TEN FAVORITE CIVIL WAR MOVIES AND MINISERIES
Ten Favorite Civil War Movies or Miniseries
Below is a list of my favorite movies set during the American Civil War:
1. North and South: Book II - An almost excellent miniseries adaptation of John Jakes’ novel, ”Love and War”, although I had a few problems with some of the plotlines and characters. If you like over-the-top period pieces, this is your story. Starring Patrick Swayze, James Read and Lesley Anne-Down.
2. Gettysburg - Movie adaptation of Michael Shaara’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel about the three-day battle at Gettysburg during the war. First class. Starring Tom Berrenger, Jeff Daniels and Martin Sheen.
3. Glory - Movie about the famous all black 54th Massachusetts Infantry regiment during the war. Superb and highly recommended. Starring Matthew Broderick, Oscar winner Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, Andre Braugher and Cary Elwes.
4. Cold Mountain - Love story about a Confederate deserter trying to return home to North Carolina and the love of his life. Beautiful love story. Starring Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, Brendan Gleeson, Natalie Portman, and Oscar winner Renee Zellewiger.
5. The Blue and the Gray - A three-part miniseries about two related families - one from Pennsylvania and one from Virginia during the Civil War. Pretty good. Starring John Hammond and Stacy Keach.
6. Class of ‘61 - TV movie about two West Point graduates during the first months of the Civil War and the people in their lives. Starring Dan Futterman, Clive Owen, Andre Braugher, Laura Linney and Josh Lucas.
7. Gone With the Wind - The best thing about this Oscar winner is its first half, which features the trials and tribulations of Georgia belle, Scarlett O’Hara, during the war. Starring Oscar winners Vivian Leigh and Hattie McDaniel, Clark Gable, Olivia DeHavilland and Leslie Howard.
8. The Beguiled - Intriguing Civil War melodrama about a wounded Union soldier convalescing at girls’ school in Mississippi. Starring Clint Eastwood, Geraldine Page and Elizabeth Hartman.
9. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - Three men search for missing Confederate gold in New Mexico during the Civil War. Great Spaghetti western. Starring Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach and Lee Van Cleef.
10. The Horse Soldiers - John Ford movie about a famous calvary action during the war. Good action film. Starring John Wayne, William Holden and Constance Towers.
What are your favorite Civil War movies?