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Saw this on a C-Span book lecture. Wish I could remember the professor\'s name.
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* HollywoodHistory: Both the film and the novel portray Stuart's joyride as a major impediment for Lee. In actuality, Southern cavalry was used mainly for raiding, not scouting. Individual horsemen, spies like Harrison, and overly-informative Northern newspapers were the primary sources of intelligence; while Lee did rebuke Stuart, it was not for leaving him blind in enemy country. An understandable mistake, however, as historians and Lost Cause advocates made Stuart's supposed culpability a part of popular history.
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Freemantle is a misspelling; the man\'s name is Fremantle: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Fremantle
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->''"The same God, same language, same culture and history, same songs, stories, legends, myths - different dreams. Different dreams. So very sad." - Col. Arthur Freemantle''
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->''"The same God, same language, same culture and history, same songs, stories, legends, myths - different dreams. Different dreams. So very sad." - Col. Arthur Freemantle''
Fremantle''
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** Both the book and the film have Freemantle going on about how the Southerners are so like the English and being descended from them due to their names, and bringing up Longstreet as an example. Turns out Longstreet is actually Dutch and Longstreet then reminds him that the US [[TheAmericanRevolution beat the British]], [[WarOf1812 twice]].
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** Both the book and the film have Freemantle Fremantle going on about how the Southerners are so like the English and being descended from them due to their names, and bringing up Longstreet as an example. Turns out Longstreet is actually Dutch and Longstreet then reminds him that the US [[TheAmericanRevolution beat the British]], [[WarOf1812 twice]].
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** AbrahamLincoln: Is mentioned as probably hounding Meade to attack Lee's army. Freemantle also brings him up that he and the South share a common history and bloodline and how sad it is that they should be fighting.
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** AbrahamLincoln: Is mentioned as probably hounding Meade to attack Lee's army. Freemantle Fremantle also brings him up that he and the South share a common history and bloodline and how sad it is that they should be fighting.
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* FunnyForeigner: Col. Freemantle. He's not meant to be funny, but the filmmakers accentuated his Englishness by having him wear a bright red dress uniform (which the historical character certainly did not do) and, in one scene, walk around the Confederate camp drinking tea from a china cup and saucer. Apparently the real Freemantle was so impressed by Pickett's Charge he wrote a book predicting that the South would win the war. It was published a few months before the South surrendered.
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* FunnyForeigner: Col. Freemantle.Fremantle. He's not meant to be funny, but the filmmakers accentuated his Englishness by having him wear a bright red dress uniform (which the historical character certainly did not do) and, in one scene, walk around the Confederate camp drinking tea from a china cup and saucer. Apparently the real Freemantle Fremantle was so impressed by Pickett's Charge he wrote a book predicting that the South would win the war. It was published a few months before the South surrendered.
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* GallowsHumor: Intentionally by Chamberlain, accidentally by Freemantle.
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* GallowsHumor: Intentionally by Chamberlain, accidentally by Freemantle.Fremantle.
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--> '''Freemantle:''' ''(In the morning, as the Confederates prepare to attack.)'' I slept like the dead, sir - a baby. Slept like a newborn baby, sir.
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--> '''Freemantle:''' '''Fremantle:''' ''(In the morning, as the Confederates prepare to attack.)'' I slept like the dead, sir - a baby. Slept like a newborn baby, sir.
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* HonorBeforeReason: Garnett. This is also discussed by Freemantle as being something the South and Britain have in common, which also serves as {{Foreshadowing}} considering that Britain lost the American Revolution (as Longstreet points out).
** [[AllThereInTheManual In the book]], the reason for Garnett's determination on going into battle with a hurt leg is explained. While under Stonewall Jackson's command, Garnett withdrew his troops from an impossible position and was branded a coward by the general. Everyone who discusses the matter knows that the only way for Garnett to clear his name is to die in battle. [[FridgeBrilliance Which is perhaps]] why his death in the movie almost appears that he is riding directly towards the cannon that kills him.
** [[AllThereInTheManual In the book]], the reason for Garnett's determination on going into battle with a hurt leg is explained. While under Stonewall Jackson's command, Garnett withdrew his troops from an impossible position and was branded a coward by the general. Everyone who discusses the matter knows that the only way for Garnett to clear his name is to die in battle. [[FridgeBrilliance Which is perhaps]] why his death in the movie almost appears that he is riding directly towards the cannon that kills him.
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* HonorBeforeReason: Garnett. This is also discussed by Freemantle The South in general. Discussed more thoroughly in the book when Longstreet privately thinks that "honor without intelligence" could lose the war for the Confederacy. Fremantle views it in a more positive light and sees it as being something the South and Britain have in common, which also serves as {{Foreshadowing}} considering that Britain lost the American Revolution (as Longstreet points out).
common.
**[[AllThereInTheManual In the book]], the reason for Garnett's determination on going General Kemper decides to ride into battle with a hurt leg is explained. While under Stonewall Jackson's command, because his fellow commander Garnett withdrew his troops from an impossible position and was branded a coward by the general. Everyone who discusses the matter knows that the only way for Garnett to clear his name is to die in battle. [[FridgeBrilliance Which is perhaps]] why his death in the movie almost appears that he is riding directly towards the cannon that kills him.riding.
**
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* WorldOfCardboardSpeech: Armistead, to Freemantle before Pickett's Charge.
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* WorldOfCardboardSpeech: Armistead, to Freemantle Fremantle before Pickett's Charge.
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''Gettysburg'' was followed up in 2003 with a prequel film, ''GodsAndGenerals'', which detailed the {{Backstory}} of many of the characters.
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''Gettysburg'' was followed up in 2003 with a prequel film, ''GodsAndGenerals'', ''Film/GodsAndGenerals'', which detailed the {{Backstory}} of many of the characters.
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* FrontlineGeneral: Lee warns General Longstreet against his habit of going too far forward, as he's already lost a number of his generals (particularly Stonewall) to this trope and he feels he cannot spare Longstreet.
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* BloodKnight: Rebel units charge without or against orders a few times, most impotantly in the first engagement of the battle.
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** The Picket's Charge scene underlines how alike they are by having each of them calm their men during the artillery exchange using [[MeaningfulEcho the exact same words.]]
* BloodKnight: Rebel units charge without or against orders a few times, mostimpotantly importantly in the first engagement of the battle.
* BloodKnight: Rebel units charge without or against orders a few times, most
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** Pickett:
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** Pickett:Pickett compares the secession of the South to gentlemen resigning from a private club.
