Gettysburg (1993)
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A sprawling epic depicts the pivotal Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War.
The story
In June 1863, the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, led by Robert E. Lee, invades the North, moving into Pennsylvania. Upon learning that the Union Army of the Potomac is approaching, Lee orders his forces to concentrate near the town of Gettysburg. Simultaneously, the Union forces under various commanders prepare for the confrontation. The film follows the strategic maneuvers and escalating tensions as both armies move toward a decisive clash, focusing on the leadership of figures like James Longstreet and Joshua Chamberlain as they prepare for the bloody conflict that will determine the fate of the war.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
The film begins with the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, commanded by Robert E. Lee, invading the North in June 1863. After receiving intelligence that the Union Army of the Potomac is moving toward them, Lee orders his troops to concentrate at Gettysburg. On July 1, the armies engage, and the Union is pushed back to Cemetery Ridge. On July 2, the fighting intensifies at Little Round Top, where Joshua Chamberlain leads a desperate bayonet charge to hold the Union flank. On July 3, Lee orders a massive assault on the Union center at Cemetery Ridge. Despite the bravery of Pickett's men, the charge fails due to heavy casualties. The film concludes with the fates of the major figures of the battle as the Confederate army prepares to withdraw.
- First release year
- 1993
- Runtime (minutes)
- 254
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Ronald F. Maxwell
- Writers
- Ronald F. Maxwell · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Tom Berenger · James Longstreet; Jeff Daniels · Joshua Chamberlain; Martin Sheen · Robert E. Lee; Stephen Lang · George Pickett; Sam Elliott · John Buford
- Genres
- war; drama; historical
- Themes
- war; leadership; sacrifice
- Tone and mood
- reverent; serious
- Premise and plot tags
- historical_epic; war_drama; biographical
- Source material / true-story basis
- The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics and was praised for its reverent approach to history and talented cast, though some critics found it long.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 82% · scale: Fresh · review count: 22
- Production trivia
- It is the longest film released theatrically by a major film studio in the United States.; The National Park Service allowed the film to be shot on the actual Gettysburg Battlefield.; The film was originally intended to be part of a trilogy.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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