Instantly made General just by his BEARD?!

[@SAVikingSA]

One of the best sequences in the film. Most people think about Gettysburg as the large set piece battle it was, but this shows Buford's delaying action and skirmishing tactics brilliantly. This is the hinge that swung the battle to the Union, it drew Lee in and secured favorable ground for the Union. It's entirely possible that this singular action changed the course of the entire war.

[@LtBrown1956]

sherman buford fought his small force skillfully and boldly but, by the end of that first day, the ANV forced the AOP off that high ground (seminary ridge) and forced them to another position behind it. If ewell would have taken cemetary hill at the end of the first day (and a little more daylight and he would have), the Gettysburg positions would all have been flanked and the AOP would have been forced to evacuate the area. what happens after that is HIGHLY theoretical

[@Shatamx]

Lee was dangling Heaths corp as bait. This is why Heath wasn't suppose to engage that morning. In fact it ALMOST worked.

[@traviskarnes6825]

@@Shatamx Division but yeah you're right.

[@pendragonU]

There were a few close calls in the next days, as the CSA served their best steel as brave as they were (however there were large surrenders/desertions (and not because their men were less brave, but gone desperate and disheartened by the Confederation not providing and covering their lives) but it's true, general Buford made sure the North Armies got their best seats at the table where the big Gamble will happen and best hands to reduce sprawl off Power. Lee kept the initiatives, but at the third day it became obvious, it was a losing endeavor to storm the Union and priority was to save whatever left of CSA back home ASAP

[@marvthedog1972]

@@LtBrown1956 that and the fact that Ewell was new to corp command and his men had been marching hard and was tired and went right into battle he didn't see it as 'practical" to take the other ridge.

[@johnbertrand7185]

As always excellent work by Elliot, he puts real emotion in to a speech Buford never gave, but was created by Shaara for Killer Angels. It is truly amazing he has only ever been nominated for a single Oscar for A Star Is Born.

[@indy_go_blue6048]

I read that a few months ago and for the life of me I can't even remember him in that horrible movie.

[@pendragonU]

An Oscar hasn't been given to true legends of Cinema, and had been given to one time stars many have forgotten in careers less remarkable. It's more of a commercial gimmick, like the ceremony itself

[@jones1394]

True, he should have been got one.

[@stevenewman1393]

🤠👍This is truly one of the all time Greatest Civil War films ever made with a truly stunning fabulous all star cast indeed!👌.

[@colinbeckles2811]

General Buford was one of the best Calvary Leaders on both sides. The decision to have his men dismount and dig in was genius. General Buford was known for choosing great ground for fighting. It's a shame he got sick and died early

[@Balor1]

Perhaps sickness and death was the price he paid for prescience on the first day of Gettysburg? Buford's actions in slowing the Confederate advance gave the Union the best ground.

[@kurtsherrick2066]

Forrest was absolutely the greatest Cavalry General in the History of America. His Tiny Cavalry and infrantry captured more supplies and prisoners than any other General during the war. He prolonged war by a year. When he stopped Buell from getting to Chattanooga. Buford was a good fighting man and died like thousands. He died from sickness and disease. Both sides were marching diseased. The South starving and 30% Barefooted.

[@colinbeckles2811]

@@kurtsherrick2066 Forrest was in no doubt the best Calvary leader on both sides. Sickness, disease was the leading cause of death

[@lauraanneborsoff6224]

General John Buford prefer to use horses as transportation. He prefer to have his calvarymen this matter when they fought

[@Trazyn_the_Infinite_40K]

@@kurtsherrick2066 Colonel Greerson would give him a run for his money.

[@galatian5]

There was some sort of majesty Gettysburg had that I felt was lacking Gods and Generals. Every commander in this movie was someone you wanted to be and they all had an strong on screen presence.

[@tacoking380]

Also god and generals is just a horrible neo confederate pornshot

[@ashleighelizabeth5916]

I think there are two major problems with Gods and Generals. One is that it is less balanced than Gettysburg at having strong characters and actors on both sides. Gettysburg had Sam Elliott as John Buford and Bill Pullman as Joshua Chamberlain and while Pullman was back for G&G his part seemed reduced and there was simply nobody else that was well cast or fleshed out on the Union side in that movie. Given the three battles chosen to be represented in G&G it's hard to imagine who they might have picked. Nobody on the Union side did a great deal to stand out at Fredericksburg, First Bull Run or Chancellorsville, and none of the commanders that had prominent roles in those particular battles for the Union had a reputation for being religious with the exception of Oliver O Howard and he was an absolute disaster at Chancellorsville. Remember that Gods and Generals was supposed to have a central theme of the generals and their religions. Jackson and Lee had a well established relationship with religion but Stuart and Longstreet were not really spoken of in that way and so had much small rolls as a result of that IMO. The second problem with Gods and Generals is that it is just too damn long. It really should have been turned into a miniseries of 3 or even 4 nights. This would have allowed it to be better fleshed out in respect to the Union Army characters it so sorely lacked and some of the missing events from 1861-63. The missing battle of Antietam is especially egregious IMO. Giving contrasting views on slavery and the Emancipation Proclamation would have made for a much more balanced and complete film.

