We had more in common then than the FUSA has now by ten fold.....I am a yankee, but I look at that "brother war" and can say the future will not have any resemblance to it in chivalry or international laws of land combat...It will make Kansas/Missouri look genteel.
I spent my 30th birthday, in August 1992, camped at Gettysburg with the production company making this film. (It was still called "The Killer Angels" at that time.) I was one of the hundreds of Confederate reenactors. The group I was with normally "portrayed" Co H, 1st Texas; but for purposes of the Pickett's Charge scene we were the 8th Virginia of Garnett's Brigade, which thrilled me because the 8th was raised in my home county of Fairfax.
It took us a week to film the charge scene. It was August in PA, hot, muggy, buggy, and the movie crew made sure each morning that our uniforms and gear were authentic--no "farbs" allowed. That meant wool and cotton pants, shirts, and jackets. We also weren't allowed to shower for that week, and we slept in company rows of Sibley tents--as close to the real deal as we could get. At the end of each day we were filthy, sweaty, and exhausted. When the call sounded to wrap the day's shooting, all the big stars hurried back to their air-conditioned buses to shower and have a cocktail. Not Richard Jordan, though. As we drag-assed past the row of celeb buses parked on Confederate Avenue, he stayed outside, greeting each us, shaking our hands, and telling us how great we looked and what a good job we were doing. Just as dirty and sweaty and tired as we were, he didn't go into his bus until the last one of us had filed past.
I already liked Jordan as an actor because of his role as Francis 7 in "Logan's Run," which I loved as a kid. Getting to meet him, and learn what an outstanding human he was, was one of the brightest moments in my life.
We had more in common then than the FUSA has now by ten fold.....I am a yankee, but I look at that "brother war" and can say the future will not have any resemblance to it in chivalry or international laws of land combat...It will make Kansas/Missouri look genteel.
ReplyDeleteIt will make Kansas/Missouri look genteel.
DeleteNo doubt in my mind that it wouldn't be possible.
That movie was epic.
ReplyDeleteIndeed and 4 hours as I remember.
DeleteI spent my 30th birthday, in August 1992, camped at Gettysburg with the production company making this film. (It was still called "The Killer Angels" at that time.) I was one of the hundreds of Confederate reenactors. The group I was with normally "portrayed" Co H, 1st Texas; but for purposes of the Pickett's Charge scene we were the 8th Virginia of Garnett's Brigade, which thrilled me because the 8th was raised in my home county of Fairfax.
ReplyDeleteIt took us a week to film the charge scene. It was August in PA, hot, muggy, buggy, and the movie crew made sure each morning that our uniforms and gear were authentic--no "farbs" allowed. That meant wool and cotton pants, shirts, and jackets. We also weren't allowed to shower for that week, and we slept in company rows of Sibley tents--as close to the real deal as we could get. At the end of each day we were filthy, sweaty, and exhausted. When the call sounded to wrap the day's shooting, all the big stars hurried back to their air-conditioned buses to shower and have a cocktail. Not Richard Jordan, though. As we drag-assed past the row of celeb buses parked on Confederate Avenue, he stayed outside, greeting each us, shaking our hands, and telling us how great we looked and what a good job we were doing. Just as dirty and sweaty and tired as we were, he didn't go into his bus until the last one of us had filed past.
I already liked Jordan as an actor because of his role as Francis 7 in "Logan's Run," which I loved as a kid. Getting to meet him, and learn what an outstanding human he was, was one of the brightest moments in my life.
Thank you for your history and it was such a shame that he died shortly thereafter.
Delete