* AllThereInTheManual: A number of details about the personality and history of the officers is left in the original novel.
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* [[ChangedMyMindKid Changed My Mind, Kid]]: Col. Chamberlain, by the last three holdouts of the 2nd Maine. They later join the fight and save his brother Tom.
* ColonelBadass: (Lieutenant) Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. The {{Badass}} comes out when he thinks he's been shot (the shot really bounced off his sword, but it clearly left him in shock and he has a limp for the rest of the movie) and as they're dragging him back he sits up and shoots a charging guy with his revolver. Just... wow. The historical Chamberlain was also a badass in that he was wounded six times during the war and survived in an era when just one was usually enough to kill you. He started the war as a college professor, not an army officer. Which also qualifies him for BadassBookworm. He later became Governor of Maine and Ambassador to France.
* ColonelBadass: (Lieutenant) Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. The {{Badass}} comes out when he thinks he's been shot (the shot really bounced off his sword, but it clearly left him in shock and he has a limp for the rest of the movie) and as they're dragging him back he sits up and shoots a charging guy with his revolver. Just... wow. The historical Chamberlain was also a badass in that he was wounded six times during the war and survived in an era when just one was usually enough to kill you. He started the war as a college professor, not an army officer. Which also qualifies him for BadassBookworm. He later became Governor of Maine and Ambassador to France.
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* [[ChangedMyMindKid Changed My Mind, Kid]]: Col. Chamberlain, by Three of the last three six holdouts of from the 2nd Maine. They later join the fight and save his brother Tom.
Tom Chamberlain.
* ColonelBadass: (Lieutenant) Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. The {{Badass}} comes out when he thinks he's been shot (the shot really bounced off his sword, but it clearly left him in shock and he has a limp for the rest of themovie) and as movie). As they're dragging him back he sits up and shoots a charging guy man with his revolver. Just... wow. The historical Chamberlain was also a badass in that he was wounded six times during the war and survived in an era when just one was usually enough to kill you. He started the war as a college professor, not an army officer. Which also qualifies him for BadassBookworm. He later became Governor of Maine and Ambassador to France.
* ColonelBadass: (Lieutenant) Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. The {{Badass}} comes out when he thinks he's been shot (the shot really bounced off his sword, but it clearly left him in shock and he has a limp for the rest of the
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* DarkAndTroubledPast: Longstreet, who became somber after scarlet fever swept through his family in 1862, killing several of his children (note: the novel says it killed his wife and children, but in fact at least one of his children survived and his wife lived until 1889).
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* DarkAndTroubledPast: Longstreet, who became somber after scarlet fever swept through his family in 1862, killing several of his children (note: children[[hottip:*: the novel says it killed his wife and children, but in fact at least one of his children survived and his wife lived until 1889).1889.]]
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** This movie and the book it was based on played a major role in rehabilitating General Longstreet's reputation among historians who frequently badmouthed him and belittled his military skill due to becoming a Republican after the war. Robert E. Lee deeply trusted and relied upon Longstreet and the Confederates lost the battle (and subsequently the War) in large part because Lee ''didn't'' listen to him. Of course, his corps WAS slow to attack Little Round Top on the second day... but if he had attacked earlier Sickles' Corps. would have been in a stronger position (i.e. not at Devil's Den) and things could have been worse.
* HollywoodTactics: Pickett's Charge, in an unfortunate case of TruthInTelevision. The original strategy was to have the artillery break up the Union units on the ridge, but as Confederate artillery was outnumbered, of inferior quality, and short on ammunition, this failed. They also overshot the bulk of the union forces, aiming for an area behind the ridge where they thought the union was staging, when in fact most their men were tight to the line on along the ridge.
* HollywoodTactics: Pickett's Charge, in an unfortunate case of TruthInTelevision. The original strategy was to have the artillery break up the Union units on the ridge, but as Confederate artillery was outnumbered, of inferior quality, and short on ammunition, this failed. They also overshot the bulk of the union forces, aiming for an area behind the ridge where they thought the union was staging, when in fact most their men were tight to the line on along the ridge.
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** This movie and the book it was based on played a major role in rehabilitating General Longstreet's reputation among historians who frequently badmouthed him and belittled his military skill due to becoming used him as a scapegoat for the defeat, as he openly criticized Lee's tactics and became a Republican after the war. Robert E. Lee deeply trusted and relied upon Longstreet and the Confederates lost the battle (and subsequently the War) in large part because Lee ''didn't'' listen to him. Of course, It's true that his corps WAS ''was'' slow to attack Little Round Top on the second day... but if he had attacked earlier Sickles' Corps. would have been in a stronger position (i.e. not at Devil's Den) and things could have been worse.
* HistoricalInJoke: There's a brief shot of a general and his officers surveying the ground with binoculars on Little Round Top. Though given no lines, the actor is playing Gouverneur Warren, who is credited with spotting Hood's division and is memorialized with a statue in that exact pose, directly behind the actor.
* HollywoodTactics: Pickett's Charge, in an unfortunate case of TruthInTelevision. The original strategy was to have the artillery break up the Union units on the ridge, but as Confederate artillery was outnumbered, of inferior quality, and short on ammunition, this failed. They also overshot the bulk of theunion Union forces, aiming for an area behind the ridge where they thought the union was staging, when in fact most their men were tight to the line on along the ridge.
* HistoricalInJoke: There's a brief shot of a general and his officers surveying the ground with binoculars on Little Round Top. Though given no lines, the actor is playing Gouverneur Warren, who is credited with spotting Hood's division and is memorialized with a statue in that exact pose, directly behind the actor.
* HollywoodTactics: Pickett's Charge, in an unfortunate case of TruthInTelevision. The original strategy was to have the artillery break up the Union units on the ridge, but as Confederate artillery was outnumbered, of inferior quality, and short on ammunition, this failed. They also overshot the bulk of the
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* IronicEcho: General Stuart offers to resign after failing to do his job properly, and Lee refuses as he still needs him and doesn't think it will happen again. Not in the movie, but the same thing happened to Lee himself when he offered his resignation to Jefferson Davis after the battle.
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* IronicEcho: General Stuart offers to resign after failing to do his job properly, and Lee refuses as he still needs him and doesn't think it will happen again. Not It's not shown in the movie, but the same thing happened to Lee himself when he offered his resignation to Jefferson Davis after the battle.
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* ItsAllMyFault: Lee, after Pickett's Charge
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* ItsAllMyFault: Lee, Lee says this repeatedly after the failure of Pickett's ChargeCharge.
