The first fulllength narrative of general william t. He captured savannah, 285 miles 460 km from atlanta, on december 21. Shermans history portraits 198890 and sex pictures 1992, for example, speak to. Mcelwee began the film with the idea of tracing general shermans decisive campaign through the south, showing how its devastations. Shermans conclusion of the burning of columbia is characteristically candid. In addition to the thorough and engaging narrative, davis includes eyewitness accounts from hundreds of soldiers and civilians that serve to make history come alive in this work of non.
With confederate forces out of position and outmanned, shermans columns were now fast closing in on columbia, averaging nearly fifteen miles a day. A documentarians attempts to study the effects of general sherman. This campaign was under the leadership of major general william tecumseh sherman of the union army. After leaving the decimated city of atlanta on november 16, sherman led his troops. Ross mcelwee allowed personal travails and outside forces to be included in his final edit of a project which was ostensibly a straight documentary to retrace key landmarks of gen sherman s march through the south during the civil war. Call number revised from that appearing in stephensons civil war maps. Before shooting began, however, mcelwees girlfriend at the time ended their relationship. The great thing about shermans march is the overall simplicity of the idea.
Ross mcelwee allowed personal travails and outside forces to be included in his final edit of a project which was ostensibly a straight documentary to retrace key landmarks of gen shermans march through the south during the civil war. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. And davis notes, without bias, that sherman s march to savannah went virtually unopposedthis despite the dire predictions of military men everywhere who shared an apocalyptic vision of the fate awaiting sherman s army, surrounded in swamps and woodlands, fired on from fences and hedgerows, and bled to death by georgia guerrillas. At times he comes dangerously close to exploiting his subjects trust when an exgirlfriend says youre gonna make me cry is when he zooms. Shermans devastating march through georgia and the carolinas davis, burke on. Shermans march and the laws of war was part of the u. Shermans march not rated 2h 37min documentary, biography, comedy 4 february 1988 australia documentary filmmaker ross mcelwee sets out to make a movie about union general shermans march to the sea towards the end of the american civil war, but keeps getting sidetracked by his own love life.
It started with shermans army leaving the decimated city of atlanta on november 16, 1864 and. Sherman s march is an excellent account of william t. Before shooting began, however, mcelwees girlfriend at the time ended their. This film is a documentary made almost entirely by ross mcelwee. Shermans march is an extraordinary documentary by ross mcelwee that mixes american history, a romantic quest, and the search for meaning in the early 1980s. In november and december 1864, general sherman marched his troops. William tecumseh shermans infamous civil war march to the sea in 1864, in which he led a destructive fiveweek trek across georgia from atlanta to savannah, ordering his. Mcelwee began the film with the idea of tracing general shermans decisive campaign through the south, showing how its devastations still linger psychically, if not visibly. Sherman s march 2007 out of 4 good, welldetailed documentary taking a look at the controversial move by gen.
Shermans march is undoubtedly a good film, amusing enough that its nearly threehour length fairly slides by, but sometimes you have to wonder why mcelwee keeps that damn camera running all the time. Sep 05, 1986 at the beginning of ross mcelwees shermans march, the film maker tells us that he had originally planned a documentary about the aftereffects, which are still to be found in georgia and the. Sherman destroyed the city of meridian, mississippi. One of the most infamous campaigns of the civil war was william tecumseh shermans march through georgia to the sea. Winnie, a cowmilking hippie linguist of discerning intelligence. Grant directed sherman to establish a base on the coast and with the balance of his command, come to grant by water with all dispatch. Shermans march to the sea also known as the savannah campaign or simply shermans march was a military campaign of the american civil war conducted through georgia from november 15 until december 21, 1864, by maj. Audiences and critics alike fell in love with mcelwees quirky, funny and fascinating newsweek firstperson narratives that would help define a new era of personal documentaries. My only criticism of sherman s march is that it s a bit indulgent with respect to its length. As prelude to a summer 1988 film quarterly interview with mcelwee, scott macdonald wrote. And he was checked whenever he met a real confederate force, even one greatly outnumbered.
A meditation on the possibility of romantic love in the south during an era of nuclear weapons proliferation is the least favorite film i have watched for this column. The film is directed by rick king and the executive producer is jason williams. In 1985 mcelwee was set to begin work on a film about the lingering effects of shermans march through the south. Shermans march to the sea, and the burning of columbia, south carolina. A mediation to the possibility of romantic love in the south during an era of nuclear weapons proliferation, shermans march. Mcelwees next film time indefinite was also a personal story, about his own family, though with less of the ingratiating humor of shermans march. Mcelwee sets out to make a movie about union general shermans march to the sea towards the end of. Despondent, he traveled to join his family on vacation in north carolina, where he decided to take the advice. See the article in its original context from march 27, 1988, section 2, page 29 buy reprints view on timesmachine timesmachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers.