[@galatian5]

​@@ashleighelizabeth5916 From what I gathered in Gettysburg, they portrayed the Confederates as aristocratic, but chill and funny. The Union commanders were authoritative and uniformed, but noble. No matter what side you looked at you liked them. You really got to watch Atun-Shei Films' take on the movies. He really cuts them up good.

[@Skarecrow1949]

@@ashleighelizabeth5916 Jeff Daniels played Joshua Chamberlain

[@galatian5]

@@MM-qi5mk "Checkmate Lincolnites" [Dixie plays]

[@stevenb6984]

In real life, Chamberlain was a full Colonel by this point at Gettysburg having been promoted to the rank in June 1863 after then 20th Maine Regiment Colonel Adelbert Adams was promoted to Brigadier General and given command of the 9th Corps. If you each closely enough in these earlier scenes, he is still wearing his Lieutenant-Colonel insignia. This was changed by the point in the movie where he and the rest of the regiment are on Little Round Top. In those scenes through the end of the movie, he has his Colonel "Bird" insignia on.

[@lindgrenland]

I love that scene with Buford arriving and assessing the damn good ground

[@tatetousey1453]

Sam Elliot's speech is not only badass but John Buford actually did say this.

[@LKaramazov]

“ I got the best damn ground around...” yeah, definitely bad ass! They should do a new movie with more of day one, the. Another movie with cemetery and culps hill, but a movie that gives proper due to the heroes of the south as this movie did would cause a bigger civil war the The original.

[@thomasjensen6873]

As many LOYAL sons of the South..to the North.. He DESPISED the wealthy aristocracy....one in 20 CSA soldier owned a Slave.. Racial issue.. Think about it

[@thomasjensen6873]

North Carolina offered More soldiers to the North than any traitors

[@thomasjensen6873]

Imagine!!!!! Northern soldiers were fighting for an abstraction.. Union..freedom.. Abolition... CSA troops were fighting for property.. Racial superiority Who had the high ground?

[@kw7807]

@@thomasjensen6873 yes sir-you DO have the high ground.

[@tylersimonini9659]

I’ve been to Gettysburg 3 times now and every time I go I gain greater respect for these men and it makes me feel like I’m there in the moment

[@MrBBaron]

I also have been to Gettysburg 3 times in the mid-90s I stayed one night in the famous Cashtown inn. Wonderful historic building and allegedly haunted. At about 2 or 3 am my wife and I heard the faint sounds resembling a column of troops marching. Was it real or did we both imagine it?

[@007ndc]

I've studied History and the Civil War my whole life. I've never been to Gettysburg yet but when I go there it will be an overwhelming emotional experience to walk the grounds where the USA was preserved. God Bless America

[@tdunphy13]

I just love Longstreet's salute to Lee with the cigar in his hand! Classic!

[@slantsix6344]

My Confederate ancestor, my gggrandfather did not make it to Gettysburg, he was wounded and out of the war at age 18, it probably saved his life. However, I had to see the Gettysburg battlefield and was not disappointed. Amazing place.

[@kennethboyer2338]

This is one of my favorite films. The casting was spot on and the actors gave very moving performances. Sam Elliot, Martin Sheen, Tom Berenger and so many others gave such brilliant performances. I like to watch this on a cold winters day during a snow storm when there is nothing to do.

[@Cuevanator]

This is an impressive scene and an even more impressive use of cavalry. By this time Cav had been reduced to a scouting force, and skirmishing force as “modern” arms and infantry tactics had rendered them ineffective in battlefield situations without suffering unacceptable casualties. Even with their breech loading rifles it was a gutsy move that definitely tested the mettle of Bufords commanders and soldiers. Buford was undoubtedly a huge part of the Union’s victory, by forcing Lee’s fragmented Army into a contest where his troops where joining the battle piece meal instead of being concentrated and dug in. What a badass.

[@HockeyFan1972]

I disagree, but only partially. Yes, Cavalry and Heavy Artillery were being changed during this time, but it still remained a Napoleonic war for the duration. The Army didn't learn its lessons from this war until, if I may say, the Spanish-American war.

[@RidgeRunner-lz5ko]

JEB Stewart was the superior cavalryman.