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* TheLancer: Kilrain, to Col. Chamberlain.
* LargeHam: Pickett (Stephen Lang. Rightly so, as he was well-known for being a flamboyant and having an eccentric personality.
* LargeHam: Pickett (Stephen Lang. Rightly so, as he was well-known for being a flamboyant and having an eccentric personality.
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* TheLancer: Kilrain, TheLancer:
** Kilrain to Col. Chamberlain.
** Longstreet to Lee.
* LargeHam:Pickett (Stephen Lang.Pickett. Rightly so, as he was well-known for being a flamboyant and having an eccentric personality.
** Kilrain to Col. Chamberlain.
** Longstreet to Lee.
* LargeHam:
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* ManlyTears
* NotSoDifferent: Armistead and Hancock. Also arguably the point of the entire movie.
* OfficerAndAGentleman: Pickett.
* NotSoDifferent: Armistead and Hancock. Also arguably the point of the entire movie.
* OfficerAndAGentleman: Pickett.
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* ManlyTears
ManlyTears:
** Armistead while telling Longstreet about his last meeting with Hancock before riding to war.
** Joshua Chamberlain when told by Tom that [[spoiler:Kilrain has died]].
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Chamberlain orders Tom to "plug a hole" in the line during the heat of battle and belatedly realizes that he's just put his little brother right in front of the Confederates with no cover whatsoever.
* NauseaFuel: In-universe with the Union hospital. Tom clutches his stomach as he relates the horrific conditions to his brother.
* NotSoDifferent: Armistead andHancock. Also arguably the point Hancock, most prominently, but this is a major theme of the entire movie.
* OfficerAndAGentleman:Pickett.General Lee and General Pickett are probably the most prominent examples.
** Armistead while telling Longstreet about his last meeting with Hancock before riding to war.
** Joshua Chamberlain when told by Tom that [[spoiler:Kilrain has died]].
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Chamberlain orders Tom to "plug a hole" in the line during the heat of battle and belatedly realizes that he's just put his little brother right in front of the Confederates with no cover whatsoever.
* NauseaFuel: In-universe with the Union hospital. Tom clutches his stomach as he relates the horrific conditions to his brother.
* NotSoDifferent: Armistead and
* OfficerAndAGentleman:
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* RatedMForManly
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* RatedMForManlyRatedMForManly: There are two women with dialogue in the whole movie. JustifiedTrope given the fact that it's all about the soldiers.
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* TearJerker: in-universe example, Longstreet is so certain that Pickett's Charge will fail that he is too choked up to order the assault. When Pickett asks him if he should begin the attack, the best the heartbroken Longstreet can manage is a nod. Made worse by how eager and elated Pickett is to carry out the order.
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* TearJerker: in-universe example, In-universe example. Longstreet is so certain that Pickett's Charge will fail that he is too choked up to order the assault. When Pickett asks him if he should begin the attack, the best the heartbroken Longstreet can manage is a nod. Made worse by how eager and elated Pickett is to carry out the order.
** Stephen Lang (Pickett) was actually thrown from his horse during the filming of Pickett's Charge. The fall is used in the movie as the point where Pickett realizes how badly things are with his men.
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<<|{{Film}}|>>
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<<|{{Film}}|>>
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*** ''Everything about'' Armistead and Hancock. Throughout the whole movie, most of their conversations are about each other, and both are brought to tears more than once reflecting on it.
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* ThrowItIn: Some sources claim the scene where General Lee gets mobbed by cheering Confederate soldiers was unscripted. The reenactors enjoyed working with Martin Sheen so much that they showed their appreciation in this manner, while Ron Maxwell filmed it. A similar scene occurs in ''The Killer Angels'', however, so this story may be apocryphal.
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* SceneryPorn: The battlefields are all so pretty to look at, before the blowing up happens...
** The start of Pickett's Charge across an open field: all those troops marching in order, banners unfurled. In RealLife, a Union general declared it was the most beautiful thing he ever saw.
** The start of Pickett's Charge across an open field: all those troops marching in order, banners unfurled. In RealLife, a Union general declared it was the most beautiful thing he ever saw.
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* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: When General Stuart tries to resign, the mild-manner General Lee loses his temper.
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* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: When General Stuart tries to resign, the mild-manner mild-mannered General Lee loses his temper.
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* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: When General Stuart tries to resign, the mild-manner General Lee loses his temper.
-->"I HAVE TOLD YOU THERE IS NO TIME FOR THAT; THERE IS NO TIME!
-->"I HAVE TOLD YOU THERE IS NO TIME FOR THAT; THERE IS NO TIME!
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* SoDisappointedInYou: Lee's mild rebuke of General Stuart puts the cocky general in his place better than any shouting or bluster.
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* BeardOfEvil: Completely averted. ''Every'' male has luxuriant facial hair, as it was the style at the time.
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* BeardOfEvil: Completely averted. BadassBeard: ''Every'' male has luxuriant facial hair, as it was the style at the time.
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* GroinAttack: A confederate soldier gets nailed between the legs with a rifle stock during the action at Little Round Top.
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* ContemplateOurNavels: There's quite a few scenes with characters sitting around, discussing the war, slavery, and what could or should have been.
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* HistoricalHeroUpgrade:
** Chamberlain, Buford and Hancock in the sense that they are brought to the forefront of the audience's attention.
** This movie and the book it was based on played a major role in rehabilitating General Longstreet's reputation among historians who frequently badmouthed him and belittled his military skill due to becoming a Republican after the war. Robert E. Lee deeply trusted and relied upon Longstreet and the Confederates lost the battle (and subsequently the War) in large part because Lee ''didn't'' listen to him. Of course, his corps WAS slow to attack Little Round Top on the second day... but if he had attacked earlier Sickles' Corps. would have been in a stronger position (i.e. not at Devil's Den) and things could have been worse.
** Chamberlain, Buford and Hancock in the sense that they are brought to the forefront of the audience's attention.
** This movie and the book it was based on played a major role in rehabilitating General Longstreet's reputation among historians who frequently badmouthed him and belittled his military skill due to becoming a Republican after the war. Robert E. Lee deeply trusted and relied upon Longstreet and the Confederates lost the battle (and subsequently the War) in large part because Lee ''didn't'' listen to him. Of course, his corps WAS slow to attack Little Round Top on the second day... but if he had attacked earlier Sickles' Corps. would have been in a stronger position (i.e. not at Devil's Den) and things could have been worse.
