Civil War Stories - 4 Movies

Rating:
Summary: Three gems & a flop!
Review: For the money, this is a nice collection of lesser-known Civil War movies. First, you've got the 1951 classic, "Drums in the Deep South", starring Guy Madison, James Craig, and Craig Stevens as three close friends that are divided by the Civil War and find themselves on opposite sides facing one another during the bloody Atlanta Campaign of 1864. To further complicate things, James Craig & Guy Madison are also in love with the same woman (Barbara Payton)! James Craig and Craig Stevens play Confederate soldiers that are given the task of defending a mountain with only one artillery battery and a handful of troops. The goal is to slow Union Gen. Sherman's advance as much as possible. Guy Madison plays the Union officer who's ordered to clear the Rebels off the mountain, but he's torn between his loyalty to his old friends and his duty. This movie is my personal favorite of the four.

Next, you have the 1969 Civil War movie disguised as a "spaghetti" western, "Hellbinders", also known as "The Scavengers", starring an aging Joseph Cotten as the crazed leader of a ruthless band of Confederate raiders, all of them his own sons. The plot is simple: even though Gen. Lee has already surrendered, Joseph Cotten and his sons rob a Yankee payroll in hopes of reviving the Confederacy. Their escape is hampered by Mexican banditos, however, leading to a violent showdown. This is one of the better low-budget, Italian-made "westerns" of the 1960's.

Next, you have the horrible 2000 flop, "Blood and Honor", which makes "Plan 9 From Outer Space" look like a masterpiece. No, seriously. It has a worthless plot, poor script, horrible, amateurish acting, and is filmed like a elementary school play. Don't waste your time on this one!

Finally, you've got the forgotten 1936 film, "Hearts in Bondage", directed by the great Lew Ayres (from 1930's "All Quiet on the Western Front"), and starring James Dunn and Mae Clark. The plot is standard 1930's melodrama and revolves around the story of the 1862 naval battle between the USS Monitor and the CSS Merrimac. It's not terribly exciting but is nevertheless enjoyable, especially the battle at the end, which is recreated using miniatures. It's just as good, in my opinion, as the 1991 made-for-tv movie "Ironclads". So, with this dvd you get three enjoyable movies for a very reasonable price. Highly recommended for Civil War buffs.

Rating:
Summary: It's worth the money, Barely!
Review: Okay, if you're like me and love a good Civil War movie, then you'll probably want to buy this DVD. By far the best movie is Drums in the Deep South, which I give 4 stars. Hellbinders is okay for a spagetti western, and Hearts in Bondage is pretty lame. Oh, and Blood and Honor is possibly the worst Civil War movie ever made! If you're looking for a bargain, however, buy this just for Drums in the Deep South, which is very good. Buy this dvd even cheaper from a dealer!