[@KevinCullen67]

Where was Jeb Stuart?

[@mrbaab5932]

Like the old dragoons and mounted 🗻 infantry. Also the Union calvary were scouting when discovered the Confederate Democrat insurrectionists.

[@mrbaab5932]

​@@HockeyFan1972The end of the war was often against entrenched defenders like WWI.

[@stevenlawrence9579]

General Buford realized that if the Confederates got the high ground before the Union did, they most likely would had won the battle. His defensive tactics ensured the Union victory.

[@smacky101]

but the confederates pushed the union forces off of seminary ridge on the first day. The ground that buford's men defended was ultimately not as important as the ground the union forces retreated to

[@wharris4874]

Screw him

[@shaunault7538]

Lee would of won on day 2 there ih f he would of listened to longstreet instead of waiting on idiot stuart FACT

[@smacky101]

@@shaunault7538 Ah too bad Lee was an overconfident and self-righteous bigot or maybe he would have listened to his subordinates. Big bummer. Really sorry for the traitor states.

[@jamesconnor5923]

@@smacky101 Union traitors

[@sargeftwgaming8072]

"Can't lead from behind" 8:44 the way he says it is great

[@williamfindspeople4341]

If you read General longstreet's biography by Jeffery D Wert. You'll find it that is a true historical line.

[@Johnnycdrums]

What an excellent "Aid-de- camp", this young Major Taylor was. A clarity of thought enabling him to repeat the orders exactly as expressed by Lee to his senior officers 24 hours prior.

[@BurnedSpace]

I was just saying, a Major as an aide to Lee? Atleast make the poor guy a Lt. Colonel. Napoleon had a Marshal as his aide. Lee should have atleast a general as his aide.

[@jebbroham1776]

@@BurnedSpace Stars on the collar don't always mean they're smart. Just look at a lot of the Union's generals, some of them 3 stars yet they were idiots.

[@seanwalters1977]

4:45 when Buford is talking about the higher class thumping their chests, I can't help see the (probably unintentional) imagery of the dust flying off the uniform of a hardened military man who is so far removed from the higher class.

[@christaselig6735]

Buford's speech is one of the acting masterpieces of this movie from a novel which was constructed with Shakespearean brilliance; my great-great-grandfather served under Buford and assisted in securing the high ground. Just finished reading Allen Guelzo's biography of Lee, so it is interesting to see Martin Sheen's performance again in light of that reading. Highly recommend Allen Guelzo's book on the real Gettysburg, much of which did not make it into this tightly and narrowly compressed and dramatized Shakespearean rendition, which is historical fiction fine-tuned for drama.

[@lewismessinger2532]

Thanks for the recommendation. I appreciate it. Sheens been blasted for playing a "weak" Lee. But history reveals he was weakened physically at Gettysburg by a heart attack and dysentery and it no doubt took a toll on his cognitive abilities (e.g. precisiveness of direct orders, etc). If I was under the pressure he was under by that point my heart would be attacking too.

[@stuartgarfatth1448]

I tend to agree.

[@JDoe-gf5oz]

@@lewismessinger2532The casting in both movies was questionable at times. Elderly decrepit Robert Duval as a man in his early 50s was just bizarre.

[@JDoe-gf5oz]

His dialogue is taken almost word for word from The Killer Angels. You need to read that if you haven't already.

[@1FokkerAce]

.... “Afterwards men in tall hats with gold watch bobs will THUMP their chests and say what a brave charge it was!”...... - Things have NEVER been different.

[@johnleidle9910]

Got that right !

[@Hannibal953able]

It is ironic how Burford talks about the hypothetical Union charge that would be mounted if Lee occupied the high ground, which would result in simple butchery.That is exactly what happened to the Confederates on July 3rd.

[@Berzstiflag]

+Hannibal953able That is true. But Bufords foresight would have come true if Longstreet's idea of a defensive position for the confederates had been realized...

[@Hannibal953able]

Berzstiflag I have to agree with you. Porter Alexander says in his memoirs that he thought 'The Army of Northern Virginia' should have dug in after day one at Gettysburg. Let the Federals come at them for they needed to kick the invading rebels out of the Union lands and were under pressure from Washington to do so, plus that would only increase the chance of the new commander Meade making a critical mistake being new to command.

[@Berzstiflag]

+Hannibal953able Yes, that's how I see it. Thanks for the reference to Porter Alexander. So it comes back to general Lee, and his eagerness to have a definite victory, even against all odds. Well, he took the blame on himself.

[@Hannibal953able]

Berzstiflag Yea basically. Yet the Rebels came close even on July 2nd, but Lee as he wrote to President Davis and to his wife he expected too much of his infantry on the third day of Gettysburg. He saw his mass infantry assaults succeed at Chancellorsville three months previously and thought his men could do it again. But he was wrong. It was simply too much even for them.

