Product Details

• Actors: Keith Carradine, Narrator: Keith Carradine, Co-Writer: Michael Kraus
• Directors: Mark Bussler
• Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Inecom Entertainment Company
• DVD Release Date: August 31, 2004
• Run Time: 180 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0001UZI0Q
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #35,851 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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  Movies & TV > Documentary > Military & War > Civil War

Editorial Reviews

Review
"The cinematography is beautiful. The views of the Gettysburg battlefield are simply breathtaking." --Blake A. Magner, "The Civil War News"

Product Description
"Narrated by Keith Carradine, "Gettysburg and Stories of Valor - CIVIL WAR MINUTES® III" focuses on one of the most exciting periods in United States history, America's Civil War. This 3-hour documentary captures the scenic beauty of the Gettysburg battlefield, examines rare Civil War artifacts and tells the personal stories of the men who fought in the war. Disc One covers the Battle of Gettysburg with episodes such as: Colonel Strong Vincent's defense of Little Round Top; Hallowed Ground of Gettysburg National Cemetery including the grave of President Nixon s great-grandfather; mysterious Devil's Den photographs; General Winfield Scott Hancock's injury and presidential campaign; and Confederate General Lewis Armistead's secret distress call. Disc Two focuses on additional heroic and tragic moments in the Civil War such as: brutality at the Dead Line in Andersonville Prison; loss of Brigadier General Alexander Hays; medical and surgical history of the war; the Confederate President; and explosion at Allegheny Arsenal. Special Features Include: Full-length commentary track with Michael Kraus, David M. Neville and Mark Bussler. Interview with Writers Michael Kraus and David M. Neville about the cultural and military significance of Gettysburg, illustrated with deleted scenes from the film. Trailers for "Johnstown Flood," "CIVIL WAR MINUTES® - Confederate" and "Civil War Life - Shot to Pieces."

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In-Depth and Personal, August 18, 2004

By	Meredith Towbin (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The best part about this film is that it offers both an overall recounting of the events of Gettysburg while going into detail about the lives and experiences of the people who lived it. It can be difficult to find a balance between the two, but Bussler has done it, and done it well. Highlights for me include the segments on prison life and the history of medicine and surgery. Many books and films about the period focus on the battles, but prison life and medicine certainly played an important role at the time and cannot be overlooked, as many films and books often do. The telling of the story of the Allegheny Arsenal explosion was also well-done, providing insight into an event that is not widely known. Keith Carradine's narration adds color and depth to the documentary and, as with all of Bussler's films, the sound is amazing.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best one yet in the series by far, September 9, 2004

By	Charlie Arabella "charlie_arabella" (Vallejo, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Many thanks are owed to Bussler, Neville, Kraus, and everyone else who clearly worked very hard to bring this documentary to life. The most professional of the series so far, they are palpably coming into their own as filmmakers while retaining the love and care of amateurs (meant in the best, noble sense). Also very nice for the more educated Gettysburg scholar is the focus on some of the not-as-prominent people and places of interest, i.e. Col. Strong Vincent and Culp's Hill.

The only drawback is one that one hates to mention, but nonetheless it is what kept this from being a 5-star review. Acknowledging that Carradine is a history buff and an accomplished actor, his narration at times drives one to distraction. Emphasizing the last word or syllable, in the same way, of every sentence in the film makes it seem like work after a while. It's not so much that it's monotone, but more like tri-tone. But maybe it was just my mood or something else. It might be the kind of thing that would go unnoticed by most people, and I hope it is.

On the other hand, the alternate commentary is great. With the exception of the bawdy and juvenile ha-ha regarding John Burn's statue, and uncomfortable silence that follows it, the track is packed with still more information than the actual documentary. It lends credence to the filmmakers' assertion that hundreds of documentaries could be made about stories from this auspicious battle. Don't pass this feature up.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Civil War Minutes To Date!, October 4, 2004

By	CWbuff - See all my reviews

This DVD box set shows what can be done when you take the time to get the history right! I found the first DVD to be chock full of interesting episodes based around the Battle of Gettysburg. The 2nd DVD rounds out the set with stories of valor from throughout the Civil War - some of the episodes feature things this Civil War buff did not know! Be sure to check out the commentary tracks for added insight!