Filming the "Gettysburg" 20th Maine Scenes: 30th Anniversary
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- Опубліковано 30 вер 2024
- Some of the most famous scenes from the movie Gettysburg are centered around the 20th Maine and Jeff Daniels's portrayal of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. Today, we visit one of the 20th Maine filming locations in Gettysburg.
Check out our other Gettysburg 30th Anniversary videos: • Gettysburg Movie: 30th...
The American Battlefield Trust preserves America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educates the public about what happened there and why it matters. We permanently protect these battlefields for future generations as a lasting and tangible memorial to the brave soldiers who fought in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Civil War.
Chamberlains Speech, quite literally changed my life. I don't mean that to be sappy...it actually did.
For context, when I was a junior in High-School, I took 'Theatre' as an elective, thinking it was more interesting than anything else that was offered. Towards the middle of the Semester, one of the assignments was to pick a monologue from a play or movie and recite it. Being that I was such a fan of this movie (and really couldn't think of anything better-lol) I chose Chamberlains Speech, cutting it down to roughly three and a half minutes for the requirements.
Something else to know about me, is that i have a really bad speech impediment, like cartoonishly bad. My stutter was at its worst in High School, with me hardly being able to get a sentence out. In any normal conversation, it never failed, I'd get stuck on a word, and freeze. So when it came time to do my monologue, everyone is dreading it, fearing the worst. I am too.
To my great surprise, it came out naturally, for one of the first times in my life, I was fluent! I won't pretend it was flawless, as I remember there being a few 'bumps', but it was a huge leap forward from where I had been for most of my life. For three and a half minutes, I was laser locked in, nothing else in the world mattered, besides the scene. When I sat back down, I realized, that with enough practice, and enough rehearsal, I could say just about anything. It was from that moment, that I knew I wanted to become an Actor.
After that, I auditioned for High School Theatre, did several Community Theatre Productions, and am now in College Majoring in Acting (Every Parent's dream right? Lmao). That moment didn't get me over my speech impediment, as it's something I'll have for the rest of my life, but it was a huge confidence booster. If it wasn't for that moment in my tiny little High School Classroom, I might not have gotten that push forward. I owe a lot to this scene, and how it completely changed the course of my life.
Wow great story! It's amazing how seemingly small events in life can have such big impacts. Congratulations and good luck! 🙏
Now that's a happy story. Well done!
What a wonderful story! Thanks for sharing.
My dad was an extra in Gettysburg, in the 20th Maine. He's visible twice during the movie, and so proud of this 30+ yr career in reenacting. My brother and I followed in his footsteps.
Awesome I'll be looking for him! Are you a ACW reenactors?
That's nothing short of amazing, sir🙂
The youngest amongst the ranks during this film are around 50 years old or better now. At the time we were barely 18 years old. When you compare the time that’s passed for those of us in the film relative to the men that fought in 1863, the first cars were being built in the United States (Springfield, Mass 1893) by this point in their life spans since experiencing Gettysburg. Despite all the mileage I’ve put on this body, I’m still out on the field today, still learning, still enjoying, but that few weeks I had on the set of Gettysburg will be the an adventure I’ll probably never top in this lifetime.
My son-in-law and his twin brother were Confederates for the Battle of Little Round Top. In the days of VHS, we could stop the tape at just the right moment to see me son-in-law when the Battle went hand-to-hand. They were also body doubles in the silhouette scene on Round Top. I believe they said they were Strong Vincent and Ellis Peters. They didn't recognize each other when they came out after the make-up artists turned them into their prospective Union soldiers. 😆
I am such a fan of the movie "Gettysburg". The speech that Colonel Chamberlain had made (or at least how it was delivered in the movie) is one of the best "military sermons" that I have ever heard. It rivals General Anthony McAuliffe's response of "Nuts!" when asked by the German Command to surrender Bastogne.
I have never traveled to a more peaceful mass of land than at Gettysburg. I have traveled there approximately 20 times throughout my life and plan to travel there again, several times, when I retire in a few years. General Dwight David Eisenhower was quite shrewd to make it his home so many years ago. Godspeed to all of those who suffered there 160 years ago.
My brother was in the movie. He played General Armistead. I am distantly related to the Sargent William S. Jordan that appears on the 20th Maine monument at Gettysburg. I believe there was an Eben Jordan in the 16th Maine.
❤❤❤
Your brother was very gracious to us reenactors. Not at all aloof. Daniel's, we simply ignored. Both, good in their roles, but your brother was a notch above as a person.
I remember reading about your late brother's passing, Mr. Jordan😟😔 I was shocked and saddened to read it. I didn't know he was terminally ill at the time. He passed only a few months before Gettysburg release. It was a fine performance by him, sir💯👍 Good Lord rest his soul😇 R.I.P. Richard Jordan
He put everything into portraying General Lewis Armistead🙂
My youngest brother in-law has several disabilities that leaves him unable to talk and is often unable to get out of his bed. But... Let me tell you something... Each day you MUST have Gettysburg on for him to watch and I mean everyday.
He loves to throw his hands up to do the "Charge!" and we must do the charge with him. If not he'll get aggravated with us. Lol! To the one's of ya out there that put this together... Just know there is a young man out there that dearly loves this movie! We have spare DVD's so that, when he burns out that one we have a brand new one for him.
Thanks again and God bless!
Thank you very much for sharing this!
@@TinTrumpetInterpreters You're welcome
My dear friend, Skip Cosper, was the first assistant director on Gettysburg. He was meticulous to say the least. We lost him in January, and we miss him dearly.