[@top_gallant]

+Hannibal953able I have to disagree Meade would have attacked, Meade proved very defensive in the Bristoe and Mine Run campaigns later in the year, Being a new commander i think he would have waited on Lee the 2nd day, He waited the full day of July 4th waiting to see what Lee would do. Lee after all was the one behind enemy lines with scarce resources and no chance of resupply. Lee had to move fast.

[@Setebos]

I don't care if Sam Elliott's an actor, I'd follow him into combat any day.

[@shawndarling5855]

He was in the National Guard back in the day.

[@BamaMTA04]

He was great in We Were Soldiers, too.

[@muddhammer7834]

Hes the reason I started eating beef for dinner again

[@ut000bs]

@@BamaMTA04 Don't forget Tombstone. That might be my favorite movie.

[@Uncle65788]

Buford never said much of this cornball stuff

[@MaskofAgamemnon]

Gamble: I'm the soul of caution. Also Gamble: *firing his sidearm mounted at close range*

[@docbailey3265]

Gamble survived the war, only to die shortly thereafter from cholera. Dodged bullets but pooped himself to death.

[@Trazyn_the_Infinite_40K]

"I am willing to serve my country, but do not wish to sacrifice the brave men under my command" -Gen John Buford

[@charleslennonbaker]

There are a few things I remember about this movie, but Sam's performance is one of them. Masterful.

[@toasterpastries5811]

*General Buford was so militarily experienced and genius that he predicted the entire battle...only in reverse.* It was the Confederates that made suicidal charges against the well-entrenched Yankees on the high ground.

[@nora22000]

Carlos Smith Buford was better than even that--he made the difference himself.

[@indy_go_blue6048]

Based on everything that'd gone before, he had every right to be pessimistic, but Meade would've never attacked Lee on that particular high ground.

[@edwardsmcintyre9014]

Just shows how after being a genius in battle how such a idiotic advance should have placed Lee in a lower historical context

[@Shatamx]

Well yea. His Grandfather fought in the Revolutionary War!

[@michellekinder3051]

Remember Longstreet could look at a ground and knew exactly how best to use it and when

[@haraldisdead]

Holy shit the way he jumped off that horse.. this guy has spent a LOT of time in the saddle

[@amidupeuple]

Must have seen this movie 20+ times. Never get tired of it ...

[@waltermoriarty5157]

best line...'can't lead from behind...'

[@brianroberts6127]

Walter Moriarty I agree !

[@solarelysium]

@Clem Cornpone You ever just say someone needs to be punched because they liked a line from a movie lmfao

[@billh.6135]

@Clem Cornpone What's with the attitude? And what do you have against Americans? Diplomacy and tact are obviously not your strong suit. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸😁

[@dalepeto9620]

Sure you can !! TRUMP says it all the time " The states are doing the testing we're a backup"

[@waltertaljaard1488]

Buford, dusted, sweated and dirty in a sun bleached blue uniform. Like an officer who has been riding all day and has been in action for months in a row at the heart of the fighting. With the cynical and realistic attitude to match.

[@johnmccarron7066]

An officer to emulate.

[@indy_go_blue6048]

6 months before he was working at a desk job in DC. Gen. Hooker saw him, knew his worth and moved him to a field command. One of his many good moves.

[@dalepeto9620]

That's called being a " muddy boots " commander. Schwarzkopf's assessment of Grant and Sherman.

[@scottouellette9411]

5 months later at age 37 he dies from typhoid fever which still kills today.

[@kevinlovell2404]

@@scottouellette9411 very sad indeed.

[@tflynn2400]

Buford is the mirror opposite of Longstreet on day three. Longstreet was in the exact position Buford was talking about and managed to avoid for the union. "The way you feel before an ill considered attack, knowing it will fail, but you cannot stop it. Worse, you must even take part. Help it fail." That describes perfectly Longstreet and Pickett's charge.

[@Bullski123]

Martin Sheen,Jeff Daniels,Tom Berenger and Sam Elliot delivers truly a epic performance to perhaps the most authentic civil war film ever...

[@calvin5541]

Longstreet is such a boss, love his costume and mannerisms

[@michellekinder3051]

Tom B. Did a great job portraying Longstreet. Everything from mannerisms to his thoughts you get to know him

[@josephbingham1255]

Read about his wife who lived long enough to be a Rosie the riveter on B-29s.

[@littlehummingbird1015]

one of my MOST favorite films....

[@roya.cathcartjr.5042]

It's my absolute favorite movie.

