Gods and Generals is not only the finest movie ever made about the Civil War, it is also the best American historical film. Period." —American Enterprise Magazine

Gods and Generals opens at the start of the Civil War, as the nation is coming apart. In this prequel to the acclaimed Gettysburg, also directed by Ron Maxwell and produced by Ted Turner Pictures for a Warner Bros. release, we see the fateful decision of General Robert E. Lee (Robert Duvall)—perhaps the nation's greatest military leader, yet first and foremost a Virginian—to refuse command of the Union Army and offer his services to the Confederacy. We witness the emergence of two heroes, both stepping from the classroom into military glory: Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson (Stephen Lang), a professor at Virginia Military Institute who becomes Lee's most trusted deputy, and Lt. Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (Jeff Daniels) of Bowdoin College, commander of the valiant 20th Maine Regiment.

Gods and Generals portrays the battlefield exploits of these legendary figures—at Manassas, Fredricksburg, Chancellorsville—but also shows them as men, anxiously awaiting news from home or mourning a single death in the midst of vast carnage. And it dramatizes the war's impact on the nation: the farm boys and immigrants who filled the soldiers' ranks and fought courageously for their vision of freedom; the women left behind with unfamiliar burdens; black Americans, some torn between old loyalties and freedom's call.

Based on the novel by Jeff Shaara, who contributes a foreword to this book, Gods and Generals was filmed in Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland, at many of the actual battlefields and other locations depicted. The troops were portrayed by more than 3,500 veteran Civil War "re-enactors," who brought an unprecedented level of authenticity and experience to their scenes.  

This rich companion book contains Ron Maxwell's full-length screenplay for the movie, including all the scenes shot for the DVD version. In his introduction and screenplay notes, Maxwell reveals the challenges and rewards of trying to make the most authentic Civil War film possible. Chapters explore every side of that endeavor, including casting, storyboarding, production design, costumes, and score, and the film features on-screen music performed by leading American roots musicians, including a new Bob Dylan song over the closing credits. Van Redin's dynamic production photos illustrate the action before and behind the camera, and authentic wet-plate portraits by Rob Gibson depict the actors' transformation into their characters.

The film story is enriched by extensive historical background and archival illustrations. Historians James Robertson, Dennis Frye, and Frank O'Reilly contribute chapters on notable battles; biographies of major figures stand with profiles of the actors portraying them. Other text features explore the day-to-day lives of soldiers, the moving legacy of their letters home, Civil War troop organization and weaponry, the birth of wartime reporting and photography, a survey of Civil War-themed films, and much more.

Visit the official movie website at www.godsandgenerals.com or Ron Maxwell's official site at www.ronmaxwell.com.

Reviews

"Writer-director Ron Maxwell paints an incredibly vivid portrait of such legendary men as Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee. More than that, we get a real sense of life in those troubled times, the strategy and mechanics of battle, as well as the tragedy of pitting brother against brother...I'm awfully glad I saw it, and if you have a taste for history, you should too."

Leonard Maltin, Hot Ticket

"An awesome sense of authenticity and scope...The battle scenes attain a level of accomplishment that is likely to intrigue and please legions of Civil War buffs."

Kevin Thomas, The Los Angeles Times

"Maxwell's re-creation and grand design make this movie special — along with Duvall's re-strained, majestic portrayal of Lee."

Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune

"Gods and Generals is not only the finest movie ever made about the Civil War, it is the best American Historical Film. Period"

Bill Kauffman , American Enterprise Magazine

"The populous, precisely choreographed battle scenes, which use 7,500 Civil War re-enactors, transport you directly to the front lines..."

Stephen Holden, The New York Times