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Changed line(s) 79 (click to see context) from:
* HeartbrokenBadass: Longstreet. Left unsaid by the movie; scarlet fever devastated his family and he knowingly ordered Pickett's division to make an attack he knew was suicidal.
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* HeartbrokenBadass: Longstreet. Left unsaid by the movie; movie, though it was mentioned in a deleted scene; scarlet fever devastated his family and he knowingly ordered Pickett's division to make an attack he knew was suicidal.
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* DeathByAdaptation: In the wake of Pickett's charge, General Lee comes across a wounded General Kemper, who reports that the doctors have just informed him that his wound is mortal. The WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue makes no mention of Kemper, leaving the viewer to assume that he died at Gettysburg; in fact, Kemper survived the battle and the war (though the wound would continue to affect him until he died thirty years later).[[hottip:*:According to the historical record, the exchange between Lee and Kemper is TruthInTelevision; Kemper did believe (with good reason) that he'd been mortally wounded in the battle.]]
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Throw Away Guns
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* ThrowAwayGuns: After his wounds make it difficult for him to reload a weapon, Buster continues to fight at Little Round Top by taking loaded rifles off of the fallen, using them, and then casting them aside to find a new one.
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A 1993 Ted Turner-financed movie about the titular battle of TheAmericanCivilWar. Based on a novel, ''The Killer Angels'', by Michael Shaara.
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A 1993 Ted Turner-financed movie about the titular pivotal battle of TheAmericanCivilWar. Based TheAmericanCivilWar and based on a novel, the Pulitzer prize winning novel ''The Killer Angels'', Angels'' by Michael Shaara.
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Changed line(s) 14 (click to see context) from:
''Gettysburg'' was followed up in 2003 with a prequel film, ''GodsAndGenerals'', which detailed the {{Backstory}} of many of the characters, but [[DarthWiki/SoBadItsHorrible nobody wants to talk about that]].
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''Gettysburg'' was followed up in 2003 with a prequel film, ''GodsAndGenerals'', which detailed the {{Backstory}} of many of the characters, but [[DarthWiki/SoBadItsHorrible nobody wants to talk about that]].characters.
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''Gettysburg'' was followed up in 2003 with a prequel film, ''GodsAndGenerals'', which detailed the {{Backstory}} of many of the characters.
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''Gettysburg'' was followed up in 2003 with a prequel film, ''GodsAndGenerals'', which detailed the {{Backstory}} of many of the characters.characters, but [[DarthWiki/SoBadItsHorrible nobody wants to talk about that]].
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* ShownTheirWork: The visual details are incredibly accurate, helped in part by the loads of re-enactors they cast as extras. Their own costumes were incredibly accurate, and they actually corrected mistakes by the production team.
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* PoorCommunicationKills: Quite literally. J.E.B Stuart's adventure deprives Lee of vital information and cavalry support.
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* RealMenLoveJesus: Characters main and minor are seen praying or quoting the Bible throughout the movie. Hancock even rides up to Fr. Corby gave absolution to the entire Irish Brigade.
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* RealMenLoveJesus: Characters main and minor are seen praying or quoting the Bible throughout the movie. Hancock even rides up to Fr. Corby gave giving absolution to the entire Irish Brigade.
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** This is likely because Fremantle is a condensed character; the book describes a group of several foreign officers from places like Germany and Prussia, all in colorful national uniform.
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* FakeAmerican: [[JamesBond George Lazenby]] as General Pettigrew.
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* FakeAmerican: W. Morgan Sheppard as General Trimble, [[JamesBond George Lazenby]] as General Pettigrew.
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** One Confederate scene has Armistead tearfully revealing to Longstreet that the last time he'd met Hancock, he'd swore that if he should raise a hand against his friend, "''may God strike me dead!''". [[spoiler:He's mortally wounded in Pickett's Charge, only to break down in shock and tears when after requesting that his apology be conveyed to Hancock, he's told that Hancock was also struck: "''Not the both of us!''"]]
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* AFatherToHisMen: General Robert E. Lee, natch.
** Colonel Chamberlain.
** Colonel Chamberlain.
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** Colonel Chamberlain.
* AFatherToHisMen: General Robert E. Lee, natch.
** Colonel Chamberlain.
** Colonel Chamberlain.
* TheQuietOne: Longstreet. Buford in the novel; the adaptation to the screen makes it necessary for him to turn his pre-battle presentiment into dialogue, rather than thought.
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* TheQuietOne: Longstreet. Buford in the novel; the adaptation to the screen makes it necessary for him to turn his pre-battle presentiment into dialogue, rather than thought.
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* DareToBeBadass: Armistead when his brigade sees the wreck that Pickett's Charge has turned into and halts. "Virginians! Virginians! With me! Who will come with me?"
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* DareToBeBadass: Armistead when his brigade sees the wreck that Pickett's Charge has turned into and halts. "Virginians! "Come on boy, come on! What'll you think of yourself tomorrow? Virginians! Virginians! With me! Who will come with me?"
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trope renamed at TRS, but this was simply misuse
Deleted line(s) 125,126 (click to see context) :
* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotAwesome: Pickett's perfume. He thinks its great. Everyone else thinks it stinks.
--> '''Armistead:''' He got it off a dead Frenchman.
--> '''Armistead:''' He got it off a dead Frenchman.
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* TheCavalry: On the first day, Reynold's Corps shows up to save Buford's division (ironically the actual cavalry)
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* TheCavalry: On the first day, Reynold's I Corps shows up to save Buford's division (ironically the actual cavalry)
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* DeathSeeker: Longstreet temporarily becomes one after watching Pickett's Charge fail. He recklessly races to the front, determined to meet the expected Union counterattack in person while artillery falls all around him. He snaps out of it when one of his aids is thrown off his horse by Union guns and tells him, "There's no use trying to get yourself killed, General. The Lord will come for you in his own good time."
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* DeathSeeker: Longstreet temporarily becomes one after watching Pickett's Charge fail. He recklessly races to the front, determined to meet the expected Union counterattack in person while artillery falls all around him. He snaps out of it when one of his aids aides is thrown off his horse by Union guns and tells him, "There's no use trying to get yourself killed, General. The Lord will come for you in his own good time."
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[[quoteright:347:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Gettysburgposter_8055.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:347:This battle will decide the fate of our country.]]