[@mikatuitoga4992]

I love Sam Elliott's portrayal of General Buford.

[@printolive5512]

Buford died six months later after this battle of a disease. He had a much greater future ahead of himself. Losing him and Reynolds both cost the Union dearly.

[@frankmcgee3213]

Love this. GG GF was in 61st Georgia. Ewell’s Corps, Early’s Division, Gordon’s Brigade.

[@Wolfsky9]

The casting & writing for this epic drama were 1st rate. I am not a " fan " of Sheen, but he really did become R.E. Lee. As for Sam Elliott?? Brilliant as always. ---------WolfSky9

[@headshotsongs9465]

You sir, are correct.

[@indy_go_blue6048]

I still respect him as an actor, but his "performance" after 11/16 makes me want to puke whenever I see him.

[@carpediem6568]

To me, Elliot is overexposed as an actor and because of it, not believable in the part. Sheen does a great job but is ridiculously small compared to Lee, who was a huge man. Although giving credible performances, both were miscast. Just an opinion. Sheen does though, nail the accent, whereas the rest of the Southern officers sound like ordinary white folk.

[@416loren]

I think every actor recognized the honor that was given to him with the role.

[@hvymettle]

@@carpediem6568 Lee was 5' 10" according to his famous biographer Douglas Freeman. Is that a huge man? Martin Sheen is 5' 8". Does that make him ridiculously small compared to Lee?

[@Suhcamara]

Buford was so underrated as a Union commander.

[@SantomPh]

Suhcamara massively underrated. the fact that he was from Kentucky and could have been wearing grey made his loyalty even more meaningful

[@jameshorn270]

The problem is that he died the next year, It think pneumonia. In fact, none of the Union cavalry officers got the press that Stuart and Forrest got, except Custer (Sheridan bounced back and forth between cavalry and infantry, ultimately commanding mixed forces) , and that was more because of his end at Little Big Horn. Because of that, he gets the press about the Cavalry fight, though he was there because David Gregg, commander of the 1st Cavalry Division and senior officer in the fight, pressed him to stay rather than move to the other flank as ordered. Another promising Union cavalry commander, Farnsworth, was killed late on the third day in an attack on the Confederate right flank which gets almost no attention.

[@tomdefranco816]

Patrick Ancona That’s frigging sick, Patrick. Say what you want about Sherman, but he sped up the end of the war. In addition, he gets blamed for a lot of stuff that he and his men didn’t do, like starting the fires in Atlanta - your boy Hood did that. Also, Wheeler’s people were also stealing and ransacking from Georgian homes and farms. Read the Confederate Inspector General’s report of January, 1865. It’s eye opening. It should be in the ORs. I know it’s in Failure in the Saddle by Dave Powell.

[@waynearrington6727]

He died from pneumonia about a year after the events depicted here. Way too bad.

[@tomdefranco816]

Wayne Arrington, Specifically, he died of Pneumonia (or, maybe consumption) on December 16, 1863, same year as the battle. It was a great shame. Confederates like to muse about Jackson, but imagine the cavalry led by Sheridan with John Buford an immediate subordinate. The Valley Campaign would likely have ended a lot sooner than October of 1864.

[@jayuihlein1664]

Truly a great scene and masterfully delivered by Sam Elliot. Just none better...Still my favorite movie. I have been a reenactor now for 22 years. I am slowly beginning to underdtand what happened at Gettysburg....

[@calvin5541]

Flapjacks, fresh butter, bacon, wagons of ham, apple butter, cherries...sounds like a heart attack in the making Where can I find this glorious breakfast

[@josephruiz7233]

Very ironic for the Confederate Military, because in fact, the Confederacy couldn't feed their Armed Forces. Even before the Battle of Gettysburg, many Confederate Units were starving.

[@calvin5541]

@@josephruiz7233 very true. They must’ve not put enough into their supply wagons in ultimate general civil war (great game) I always try to supply my units well. Also I realized the breakfast he’s describing is basically Cracker Barrel. Maybe major Taylor went on to create the first Cracker Barrel after the war lol

[@dog_boy5123]

That's sounds like a true southern breakfast now I'm hungry

[@glenjenkins3816]

I'll have to go south of here about 80 miles to the Cashtown Inn on Rte. 30 (in the movie) and see if they do have this breakfast. If not, they really should start.

[@danielfronc4304]

The words alone had me drooling.

[@moris7055]

Please, do not forget the 10.000 italians who volunteered, fought and died for the Confederacy. The militia of Louisiana had an italian guards battalion, later renamed 6th Regiment European Brigade, and other companies within regiments from Alabama, Virginia, Tennessee and Louisiana. General William Booth Taliaferro served in the Confederate Army as well as the commanders of the 6th Regiment European Brigade, Lt.Della Valle, Captain Marzoni, Captain Santini, First Lieutenant Marinoni and Second Lieutenant Baselli. Thank you from Italy for remembering them.