Mcelwees original intention was to make a film about shermans march to the sea of the civil war, focusing on the area of north carolina his home state, south carolina, and georgia. Maps illustrating genl shermans march to the sea and through the. William tecumseh sherman, stonewall jackson, and the americans, by charles royster, is published. First run features dvd of shermans march augments the film with some wellchosen extras. Cindy sherman includes the groundbreaking series untitled film stills 197780, shown in its entirety. Not only is shermans march a beautiful portrait of one mans personal journey through the strange tapestry of love and history, its a wonderful snapshot of the american south in. The camera is always there as he meets women set up by his relatives or his. Sherman s march is an extraordinary documentary by ross mcelwee that mixes american history, a romantic quest, and the search for meaning in the early 1980s. Shermans march was a hit, despite its length nearly three hours. And davis notes, without bias, that shermans march to savannah went virtually unopposedthis despite the dire predictions of military men everywhere who shared an apocalyptic vision of the fate awaiting shermans army, surrounded in swamps and woodlands, fired on from fences and hedgerows, and bled to death by georgia guerrillas.
Sherman s devastating sweep through georgia and the carolinas during the last days of the u. I cant think of another film in which erotic interest has been so finely tempered. Shermans march is a 2007 american civil war television documentary film first aired on the history channel. Ross mcelwees 1986 sherman s march is now available in dvd. Mar 27, 1988 see the article in its original context from march 27, 1988, section 2. Sherman s march is the popular name of the savannah campaign conducted by general sherman during the american civil war. When first run released ross mcelwee s sundance award winning sherman s march in 1986, it went on to become one of the largest grossing documentaries ever.
If ever a movie fit that description, it would be ross mcelwees groundbreaking 1986 documentary shermans march, a loping, idiosyncratic reverie through history and the heart, loosely conjoined by the camera lens. Sherman s march is certainly an extremely wellmade movie that goes into great detail in regards to just about everything that was going on during this period. Environmental education resources to commemorate earth days 50th anniversary. When first run released ross mcelwees sundance award winning shermans march in 1986, it went on to become one of the largest grossing documentaries ever. Joyce, a bighaired soulsinger on the carolina lounge circuit. The production combines narration with reenacted dramatic sequences as its foundation. A meditation on the possibility of romantic love in the south during an era of nuclear weapons proliferation is a 1986 documentary film written and directed by ross mcelwee. It s mostly about ross mcelweethe director and his adventures with hot southern women. Sherman s devastating march through georgia and the carolinas davis, burke on. Anne sarah rubin talked about union general william tecumseh shermans march to the sea and the concept of civilized war. My only criticism of shermans march is that its a bit indulgent with respect to its length. Shermans march is a 1986 autobiographical documentary film written and directed by ross mcelwee as mcelwee himself explains onscreen, the film was originally meant to be a documentary about, yes, william tecumseh shermans march to the sea through georgia in late 1864, and his followup march through the carolinas in early 1865, which concluded with. Audiences and critics alike fell in love with mcelwee s quirky, funny and fascinating newsweek firstperson narratives that would help define a new era of personal docum. Sherman to take 60,000 union troops through the heart of georgia and all the way to the sea.
The alternative but unwieldy title is a meditation on the possibility of romantic love in the south during an era of nuclear weapons proliferation conveys the film makers deeper motivation in making this quirky but brilliant documentary. Shermans devastating sweep through georgia and the carolinas during the last days of the u. Shermans march won several awards, including the grand jury prize for best documentary at the sundance film festival in 1987. William tecumseh sherman during the final months of the civil war. Shermans march is a 1986 autobiographical documentary film written and directed by ross mcelwee as mcelwee himself explains onscreen, the film was originally meant to be a documentary about, yes, william tecumseh shermans march to the sea through georgia in late 1864, and his followup march through the carolinas in early 1865, which concluded with confederate surrender and the end of the. From november 15 until december 21, 1864, union general william t. Capitol historical society 2014 spring conference a just and lasting peace. Ross mcelwees shermans march on first run features. General shermans march to the sea, also known as the savannah campaign, was conducted through georgia from november 15 to december 21, 1864. Ross mcelwee sets out to make a documentary about the lingering effects of general. A meditation on the possibility of romantic love in the south during an era of nuclear weapons proliferation. Even this opposition gave sherman trouble whenever it became active. Watch shermans march, the documentary by ross mcelwee fandor. In april, a reedited version of the film including the new ending was submitted to the mpaa, after which it received a pg rating.