->''"The same God, same language, same culture and history, same songs, stories, legends, myths - different dreams. Different dreams. So very sad." - Col. Arthur Freemantle''
A 1993 Ted Turner-financed movie about the titular battle of TheAmericanCivilWar. Based on a novel, ''The Killer Angels'', by Michael Shaara.
The movie focuses on four main actors in the battle: Generals Robert E. Lee (Martin Sheen) and James Longstreet (Tom Berenger) on the Confederate side and Gen. John Buford (Sam Elliot) and Lt. Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (Jeff Daniels) on the Union side, though Buford's part ended about a third of the way through the movie. All of the characters in the movie are (based on) real-life people with the exception of Sgt. Buster Kilrain.
The Blu-Ray release restored all the deleted scenes, including some that had been in the trailer but had not made the cut for the theatrical release.
Particularly known for its extremely long Pickett's Charge Sequence. And just being extremely long ''period (FOUR HOURS!)''
''Gettysburg'' was followed up in 2003 with a prequel film, ''GodsAndGenerals'', which detailed the {{Backstory}} of many of the characters.
----
!!This film includes examples of:
* AFatherToHisMen: General Robert E. Lee, natch.
** Colonel Chamberlain.
* AnalogyBackfire:
** Pickett:
--->'''Kemper:''' I gotta hand it to you George, you sure do have a talent for trivializing the momentous and complicating the obvious.
** Both the book and the film have Freemantle going on about how the Southerners are so like the English and being descended from them due to their names, and bringing up Longstreet as an example. Turns out Longstreet is actually Dutch and Longstreet then reminds him that the US [[TheAmericanRevolution beat the British]], [[WarOf1812 twice]].
* AndThisIsFor: The Union soldiers chant "Fredericksburg" as the Confederates retreat after Pickett's Charge.
* AnnoyingYoungerSibling: Tom, for Col. Chamberlain (even though they're adults).
* AsTheGoodBookSays: Lee's "teaches my fingers to fight" narration is from Literature/TheBible, Psalm 144.
* BeardOfEvil: Completely averted. ''Every'' male has luxuriant facial hair, as it was the style at the time.
* BloodBrothers: Armistead and Hancock, although both sides would have officers in the same predicament. They both reflect on the tragedy of having raised their hands in anger against each other.
--> '''Hancock''' (to Chamberlain): Tell me, Professor. In your studies have you come across a story from antiquity of two men who are like brothers facing each other on the field of battle? ...Lewis Armistead was my closest friend before the war. I'd like to see him again: but not here, not like this. What do you say, Colonel, what do the books tell you?
* BloodKnight: Rebel units charge without or against orders a few times, most impotantly in the first engagement of the battle.
* BookDumb: Pickett, who considers "All this book-learnin' unbecoming of a soldier." and graduated in last place - dead last - from West Point.
* TheCassandra: General Hood; Longstreet believes him but can't do anything about it.
** Longstreet himself is this when he predicts to Harrison, who wishes to join Pickett's Charge, exactly what will (and in fact did) happen.
** Buford almost becomes this, realizing on the first day that if the rebels get the high ground, it'll become another Fredericksburg. He subverts it by fighting and holding that high ground for the Union.
* TheCavalry: On the first day, Reynold's Corps shows up to save Buford's division (ironically the actual cavalry)
* [[ChangedMyMindKid Changed My Mind, Kid]]: Col. Chamberlain, by the last three holdouts of the 2nd Maine. They later join the fight and save his brother Tom.
* ColonelBadass: (Lieutenant) Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. The {{Badass}} comes out when he thinks he's been shot (the shot really bounced off his sword, but it clearly left him in shock and he has a limp for the rest of the movie) and as they're dragging him back he sits up and shoots a charging guy with his revolver. Just... wow. The historical Chamberlain was also a badass in that he was wounded six times during the war and survived in an era when just one was usually enough to kill you. He started the war as a college professor, not an army officer. Which also qualifies him for BadassBookworm. He later became Governor of Maine and Ambassador to France.
* CourtlyLove: Armistead has an interesting relationship with Hancock's - his best friend's - wife Almira ("Mira", in the novel). Armistead never pursued her romantically and it never got in the way of their friendship, but he does give her his family Bible (an intensely personal possession) before joining the Virginia forces. Also, part of Armistead's HeroicBSOD breakdown in the novel ''during his own death'' is that he fears Mira receiving the terrible news of her husband's (Hancock had been wounded in the battle, but survived) condition.
* CreatorCameo: Ted Turner appears as a Confederate colonel named Patton (distant relative of [[WorldWarTwo THAT Patton]]).
** DeathByCameo: ... who died during Pickett's Charge.
** TheCameo: Also, KenBurns as the soldier urging General Hancock to get off his horse.
* CulturedWarrior: Several of the officers are portrayed as learned men, probably Col. Chamberlain most prominently (a professor of rhetoric). Others include Pettigrew (scholar of the University of North Carolina) and Col. Vincent (from Harvard).
* DareToBeBadass: Armistead when his brigade sees the wreck that Pickett's Charge has turned into and halts. "Virginians! Virginians! With me! Who will come with me?"
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Longstreet, who became somber after scarlet fever swept through his family in 1862, killing several of his children (note: the novel says it killed his wife and children, but in fact at least one of his children survived and his wife lived until 1889).
* DisorganizedOutlineSpeech: Chamberlain, who "didn't mean to preach".
* DeadPresidents:
** AbrahamLincoln: Is mentioned as probably hounding Meade to attack Lee's army. Freemantle also brings him up that he and the South share a common history and bloodline and how sad it is that they should be fighting.
** UlyssesSGrant: Is mentioned as being an old buddy of Longstreet's.
* DeathSeeker: Longstreet temporarily becomes one after watching Pickett's Charge fail. He recklessly races to the front, determined to meet the expected Union counterattack in person while artillery falls all around him. He snaps out of it when one of his aids is thrown off his horse by Union guns and tells him, "There's no use trying to get yourself killed, General. The Lord will come for you in his own good time."
** General Garnet is this, as he feels obliged to clean the stain on his honor [[AllThereInTheManual caused by condemnation he received by Stonewall Jackson before the latter's death]] by taking part in Pickett's Charge on horseback.
* DramaticIrony: The 20th Maine is being moved to the center of the Union line after its beating on Little Round Top because the Union thinks that it's the safest place on the line. In the last scene, Lee and Longstreet were planning an all out assault on that very spot. This actually represents the biggest difference from the real battle, as the 20th Maine was stationed on Big Round Top at the time and did not participate in repelling Picket at all.