[@catherineadair581]

We remember! My Italian relatives came here in the late 1800’s. God bless Italy!

[@ray.shoesmith]

Italy has a history of choosing to fight on the losing side tbh

[@logon235]

@@ray.shoesmith or the more racist side.

[@streetsofsouthphilly]

@@logon235 Both, apparently.

[@peterpage9560]

Bawhahahahaha sooo true the Italians fought with the Nazis

[@AdmlJoey1701]

Of all the films on the Civil War, this is the best. It showcases both sides well and puts necessary emphasis on many leaders on both sides that often go unsung. Buford was a brilliant cavalry leader and understood military strategy. Chamberlain is the biggest Union leader shown, and I can't help but get choked up every time I see the Battle of Little Round Top. Hancock may not have been in charge but he basically was running quite a bit at this point (thankfully). Longstreet knew exactly what was going on, more so than anyone else on the Confederate side here, but thankfully he wasn't listened to by Lee here.

[@michaelshopf7732]

The carbine was an obvious advantage , but I think Buford was just a fighter. Quick decision maker and not afraid to execute. The union needed more like him

[@wyattmann8157]

I've got to watch this movie again. Absolute masterpiece.

[@charleshooper1465]

I grew up in the 50/60's .my dads side of the family was from Georgia ,they settled in Florida .when I was in elementary school and a new student would come into our class, the first question he would be asked ..."are you a yankee or a rebel?". in high school, we would have pep rally in the gym.the band would play Dixie at least 3-4 times between player introduction and the cheerleaders skits..US Grant was a name I seldom heard.all of my relatives in Georgia spoke exactly like the character who played Lees' aid de camp. same way with Sheens Robert E Lee. I found the movie to be spot on and the best movies on the War Between the States that I have seen. the scene of the units coming into cash town and the band playing Dixie gives me goosebumps every time I see it

[@marknewton6984]

Childhood memories of elementary School in Central Florida! Me too.

[@JayJoJonny]

I’ve been to this battle ground, I climbed Little Round Top, I hiked over Devils Den & walked the ground of Picketts Charge. My heart was heavy as I thought about all the lost lives & the families that lost Sons. There were 51,000 soldiers that died there, such a huge sacrifice I hope that it will never be forgotten

[@thomasbrennan6303]

51,000 casualties means dead, wounded, captured or missing. Almost 8,000 dead corpses were left on the field. Many thousands more died in the following days, weeks and months from wounds received at Gettysburg, but that's a more difficult number to tally. The important perspective isn't the number of dead itself, it's how that number related to the population and society at the time. Our population is 10x what it was in 1860. By today's population, the Civil War killed 6 million Americans, with 80,000 dead soldiers left on the field at Gettysburg. We lost 4,500 killed in the Iraq/Afghanistan Wars over nearly 20 years. Now consider 80,000 killed in three days, in one battle, in a war full of battles like that, with many of the bloodiest battles still yet to be fought. The sheer scale of the slaughter was difficult for people at the time to comprehend. Within that context, you get a better understanding of how horrible the Civil War was. This movie doesn't impart the horror that happened at Gettysburg.

[@JayJoJonny]

@@thomasbrennan6303, what movie does?

[@thomasbrennan6303]

@@JayJoJonny Some war movies get closer to depicting the horrors of war than others. 'Gettysburg' didn't come close.

[@danowolf]

"I hope it will never be forgotten", to late, already some men and women are praying for another civil war.

[@pathendren4462]

I'd never been to Gettysburg, though I love this film, studied the battle, and played the video games. We checked into our motel. The family was in the room and I was getting our bags from the car when I looked up the hill behind the motel. It hit me like a hammer. "My God, that's Cemetery Ridge." I slowly turned 270 degrees, as the entire battlefield was laid out before me in my mind. It was almost a religious experience.

[@matthawkins123]

I like how all these guys are so casual yet still recognize the importance of chain of command

[@TheWinterShadow]

Sam Elliot's performances of Buford seems so damn natural. Barrington's performance of Longstreet is also natural.

[@CLuvTravels]

I’m nervous playing paintball, I can’t imagine being on a battlefield

[@ja6855]

I feel you

[@user-oo5iu1qy4d]

It was even worse than that; equipment was neuvo-modern but tactics were still archaic. There's a book, "Attack and Die", it analyses the Confederate losses in the Civil War. Basically, the South bled themselves to death. If they weren't so stuck on the idea of attacking all the time, they may have won the war. At Gettysburg, had Lee listened to Longstreet, and redeployed between the federal army and Washington, the federals WOULD have attacked and WOULD have been slaughtered, leading to a Rebel victory at Gettysburg, and very likely the war.

