Gettysburg and Stories of Valor - Civil War Minutes III DVD Box Set

Starring:Keith Carradine, Narrator: Keith Carradine, Co-Writer: Michael Kraus
Director: Mark Bussler
Studio: Inecom Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
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.

The first disc 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.

The second disc 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.

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."

Customer Reviews:

Very Well Done and interesting.......2006-06-26

I thought this was a very well done documentary..I would of given it 5 stars, perhaps, but I've just finished Ken Burns again and that is the gold standard in my opinion. This set was well done and very educational and informative, the images are outstanding as is the content. A welcome addition to any Civil War collection.

Gettysburg & Stories of Valor - Civil War Minutes.......2005-09-03

Interesting and informative. Almost a little too thorough as it lost me a few times. Very long; both my husband and I fell asleep while watching it. Aided in our visit to Gettysburg, but not exactly entertaining.

An amazing experience for Civil War buffs!.......2005-04-07

This is the first of the "Civil War Minutes" documentaries that I've watched and I'm very impressed. Despite all I've read about the Battle of Gettysburg there was plenty I learned from this outstanding film! Little known stories of extraordinary courage from privates to officers, and even civilians (John Burns, the Gettysburg resident and War of 1812 veteran who fought alongside Union soldiers and was shot three times, surviving miraculously!) are retold in detail. Actual artifacts are shown, from a blood-stained drum to a bullet-scarred Union jacket, that help bring these forgotten tales of courage and sacrifice back to life. Disc 1 focuses on Gettysburg while disc 2 is a "mixed bag" of Civil War information, from the infamous Andersonville Prison to the medical/surgical history of the war. Bonus features include an informative commentary with Michael Kraus, David M. Neville, and director Mark Bussler, an interview about Gettysburg, and bonus trailers for other "Civil War Minutes" films. Perfect for both the novice and the historian, this highly informative and entertaining documentary is sure to please all history buffs!

Best Civil War Minutes To Date!.......2004-10-05

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!

Best one yet in the series by far.......2004-09-09

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.

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