Civil War Films of the Silent Era

Rating:
Summary: A Priceless Time Capsule Into The Civil War Era...
Review: One might think that in today's era of blockbuster movie productions like Saving Private Ryan that a collection of 3 silent black and white films may not be so interesting. To the contrary, this is a fascinating collection!

The Drummer of the 8th is a tear-jerker of a story of a small boy who runs away to follow his older brother into the Union Army. It's not just that the outcome is tragic, it's how well the tragedy is engineered by the early filmmakers is astonishing. Also of interest are the period settings and costumes, music, neighborhoods, parades, and scenes of small town America.

The 2nd film is The Coward. A little slower moving, but a fascinating story of a young Southern man overcoming his fear. The acting performance of his father is rather compelling here. The young boy resists enlisting, then enlists and deserts, then saves the day through personal heroism and wins the respect of his father.

The 3rd film Granddad is very touching. It is the story of an old Civil War veteran, his granddaughter, and a tea-totalling mother in-law. The daughter in this movie -- Mildred Harris --I found particularly captivating -- the love for her granddad, beautiful locks, and expressive eyes.

As a reader of Civil War history, I found this movie brings you back to that era in a way that is different than modern movies of the Civil War such as Glory or Gettysburg (fine movies in their own right). This collection is an absolute time-capsule, and as such offers a priceless glimpse into that era. Recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Some Fine Civil War Films
Review: The three films included on this DVD provide the modern viewer with an astonishing link to the Civil War period. This is not least because actual Civil War veterans would have seen them. It is easy to imagine these old men going into the theatres of the time and being reminded of what happened to them fifty years previously. These films would have recalled to them their youths 'touched by fire', in a similar fashion to the way a film like Saving Private Ryan brought back memories for WWII veterans. Somehow when watching these silent re-enactments of the Civil War, that period seems less remote.

This DVD collection includes two short films and one feature. The two shorts, The Drummer of the 8th and Granddad were directed by Thomas Ince, while the feature length The Coward was written and produced by Ince and directed by Reginald Barker. The two short films, each lasting just under half an hour, are wonderful. This is partly because they look absolutely stunning. I have never seen prints from 1913 look this good. There is almost no print damage and the colour-tinted images are clear, sharp and vivid. But it is not just the prints which make these two films so enjoyable. The Drummer of the 8th is a moving story full of action which says something about the futility of heroism. Granddad, on the other hand, is a film about how difficult it is for veterans to fit into a later world and shows how the Civil War had moments of self-sacrifice and altruism as well as carnage.

The story of The Coward is also impressive and Charles Ray, as a man doubting his courage, gives a subtle performance, showing the fear that so many young men must have faced. Frank Keenan plays the domineering, stern father who forces Ray to fight. Keenan ably portrays the pride and sense of honour that his character feels and his outrage that his son appears to be a coward. The Coward unfortunately has not survived in as pristine a condition as the two short films. Throughout the film scratches and lines mark the image and there are apparently some frames missing as the action occasionally jumps forward rather abruptly. Also there are some brief scenes where a print from an inferior source has been used to fill in gaps in the main print. Nevertheless this tinted print on the whole looks fairly good. It may have damage but the images are always clear and it is possible to see the detail on the expressions of the actors. The film remains enjoyable and perfectly watchable. All three films on this DVD are accompanied by music scores mainly consisting of Civil War era music. One interesting exception is when Verdi's 'Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves' is played to accompany a slave serving at the dinner table. This works well as a comment on the action. The films on this DVD are essential for silent film fans and for anyone interested in the Civil War period.