[@radman1136]

@@user-oo5iu1qy4d The confederacy won the majority of the battles fought, had they won them all they'd still lost the war.

[@phillipsteele9067]

@@user-oo5iu1qy4d m

[@alejandroyepez]

You know things about life and death modern people could not do that type of warfare.

[@BarrettL1970]

It just dawned on me what he was saying about seeing the outcome but cannot stop it forgetting in this movie that is exactly what Longstreet went through.

[@burrellbikes4969]

The stones on the real Buford were MASSIVE! To singlehanded choose where the major battle would take place and hold the ground on his own initiative. Legend.

[@christennant8690]

Music used in Gettysburg was so emotional.

[@michellekinder3051]

If you thought that was good, give a listen to Ken Burns PBS The Civil War soundtrack or if you have time watch the series it is well worth it

[@fatheremmons85]

I was 8 when the movie came out. My dad rented it and i remember sitting in the living room watching it with him. I've been obsessed with the Civil War ever since. The music really got to me and I think really held my attention. Great movie in most aspects.

[@jasonsullivan4579]

God broke the mold after he made Sam Elliott, one of my favorite actors of All time!

[@jkorshak]

He is outstanding in Frogs.

[@scottriley1913]

This may have very been Sam Elliott’s finest role. He really made this segment.

[@donaldfrazier5508]

Up in the Air. Small role, but the God-like whisper of reason.

[@mwduck]

@@donaldfrazier5508 And who can forget Roadhouse?

[@s208richard8]

Sergeant -Major Plumley - We Were Soldiers - he nailed that part.

[@marknewton6984]

This and Lifeguard!

[@browncoat516]

The cavalry with the seminary behind it(shivers). It's like a painting.

[@aliaslisabeth1031]

Hats off to the reenactors for marching so well while barefoot.

[@tompazur6008]

Unfortunately most of the re-enactors were far too over-weight. They did not resemble the actual soldiers who had marched hundreds of miles in the days preceding the battle.

[@tackyman2011]

Am currently re-reading the book. Buford sounds like my kind of guy.

[@davewagner5408]

I was never a big Sheen fan,but he was terrific as Robert E. Lee.

[@pendragonU]

From 4:00 to 6:00 this was Sam Elliott's finest lines and performance Zen moment to his role too, showing the determined character and foresight resolve of General Bufford, that won for the Union the upperhand before even The Battles started, in that High Noon decisive change of Tide between the South and North. However it was the whole Supreme Commander Lee's harrying of The North, a swan song as the Battle of the Bulge would be for the German Wehrmacht. His second in command played along great support, as for a while he looked at him as if he was LOSING IT and had too much Rum in his morning coffee, but then the divine inspiration came to him on what selfless course of action to take at whatever sacrifice, to spare even more thousands of lives lost in Union Forces, and defeat against the steel mettle in those metallic uniforms marching in unstoppable. Vision as Bufford's won upon the South noble hearts regardless Lee's brilliance, on the face of a situation becoming more unsustainable for The Confederation by the week

[@sillyone52062]

I saw this movie in Gettysburg about a week after the premiere. Pictures of Elliott and Sheen adorned the theater lobby.

[@rubinsteve1]

I cant think of a better made American movie, brilliant, great acting, movies based on actual events always are more interesting.

[@antares4s]

Actually the movie is based on a novel and has quite a few technical errors throughout. But is still an enjoyable film

[@ReformedSooner24]

rubinsteve1 Bickell Saving private Ryan maybe.

[@blondecrossdresserxxx4407]

More blood. A rated r remake would be great

[@ReformedSooner24]

Robert Feth You can’t “remake” perfection tho...

[@blondecrossdresserxxx4407]

FightingFalcon TX understandable. It is great. Just wish it was more bloody. This might sound lame but a CGI pickets charge showing a mile long line would be cool too. I don't know not trying to be negative. The actors would be almost impossible to replace that's for sure. Lee is perfect and etc.

[@aarontaylor4787]

Possibly Sam Elliott’s greatest performance.

[@collinhennessy6558]

Have you not seen The Big Lebowski?

[@amaree9732]

My great grandfather was locked up at Andersonville. He stayed passed closing time and got locked in the giftshop.

[@Truckergregg]

I think this movie only grossed 10 million at the box office. One of my top 5 movies of all time. The ending when the brothers hug is amazing and touching.