* EverybodysDeadDave:
** When Sgt. Owens returns from trying to get ammunition, he can't really report much because none of the commanding officers on Little Round Top are in commission anymore:
--->'''Sgt. Owens:''' Colonel Vincent is badly wounded, (nods) yes sir, got hit a few minutes after the fight started. We've been reinforced at the top of the hill by Weed's brigade up front, this is what they tell me, but Weed is dead. And so they moved Hazlet's battery of artillery up there, but Hazlet's dead....
** This exchange:
--->'''General Lee''': General Pickett, sir. You must look to your division.\\
'''General Pickett''': General Lee. I ''have'' no division.
* EpicMovie: Four hours long, plenty of familiar faces, lots of action, epic score by Randy Edelman, it's got the components.
* FakeAmerican: [[JamesBond George Lazenby]] as General Pettigrew.
* FauxlosophicNarration: Lee, but also to a lesser extent by Col. Chamberlain.
* ForegoneConclusion: It does not end well for the Confederates, as Gen. Longstreet predicted beforehand as he describes the withering firepower the soldiers of Pickett's Charge would face.
* {{Foreshadowing}}
-->'''Chamberlain:''' ''(after three of the last deserters decide to fight)'' Give these men some muskets.
-->'''Sgt. Owens:''' There are no muskets, sir.
-->'''Chamberlain:''' ''(to the deserters)'' Wait here. There'll be guns available [[RedshirtArmy in a little while]].
* FriendlyEnemy: Several of the opposing generals are well acquainted, having served together before the war. The friendship of Armistead and Hancock is given the most weight.
* FunnyForeigner: Col. Freemantle. He's not meant to be funny, but the filmmakers accentuated his Englishness by having him wear a bright red dress uniform (which the historical character certainly did not do) and, in one scene, walk around the Confederate camp drinking tea from a china cup and saucer. Apparently the real Freemantle was so impressed by Pickett's Charge he wrote a book predicting that the South would win the war. It was published a few months before the South surrendered.
* GallowsHumor: Intentionally by Chamberlain, accidentally by Freemantle.
--> '''Chamberlain:''' Tom, stay away from me. Another one of those [shells] a bit closer and it could be a hard day for mother.
--> '''Freemantle:''' ''(In the morning, as the Confederates prepare to attack.)'' I slept like the dead, sir - a baby. Slept like a newborn baby, sir.
** Chamberlain's actually happened in RealLife, only there were actually three brothers present. The third, a medic who didn't get mentioned in the book or movie, was sent to a different part of the line than Tom, for the same reason.
* GeoEffects: Capturing and holding the high ground is a major point of the tension.
** Day 1: Buford rails against Meade, predicting the cautious commander will delay, allowing the Confederates to simply march onto the high ground if he doesn't deploy his brigade to stop the enemy vanguard. In real life, Meade moved his units much faster than was expected.
** Day 2: The Confederates attack the Union left flank, including Little Round Top and Devil's Den. Hood describes it as the "worst ground I ever saw," and sarcastically notes that the Union force could defeat their charge simply by rolling rocks down the hill.
** Day 3: The Confederates are forced to divert some of their artillery fire on the Union cannons placed on the high ground. Pickett's Charge, uphill, over open ground, into the teeth of the reinforced Union centre is brutally shattered.
* HeartbrokenBadass: Longstreet. Left unsaid by the movie; scarlet fever devastated his family and he knowingly ordered Pickett's division to make an attack he knew was suicidal.
* HeroicBSOD: Pickett after his eponymous charge. See EverybodysDeadDave, above.
** Armistead, when he hears during his own dying moments that his best friend Hancock is also wounded.
* HollywoodTactics: Pickett's Charge, in an unfortunate case of TruthInTelevision. The original strategy was to have the artillery break up the Union units on the ridge, but as Confederate artillery was outnumbered, of inferior quality, and short on ammunition, this failed. They also overshot the bulk of the union forces, aiming for an area behind the ridge where they thought the union was staging, when in fact most their men were tight to the line on along the ridge.
* HonorBeforeReason: Garnett. This is also discussed by Freemantle as being something the South and Britain have in common, which also serves as {{Foreshadowing}} considering that Britain lost the American Revolution (as Longstreet points out).
** [[AllThereInTheManual In the book]], the reason for Garnett's determination on going into battle with a hurt leg is explained. While under Stonewall Jackson's command, Garnett withdrew his troops from an impossible position and was branded a coward by the general. Everyone who discusses the matter knows that the only way for Garnett to clear his name is to die in battle. [[FridgeBrilliance Which is perhaps]] why his death in the movie almost appears that he is riding directly towards the cannon that kills him.
* HopeSpot: An in-universe one for the Confederates, when Armistead's forces finally reach the Union line and almost manage to break it. Then Union reinforcements arrive...
* {{Intermission}}: At least when it was shown in a theater. But then, it was planned as a four hour, two day TV Mini Series before they decided to show it in theaters.
* IronicEcho: General Stuart offers to resign after failing to do his job properly, and Lee refuses as he still needs him and doesn't think it will happen again. Not in the movie, but the same thing happened to Lee himself when he offered his resignation to Jefferson Davis after the battle.
* {{Irony}}: Early in the movie Buford rages quietly to his subordinate that Meade will move too slow to take the hills, requiring a desperate charge across open ground in an attempt to dislodge the rebels. He goes on that he [[TheCassandra can see it]] "clear as day" that it would surely fail and with high casualties and there would be nothing he could do about it except "help it fail". This happens exactly as he predicts. Except it happens to the ''Confederates'' as a direct result of Buford acting quickly to change the starting conditions and prevent it. Also, General Meade moved his troops faster than anyone expected, which was why Lee was surprised to find the Army of the Potomac so close.
* ItsAllMyFault: Lee, after Pickett's Charge
* ItHasBeenAnHonor: Sgt. Kilrain to Col. Chamberlain after being severely wounded at Little Round Top. Doubles as a TearJerker.
-->'''Kilrain''': "Colonel, I've never served under a finer man. The Army was blessed. Blessed! I wanted to tell you (pauses and nods at his wounded arm), you know, in case."
* TheLancer: Kilrain, to Col. Chamberlain.
* LargeHam: Pickett (Stephen Lang. Rightly so, as he was well-known for being a flamboyant and having an eccentric personality.
* LastNameBasis: Lawrence tells his brother to address him formally. Generals, on the other hand, tend to do whatever they want.
