Gods, Generals, And Historical Truth
By Doug Hagin (03/06/03)
Hollywood gets a really bad rap these days. Their outspoken stars seem to all be making a stand against our President and a possible war with Iraq. And of course Hollywood has become well known for leaning far, far, far, far left in it’s political statements in it’s movies.
In fact many Conservatives have sworn off anything coming out of Hollywood as garbage. Many have railed against the lack of positive role models presented in movies. And perhaps no group has more reasons to be highly suspect of Hollywood than Southerners. Any movie about the South seems to have a decidedly negative message. Especially if one happens to be a Southerner who is proud of their Confederate ancestors.
Well let me assure y’all of one thing not everything coming out of Hollywood is anti-Southern. At least one movie, Gods and Generals, is not only anti-Southern but is actually historically accurate as well.
The recently released film is a prequel to 1994’s Gettysburg, and takes place in the first two years of the War Between the States. If you saw Gettysburg you will remember several characters from that film, but the central character of this classic is Stonewall Jackson.
Now this alone might seem enough to surprise many Southerners. After all the confederacy and its soldiers have hardly gotten a whole lot of praise from the entertainment industry. But this film proves to be very different.
As stated earlier this film is accurate in its history. And in being historically accurate, the film also proves to be very politically incorrect. Stephen Lang, who plays Jackson, does a marvelous job of bringing the legendary General to life. And Robert Duvall, who plays Robert E. Lee, presents Lee, as he was, a man of great character and conviction.
There is more though, the issue of slavery, which revisionists in Hollywood have generally tried to make the issue in any work on this war is relegated to a more accurate place in the film. Slavery is talked about as one of the issues of the day, and is presented as an ugly institution. But the close relationships of some Southern families and their slaves are also presented.
This is unacceptable to those of a politically correct mindset. But there is even better news. The anti-slavery views of both Jackson and Lee are also made crystal clear in this film. There is a particularly inspiring scene where Jackson prays with his cook, Jim, who was a Black man.
This scene apparently has caused some critics to slam the film, and to be downright offended. Guess here is the truth does not set well with their pre-conceived notions about the war. There are other scenes, which surely have moved some to gasp in politically correct horror. One scene shows two young soldiers leaving to join the Confederate Army. In the scene the slaves and the soldiers embrace each other with sincere love.
Surely such scenes were not rare in those early days of the war. In fact no movie about this war could be entirely accurate without such scenes. But again the truth does cause great offense to those who have been misinformed about this war.
There is more good news, unless you are a hypersensitive, easily offended, politically correct type though. Stonewall Jackson is also presented as a loving husband and father who loves children. And his love of God and his faith are also presented in a factual manner. Surely the politically correct would have preferred Jackson to be shown as a right wing, Bible thumping, fanatic.
Instead he and General Lee are shown clearly as great, heroic men who were not only brilliant military leaders but also men of principle. Their motive for serving the south is made clear in the film. Far from crusading to preserve slavery, these men fought because their state, Virginia seceded and fought against northern aggression. Only after Lincoln made clear his intention to invade the South did Virginia leave the Union.
And this film also makes clear how much Jackson and Lee loved the Union. But their state was their home and duty required defending the soil of Virginia. Perhaps this concept is difficult to grasp for some that have been taught the South was seeking to destroy the United States instead of fighting for their independence.
This film, will not win praise from the mass entertainment community, because it breaks too many rules but this is also why it has already won the hearts of those who love their Confederate ancestry.
The critics will rail against it and the Academy Awards will no doubt look past it. Do not be surprised if the self-appointed leaders of the Civil Rights crowd boycott the movie. But these are good things. The truth is not well received in the entertainment world. And Gods and Generals certainly presents the truth about the War Between the States.
Thanks to the actors and director and especially Ted Turner who paid millions to make this film. Ted is not known as friendly to Conservatives and is quite the Liberal, but apparently he cares about historical truth. That is a nice change!
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