Shermans march to the sea the campaign through georgia in 1864. Documentary filmmaker ross mcelwee sets out to make a movie about union general sherman s march to the sea towards the end of the american civil war, but keeps getting sidetracked by his own love life. William tecumseh sherman taking place from november 15, 1864 to december 21, 1864. A meditation on the possibility of romantic love in the south during an era of nuclear weapons proliferation is the least favorite film i. Shermans march is a parade of fascinatin southern women, including pat, a selfdescribed female prophet and wannabe starlet who dreams of falling in love with burt reynolds. It won the grand jury prize at sundance, and until the midnineties was ranked as one of the highestgrossing. Sherman s march to the sea also known as the savannah campaign or simply sherman s march was a military campaign of the american civil war conducted through georgia from november 15 until december 21, 1864, by maj. At the beginning of ross mcelwees shermans march, the film maker tells us that he had originally planned a documentary about the aftereffects, which are still to be found in georgia and the carolinas, of the total warfare waged by gen. It took general sherman less than a week to leave no more than six buildings standing in meridian. Jul 11, 2017 movie loosely based on the actual sherman s march. Though i never ordered it and never wished it, i have never shed any tears over the event, because i believe that it hastened what we all fought for, the end of the war.
The success of such a personal film depends completely on the personality of the director ross mcelwee, whos decided to put himself in front of the camera in a project that began as one thing. The campaign began with shermans troops leaving the captured city of atlanta on november 15. But on december 16, 1864, sherman received a letter from lieutenant general ulysses s. Ross mcelwee documents his march, akin to admiral shermans, from north carolina through the south, in search of true romance. Documentary filmmaker ross mcelwee sets out to make a movie about union general shermans march to the sea towards the end of the american civil war, but keeps getting sidetracked by his own love life. An army of 60,000 men marched through territory undefended except for a few thousand cavalry and home guards. It was awarded the grand jury prize at the 1987 sundance film festival. Remote work advice from the largest allremote company. Could it be, the mulholland drive of documentary films. Grant, commander inchief of the union army, dashing his plans. The actual feature looks as good as its 16mm roots, with variable color and sound. Shermans march to the sea is the name commonly given to the savannah campaign by maj. Not only is sherman s march a beautiful portrait of one man s personal journey through the strange tapestry of love and history, it s a wonderful snapshot of the american south in the early 80 s. Ross mcelwee shermans march, bright leaves will be a guest of honor at durham, north carolinas full frame documentary film festival, and as part of his trip to the festival, he has programmed a series of eight features and two short films to be a part of a special retrospective series about families.
Sherman s march, a tv movie starring reiko aylesworth. Though he almost always starts off to make a film about some legitimate subject in this case, general william shermans infamous march to the sea during the civil war, the movies ultimately never pan out, or the focus changes as mcelwee finds something more interesting to. The complete series has only been displayed together once before at the museum of modern. Though he almost always starts off to make a film about some legitimate subject in this case, general william shermans infamous march to the sea during the civil war, the movies ultimately never pan out, or the focus changes as mcelwee finds something more interesting to focus on. Shermans march is very much that film, but its also about mcelwees search for romantic and sexual. A meditation on the possibility of romantic love in the south during an era. Shermans march was a sleeper hit when it was released, and its reputation has grown with strong word of mouth. Enter a room with a camera on your shoulder, especially a 16mm movie camera, and whatever you want to film will be instantly ruined. Ross mcelwee sets out to make a documentary about the lingering effects of general sherman s march of destruction through the south during the civil war, but is continually sidetracked by women who come and go in his life, his recurring dreams of nuclear holocaust, and burt reynolds.
While shermans march is overlong and sometimes selfindulgent, mcelwee has a gift for capturing some truly quirky moments and people on film. In 2000 the library of congress national film registry chose the film for preservation, citing it as a historically significant american motion picture. My only criticism of sherman s march is that its a bit indulgent with respect to its length. On february, having ravaged the countryside, destroyed the railroads, and burned the towns along their path, shermans massive army was only twentyone miles from columbia. Following orourkes death, sherman did not want to complete the film, but pressure from the studio prevailed, and the entire ending was reshot in march 1988 using a standin for orourke.
At the beginning of ross mcelwees shermans march, the film maker tells us that he had originally planned a documentary about the aftereffects, which are still to be found in georgia and the. Shermans devastating march through georgia and the carolinas. Shermans march is an excellent account of william t. A meditation on the possibility of romantic love in the south during an era of nuclear weapons proliferation is mcelwees fourth documentary. Ross mcelwee pulls off this miracle in shermans march.
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