* ManlyTears
* NotSoDifferent: Armistead and Hancock. Also arguably the point of the entire movie.
* OfficerAndAGentleman: Pickett.
* OnlySaneMan:
** Longstreet, for the Confederates:
---> '''Longstreet:''' You know what's gonna happen? I'll tell you what's gonna happen. [Our] troops are now forming behind the line of trees. When they come out, they'll be under enemy long-range artillery fire. Solid shot. Percussion. Every gun they have. Troops will come out under fire with more than a mile to walk. And still, within the open field, among the range of aimed muskets. They'll be slowed by that fence out there, and the formation - what's left of it - will begin to come apart. When they cross that road, they'll be under short-range artillery. Canister fire. Thousands of little bits of shrapnel wiping the holes in the lines. If they get to the wall without breaking up, there won't be many left. A mathematical equation. [...] If they get to that road, or beyond it, we'll suffer over fifty percent casualties. But, Harrison, I don't believe my boys will reach that wall.
** Buford, for the Union:
---> '''Buford:''' You know whats going to happen here in the morning? The whole damn reb army is going to be here. They'll move through this town, occupy these hills on the other side and when our people get here Lee will have the high ground. There'll be the devil to pay! The high ground! [...] Devin, I've led a soldier's life, and I've never seen anything as brutally clear as this.
* PowerTrio: Pickett's brigade commanders; Armistead is the ego, Kemper is id, and Garnett superego.
* RealMenLoveJesus: Characters main and minor are seen praying or quoting the Bible throughout the movie. Hancock even rides up to Fr. Corby gave absolution to the entire Irish Brigade.
* RagtagBunchOfMisfits: Pretty much everyone.
* RatedMForManly
* RousingSpeech:
** Chamberlain, to the 2nd Maine, and again later to the officers of the 20th Maine.
** Armistead to his brigade the morning of Pickett's Charge, both in the movie and in RealLife.
* SedgwickSpeech: Reynolds has an abridged form. Ironically, the actual General Sedgwick was sort of involved in the battle, though he is not portrayed in the film. Sedgwick's VI Corps was held in reserve.
-->'''Reynolds:''' "Forward Iron Brigade!.... Clear those guns out of that wood!.... Forward! For God's sake, FORWARD!" -bang-
** Hancock suffers a non-fatal (he is seriously wounded, but survives) version of this during Pickett's Charge.
--->'''Hancock:''' "Bring your men forward and we'll flank these bastards. By God we'll flank 'em" -bang-
* SelfDestructiveCharge: AKA Pickett's Charge.
* ShoutOutToShakespeare:
** Harrison is portrayed as a former actor and quotes ''{{Romeo and Juliet}}''.
** Chamberlain quotes ''{{Hamlet}}'' in the "Killer Angels" discussion with Kilrain (in the novel it is the TitleDrop scene).
* SingleIssueWonk: Several of the Rebels view the common Northern focus on slavery as a reason for the war this way. Many of them say they honestly don't care about it either way, and see themselves as fighting for their "rahts". Longstreet muses that they would have won their independence already if they had freed the slaves before firing on Fort Sumter, taking it away as a motivation for the other side and keeping in Britain and France's good graces.
* SoundtrackDissonance: "Fife and Gun," a catchy and energetic theme played over scenes of men being slaughtered by rifle and cannon fire.
* TakeAThirdOption: "We can't run away. If we stay here, we can't shoot." Given the choice between holding and retreating, Chamberlain decides to charge.
* TemptingFate: At the beginning of Pickett's Charge one of Hancock's aides asks him to get off his horse (so he'll be a less obvious target), to which he replies "There are times when a Corps commander's life does not count." Later during the battle, still riding his horse, he is shot and badly wounded (though he survives).
* TheQuietOne: Longstreet. Buford in the novel; the adaptation to the screen makes it necessary for him to turn his pre-battle presentiment into dialogue, rather than thought.
* TearJerker: in-universe example, Longstreet is so certain that Pickett's Charge will fail that he is too choked up to order the assault. When Pickett asks him if he should begin the attack, the best the heartbroken Longstreet can manage is a nod. Made worse by how eager and elated Pickett is to carry out the order.
** Armistead's reaction to learning that Hancock has also been wounded.
* TruthInTelevision: Since it's mostly historically accurate, some lines are actual quotes.
* WhamLine:
--> '''Col. Chamberlain''': "We can't run away. If we stay here we can't shoot. So let's fix bayonets. (Everyone stares at him.) We'll have the advantage of moving down the hill."
** In-universe, Pickett's reply to Lee in the EveryBodysDeadDave incident.
* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotAwesome: Pickett's perfume. He thinks its great. Everyone else thinks it stinks.
--> '''Armistead:''' He got it off a dead Frenchman.
* WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue: A particularly nice example of the trope with the actors faces morphing into the actual historic figures.
** Which is a nice reverse of the opening credits, where photos of the historical figures morphed into the actors.
* WorldOfCardboardSpeech: Armistead, to Freemantle before Pickett's Charge.
* WorthyOpponent: From the North, the Chamberlain brothers admit they admire their Southern counterparts. From the South, the fact that they are going up against Hancock is enough to cause Longstreet and Armistead apprehension.
--> Amistead (about Hancock): The Lord don't make 'em any better, and that's a fact!"
** Lee calls the Union troops "those people" rather than "the enemy," [[TruthInTelevision as the real Lee did]].
* YouShallNotPass: The whole Battle of Little Round Top.
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<<|{{Film}}|>>
[[caption-width-right:347:This battle will decide the fate of our country.]]
->''"The same God, same language, same culture and history, same songs, stories, legends, myths - different dreams. Different dreams. So very sad." - Col. Arthur Freemantle''
A 1993 Ted Turner-financed movie about the titular battle of TheAmericanCivilWar. Based on a novel, ''The Killer Angels'', by Michael Shaara.
The movie focuses on four main actors in the battle: Generals Robert E. Lee (Martin Sheen) and James Longstreet (Tom Berenger) on the Confederate side and Gen. John Buford (Sam Elliot) and Lt. Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (Jeff Daniels) on the Union side, though Buford's part ended about a third of the way through the movie. All of the characters in the movie are (based on) real-life people with the exception of Sgt. Buster Kilrain.
The Blu-Ray release restored all the deleted scenes, including some that had been in the trailer but had not made the cut for the theatrical release.
Particularly known for its extremely long Pickett's Charge Sequence. And just being extremely long ''period (FOUR HOURS!)''
