Visible crew/equipment: In the scene near the beginning of the film, when the 2 brothers are fixing to leave to join the army. After the mother gives them the flag, the shot changes to the 2 brothers. You can see the boom mic and the camera in the reflection of their shiny brass buckles.
Gods and Generals (2003)
Directed by: Ron Maxwell, Ronald F. Maxwell
Starring: Robert Duvall, Jeff Daniels, Mira Sorvino, Donzaleigh Abernathy, George Allen, Keith Allison, Mark Aldrich
Other mistake: In the battle for Fredricksburg you can see streaks in the sky from jets.
Revealing mistake: In the Fredericksburg battle scene, just after the Union officer orders the men to fall back, there is a 1 or 2 second close-up shot of a Confederate soldier taking a hit and falling back. As he does, a modern wristwatch is visible on his left wrist under the sleeve of his coat. (01:49:49)
Trivia: General Robert E. Lee was shown throughout the movie as wearing the three star insignia of a Colonel, rather than the three stars surrounded by a wreath as was the proper insignia for all Confederate generals. General Lee actually wore this throughout most if not all of the war, and this is accurate.
Trivia: Ted Turner can be seen saying "We owe you Texas boys a debt of gratitude ..." in the Bonnie Blue Flag scene on Side B. He is also visible throughout the scene in views of the audience. Ted Turner commissioned the movie. (00:42:30)
Gen. 'Stonewall' Jackson: In the Army of the Shenandoah, you were the First Brigade! In the Army of the Potomac you were the First Brigade! In the Second Corps of this Army, you are the First Brigade! You are the First Brigade in the affections of your general, and I hope by your future deeds and bearing you will be handed down the posterity as the First Brigade in this our Second War of Independence. God Speed.
Gen. 'Stonewall' Jackson: Just as we would not send any of our soldiers to march in other states, and tyrannize other people... so will we never allow the armies of others to march into our states and tyrannize our people.
General Robert E. Lee: He's lost his left arm. I've lost my right.
Question: Where was the civil war battle fought nearest Madison, Wisconsin?
Question: Is there any factual basis for the story of the little girl General Jackson befriended? I can't find anything about her, or anything saying she is fictional.
Answer: Yes, she did exist. Through books.google.com, I found a book "Cemeteries of Caroline County, Virginia: Private Cemeteries" by Herbert Ridgeway Collins, that confirms Jane did live, that she and Jackson were close, and that he arranged for her burial after her death.
Question: It takes more than skilled generals and troops to win - without food, and supplies, skill is just an empty threat. Why didn't the south realise this during the time the movie takes place?
Answer: Pride, honor, and respect were some of the characteristics of a Southerner's perspective during the Civil War, and did not change through the war. At this point of the war, however, the Confederates knew they were now on the defensive, no longer fighting for either slavery or states' rights, but the survival of their land, farms, and homes against foreign invaders (Union troops) who were using "scorched earth" tactics to break the South's will and ability to fight. That alone, kept them fighting even though victory was not going to happen for them.
What are scorched earth tactics?
Destruction of farms, crops, livestock. Also destroy every town that the Union troops arrive at.
Join the mailing list
Separate from membership, this is to get updates about mistakes in recent releases. Addresses are not passed on to any third party, and are used solely for direct communication from this site. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Check out the mistake & trivia books, on Kindle and in paperback.
Answer: The nearest one I can find listed was at Kirksville in northern Missouri.