Sorry for your loss, sir😒 Hard to believe it's been 3 decades this month since Gettysburg first hit theaters
My dad likes to tell a story about how several men from his reenacting group were in the 20th Maine scenes. The regiment deployed "Right, by file, into line." and they wanted to show that in the movie, but these guys from his company were among the only people who had practiced this maneuver, so while they did it perfectly the rest of the reenactors had such a hard time with it that they eventually had to drop it from the scene.
Jack Fitzpatrick, mentioned in the video, was my captain and friend in the 15th New Jersey Co. E reenactment unit (based in Caldwell). Lovely man, very kind to me and my family as we started out in living history just a couple of years before Gettysburg was filmed. Jack was a pipe smoker and had a bunch of them. After he passed, those of us who attended his memorial service in Jersey were able to take home one of his pipes as a memento, and I keep my memory of Jack on the mantle in our living room.
Great look back at that memorable scene. My first reaction was, "Wow, that area has been consumed by undergrowth." Then I reminded myself that is has been 30 years. The movie doesn't seem to be that old. It feels ageless to me.
Love jeff daniels and Gettysburg! Such a great movie love the 20th ME, hid portrayal of Chamberlain was amazing! Everyone did a great magnificent job in portraying the 20th vol InF, this is the truth you framed in these podcast, how the movie condensed the 2ndME story
Ulman is dressed loke a superb union soldier of the Maine regt! Yes!
At 6:02, the six mutineers were called "hardheads"; not "hotheads".
If you listen closely, we are actually saying hardheads like the Maine accent is in the movie. Haadheads.
Any vid with Garry & Tim is a gem
AWESOME video!! Great job!
What a great experience overall....and a movie...great video
Gettysburg has been my first favorite movie and what got me into Civil War re-enacting. Every time before I leave for the re-enactment I always watch this to get into the spirit and into becoming a Civil War Union soldier. Plus I'm big on civil war history.
I am glad it gave a nod to the Iron Brigade a crucial unit during the battle.
Well done ! 👍🇺🇸
Great commentary on the movie. Loved it Tim and Gary
Great, now let's make the "Last Full Measure" - my reenactor buddies and I are ready!
A magical, wonderful presentation on a magical, wonderful film.
Cool
Cool video. This stuff is gold!
This speech is the American "St. Crispin's Day Speech". Who we are, why we are doing what we are doing, and who we should be.
Nice seeing this, I was assigned to the 5th battalion 20th Infantry (Sykes Regulars), and I saw the Gettysburg streamer on the battalion colors.
I always wondered how they got the aerial puffs during the cannonade during pickets charge
Excellent! Loved this.
Back when the movie was filmed, livestock grazed free and kept the underbrush down
Fabulous insight from those who participated in the key scenes from "Gettysburg." Thank you for this. Amazing stuff.
Cool!
Terrific!!!!
Wonderful. Thank you!
Where is the tree at??
I am the fellow on the horse (Relay) bringing the orders that the 2nd ME mutineers will be melded into the 20th. I was next to the camera during the filming of Jeff Daniel's speech, the reenactors sobbing during it is total BS. Though the 'experts' didn't explain why, the tiny tents were used for 'forced perspective'.
i guess i am the only person that found the scene entirely contrived and phony...well acted but it just does not scan for me
3:09 oh jeez here’s the Gettiss Burg guy
He’s very educated but it stands out when so many other people Say it the other way.
Had several members of the Baltimore Civil War Round Table participate in this movie. One of the comments many of the members who were there was that there were so many people who showed up in Confederate uniforms to be in the movie, that the film makers had to ask many of them to switch to Union uniforms to balance out the numbers.
Love this! Thank you!
Thanks for the video, very interesting! Too bad the Chamberlain tree is on private property, it'd be a great thing to visit!
Please do a video of the WV soldiers story at Gettysburg.
Nothing like fighting on 96* days ...
I took me a while to figure out what a "background artist" is.... Did "extra" become a bad word?
Actually, they are different things. In the context of "Gettysburg" (and other period military films we've been a part of), Background Artists brought all of their own clothing, gear, experience in proper military tactics, etc.. Imagine how much it would have cost to fully outfit and train thousands of Extras to film Pickett's Charge! Actors often chose to socialize and eat with us, which in my experience never happed as an Extra (I've done that too). On the "Andersonville" set the production company actually painted a line on the ground: Actors and Background Artists stayed at the front, the Extras and their coordinators had to stay behind the line at all times. They also had separate transportation and spaces for meals, etc..
Oh yeah buster killrain the added fake charter in the movie.
Are we acting like a made for tv movie is part of the historical context? If so, we have a problem.
I wouldn't say that at all. But the film did a lot with regard to sparking interest - or re-sparking an interest - in the Battle of Gettysburg, and the Civil War as a whole. In that context, filming locations may not be historical, but they are interesting. Not to everyone, but to plenty of folks.
It's not per say historical context but this movie gained my interest watching it in elementary school in the 90s. It's the reason I asked my parents to visit there and have been there over 25 times in my 36 years. Also, it's the reason many others gained interest in the battle and the town did see an increase in interest and tourists.
It's also probably the biggest educator of the battle. Not everyone reads books or is a Gettysburg or civil war buff. Think of how many learned what they know about the battle from the movie?
What makes the movie Gettysburg so good is that it was based closely on one of the best selling Civil War books ever which was the killer angels