[@tomzadvydas1758]

Most people don’t appreciate historical films

[@The867530910]

@@tomzadvydas1758 people dont watch 4 hour movies

[@shirleyporter7608]

Sam Elliot was the best part of the film for me - he was totally believable as Buford - it was an amazing film and everyone played an amazing part. True history perfectly made !! Loved every minute of lit and never tire of re watching it. What a battle and so well laid out - Pickett showed how it felt after losing his men - such depth of feeling

[@freeflowme]

Buford seeing everything that Longstreet did as well, but Lee for whatever reason wouldn't.

[@TheTruth01234]

10:30 perfect line in a perfect movie.

[@georgeherod4252]

I got the experience of a lifetime, I got to walk out on that groove of trees that Lie talked about and look out over the killing field that Pickets brigades crossed. I pondered what kind of men it took to walk across that field into Canon fire at long range then cannister fire from Canon. Then hundreds of riflemen. It was so moving. Just stirred my soul.

[@swalte6325]

This is such a great film. Well-cast and very accurate

[@coolcat5714]

swalte6325 but too much music

[@tomdefranco816]

Cool Cat, Actually, I quite like the music, especially the songs when Buford rides into town and the moment when Chamberlain decides on a bayonet charge.

[@willoutlaw4971]

The movie is NOT accurate. It fails to demonstrate the cause of the Civil War. Slavery. It fails to show the hundreds of African Americans who were kidnapped in Pennsylvania and sent into slavery in Virginia. It fails to show the criminality of typical low life southern troops stealing chickens, hogs, and cattle. The best scene in the movie is when hundreds of rebs were mowed down during Picketts Charge while Pickett himself was hiding behind a barn. The hook line should have been; " You can't lead from behind a barn".

[@mikerath4377]

@@willoutlaw4971 it was not meant to be a political movie.

[@davecarsley8773]

@@willoutlaw4971 What a loser lol

[@ifcdirector]

General Heth was saved later in the day by an oversized hat. He was wearing a hat two sizes too large for his head and had stuffed a wad of paper into it to make it fit better. He was shot in the head and the paper was just enough to cushion to blow and resulted in him getting knocked out instead of killed.

[@kellysprague9583]

This film is incredible.Left all the actual gore and horror that the battle was.

[@deirdre108]

09:09 Longstreet saluting Lee with his cigar in his hand always gets a chuckle out of me. Nice touch.

[@davecrupel2817]

13:00 one of my favorite parts. Dixie Land is a damn good song.

[@christinedavis2476]

It could be argued that Buford, if he didn't actually win the victory at Gettysburg, certainly guaranteed it by denying Lee the "high ground." Lee won two minor skirmishes over two days, and yet this Union victory set the stage for Grant's ultimate onslaught and Sheridan's Shenandoah victories.

[@terrencelittle4069]

Christine 22Davis m

[@StephenPaulTroup]

Buford played the hand he was dealt very well and bravely, but that did not mean a Union victory by any stretch. Lee blundered here, colossally. Something he rarely did but he sure did here. Lee's strategy on Day 2 was foolish, it doesn't get thought of as such because Day 3 was 10x as foolish

[@Baron_MiLLer]

*I Love Every VID, that Show ConFederate Scum, GeTTing Exterminated!!!!*

[@larrycandler6655]

@@Baron_MiLLer you must looking in a mirror!!!!

[@firingallcylinders2949]

Something that is overlooked in warfare is the sound. Having literally hundreds of muskets and rifles firing at once, men yelling and cannons firing right next to you. It must've been deafening.

[@mikeggg5671]

I love that major Taylor is sophisticated enough to remember that it is the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, not the state!

[@Sam-sr1jx]

I love General Lee's aide-de-camp.

[@shrapnel77]

Ain't no way Sam Elliot is wearing a fake beard. Man has legendary facial hair.

[@guldan9140]

he didn't need it - Buford only had a mustache

[@harrellkimes1567]

Doesn't have beard just mustache

[@jkorshak]

"Ain't no way I'm wearing no fake beard - look at this here picture of General Buford - you see any beard?"

[@MrCcragg27]

that aint no beard. thats a mustache. if you could grow facial hair you would know the difference between a mustache and a beard. keep watching war movies. maybe someday they will cause a hair to grow on your ur ass

[@stingray4real]

Sam Elliot doesn't need a fake beard when he has got his trademark moustache.

[@harriethunter8910]

Wonderful film. All actors are fabulous and Martin Sheen as per usual is excellent. Mr Sheen a fantastic actor. He is so passionate in any role he undertakes, hence making him so wonderful to watch.

[@NatuallySynthetic]

Every time I watch this I think maybe this time lee will change his mind.

[@thomasc.5219]

Nope. Makes the same stupid decision everytime. Which makes me happy. For the Union!