A Southern Yankee (1948)

Director: Edward Sedgwick

Writers: Melvin Frank, Buster Keaton, Norman Panama, Harry Tugend

Composers: David Snell, Robert Franklyn

Starring: Red Skelton, Brian Donlevy, Arlene Dahl, George Coulouris, Lloyd Gough, John Ireland, Minor Watson, Charles Dingle, Art Baker, Reed Hadley, Arthur Space, Joyce Compton

More info: IMDb

Tagline: See Red in a Union Suit with Southern Exposure!

Plot: A hapless bellboy in a St. Louis hotel near the end of the Civil War is recruited by the Union secret service to impersonate a notorious Confederate spy.

My rating: 6.5/10

Will I watch it again?  Probably.

This isn't as funny as it could be but when it is, it's hilarious.  One of the best bits is when Skelton is marching down the middle of the front line in between the opposing sides causing a cease fire.  He's carrying a flag but half of him is dressed as a Union soldier holding the Stars and Stripes and the other half (facing the Rebs) he's dressed as a Confederate soldier with the Rebel flag.  He's being cheered on by both sides until the wind changes direction and his ruse is exposed.   The performances by everyone are good.  I just wish there were more great gags and laughs.

The Horse Soldiers (1959)

Director: John Ford

Writers: John Lee Mahin, Martin Rackin, Harold Sinclair

Composer: David Buttolph

Starring: John Wayne, William Holden, Constance Towers, Judson Pratt, Hoot Gibson, Ken Curtis, Willis Bouchey, Bing Russell, O.Z. Whitehead, Hank Worden, Chuck Hayward, Denver Pyle, Strother Martin

More info: IMDb

Tagline:  ...Rides Where Only The Great Ones Go!

Plot: A Union Cavalry outfit is sent behind Confederate lines in strength to destroy a rail/supply center. Along with them is sent a doctor who causes instant antipathy between him and the commander. The secret plan for the mission is overheard by a southern belle who must be taken along to assure her silence. The Union officers each have different reasons for wanting to be on the mission.

My rating: 7/10

Will I watch it again?  Yes.

I don't know...call me weird but I'd like more Civil War action and less of the romance stuff in this picture.  I liked it.  Hell, I'd probably even love it if I got to see it on the big screen with big ole box of corn and a tall glass of Coke.  While I'm in my fantasy I'll go ahead and add hot wings and fried shrimp to that list.  The older I get the more I like John Wayne.  He's not far off from being a one note performer but he does it so well it's hard not to respect him for it.  Holden cast as he usually was but I like the guy a lot.  I doubt I'll see him as badass as he was in THE WILD BUNCH (1969) but I won't stop going through his catalog to find out.  The pair play well off each other and I can identify with each and understand their reasoning.  Ford was a great director and this is easily suited to his talents.  It's a good picture but it falls shy of being a great one.  The lovey dovey stuff throws a monkey wrench into the works but it's still a fun ride nonetheless.  The MGM Blu-ray looks magnificent.

Andersonville (1996)

Director: John Frankenheimer

Writer: David W. Rintels

Composer: Gary Chang

Starring: Jarrod Emick, Frederic Forrest, Ted Marcoux, Carmen Argenziano, Jayce Bartok, Frederick Coffin, Cliff De Young, Denis Forest, Justin Henry, Tony Higgins, William H. Macy, William Sanderson, Thomas F. Wilson

More info: IMDb


Plot:  The story of the most notorious Confederate prisoner of war camp in the American Civil War.

My rating: 8/10

Will I watch it again?  Yes.

After watching the very disappointing GETTYSBURG (1993) (both films made under Ted Turner's command) I was hesitant about seeing this one but I wasn't going to give up on it before it started just yet.  And boy am I glad I didn't.  It's fantastic.  At nearly three hours, I was glued to the screen.  The performances are very good and the characters well-defined and easily recognizable (which is important when you've got thousands of people in a small location all of which are filthy). There are very few big names in the cast (three that I can see) but everyone puts in their all.  The set is an exact replica (down to the size) of the original camp.  The number of prisoners is astounding and the conditions are appalling.  Frankenheimer did a masterful job juggling such a large group of mostly non-actors.  It's so good that I was surprised at how quickly it was over.  The Warner Bros. DVD presents the film in anamorphic widescreen and the extras include two commentaries (one with Frankenheimer and the other with misc production folks) and a deleted scene with optional commentary.  I'd like the Blu-ray on this one but there isn't one.