''Gettysburg'' was followed up in 2003 with a prequel film, ''GodsAndGenerals'', which detailed the {{Backstory}} of many of the characters.
----
!!This film includes examples of:
* AFatherToHisMen: General Robert E. Lee, natch.
** Colonel Chamberlain.
* AnalogyBackfire:
** Pickett:
--->'''Kemper:''' I gotta hand it to you George, you sure do have a talent for trivializing the momentous and complicating the obvious.
** Both the book and the film have Freemantle going on about how the Southerners are so like the English and being descended from them due to their names, and bringing up Longstreet as an example. Turns out Longstreet is actually Dutch and Longstreet then reminds him that the US [[TheAmericanRevolution beat the British]], [[WarOf1812 twice]].
* AndThisIsFor: The Union soldiers chant "Fredericksburg" as the Confederates retreat after Pickett's Charge.
* AnnoyingYoungerSibling: Tom, for Col. Chamberlain (even though they're adults).
* AsTheGoodBookSays: Lee's "teaches my fingers to fight" narration is from Literature/TheBible, Psalm 144.
* BeardOfEvil: Completely averted. ''Every'' male has luxuriant facial hair, as it was the style at the time.
* BloodBrothers: Armistead and Hancock, although both sides would have officers in the same predicament. They both reflect on the tragedy of having raised their hands in anger against each other.
--> '''Hancock''' (to Chamberlain): Tell me, Professor. In your studies have you come across a story from antiquity of two men who are like brothers facing each other on the field of battle? ...Lewis Armistead was my closest friend before the war. I'd like to see him again: but not here, not like this. What do you say, Colonel, what do the books tell you?
* BloodKnight: Rebel units charge without or against orders a few times, most impotantly in the first engagement of the battle.
* BookDumb: Pickett, who considers "All this book-learnin' unbecoming of a soldier." and graduated in last place - dead last - from West Point.
* TheCassandra: General Hood; Longstreet believes him but can't do anything about it.
** Longstreet himself is this when he predicts to Harrison, who wishes to join Pickett's Charge, exactly what will (and in fact did) happen.
** Buford almost becomes this, realizing on the first day that if the rebels get the high ground, it'll become another Fredericksburg. He subverts it by fighting and holding that high ground for the Union.
* TheCavalry: On the first day, Reynold's Corps shows up to save Buford's division (ironically the actual cavalry)
* [[ChangedMyMindKid Changed My Mind, Kid]]: Col. Chamberlain, by the last three holdouts of the 2nd Maine. They later join the fight and save his brother Tom.
* ColonelBadass: (Lieutenant) Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. The {{Badass}} comes out when he thinks he's been shot (the shot really bounced off his sword, but it clearly left him in shock and he has a limp for the rest of the movie) and as they're dragging him back he sits up and shoots a charging guy with his revolver. Just... wow. The historical Chamberlain was also a badass in that he was wounded six times during the war and survived in an era when just one was usually enough to kill you. He started the war as a college professor, not an army officer. Which also qualifies him for BadassBookworm. He later became Governor of Maine and Ambassador to France.
* CourtlyLove: Armistead has an interesting relationship with Hancock's - his best friend's - wife Almira ("Mira", in the novel). Armistead never pursued her romantically and it never got in the way of their friendship, but he does give her his family Bible (an intensely personal possession) before joining the Virginia forces. Also, part of Armistead's HeroicBSOD breakdown in the novel ''during his own death'' is that he fears Mira receiving the terrible news of her husband's (Hancock had been wounded in the battle, but survived) condition.
* CreatorCameo: Ted Turner appears as a Confederate colonel named Patton (distant relative of [[WorldWarTwo THAT Patton]]).
** DeathByCameo: ... who died during Pickett's Charge.
** TheCameo: Also, KenBurns as the soldier urging General Hancock to get off his horse.
* CulturedWarrior: Several of the officers are portrayed as learned men, probably Col. Chamberlain most prominently (a professor of rhetoric). Others include Pettigrew (scholar of the University of North Carolina) and Col. Vincent (from Harvard).
* DareToBeBadass: Armistead when his brigade sees the wreck that Pickett's Charge has turned into and halts. "Virginians! Virginians! With me! Who will come with me?"
* DarkAndTroubledPast: Longstreet, who became somber after scarlet fever swept through his family in 1862, killing several of his children (note: the novel says it killed his wife and children, but in fact at least one of his children survived and his wife lived until 1889).
* DisorganizedOutlineSpeech: Chamberlain, who "didn't mean to preach".
* DeadPresidents:
** AbrahamLincoln: Is mentioned as probably hounding Meade to attack Lee's army. Freemantle also brings him up that he and the South share a common history and bloodline and how sad it is that they should be fighting.
** UlyssesSGrant: Is mentioned as being an old buddy of Longstreet's.
* DeathSeeker: Longstreet temporarily becomes one after watching Pickett's Charge fail. He recklessly races to the front, determined to meet the expected Union counterattack in person while artillery falls all around him. He snaps out of it when one of his aids is thrown off his horse by Union guns and tells him, "There's no use trying to get yourself killed, General. The Lord will come for you in his own good time."
** General Garnet is this, as he feels obliged to clean the stain on his honor [[AllThereInTheManual caused by condemnation he received by Stonewall Jackson before the latter's death]] by taking part in Pickett's Charge on horseback.
* DramaticIrony: The 20th Maine is being moved to the center of the Union line after its beating on Little Round Top because the Union thinks that it's the safest place on the line. In the last scene, Lee and Longstreet were planning an all out assault on that very spot. This actually represents the biggest difference from the real battle, as the 20th Maine was stationed on Big Round Top at the time and did not participate in repelling Picket at all.
* EverybodysDeadDave:
** When Sgt. Owens returns from trying to get ammunition, he can't really report much because none of the commanding officers on Little Round Top are in commission anymore:
--->'''Sgt. Owens:''' Colonel Vincent is badly wounded, (nods) yes sir, got hit a few minutes after the fight started. We've been reinforced at the top of the hill by Weed's brigade up front, this is what they tell me, but Weed is dead. And so they moved Hazlet's battery of artillery up there, but Hazlet's dead....
** This exchange:
--->'''General Lee''': General Pickett, sir. You must look to your division.\\
'''General Pickett''': General Lee. I ''have'' no division.
* EpicMovie: Four hours long, plenty of familiar faces, lots of action, epic score by Randy Edelman, it's got the components.
* FakeAmerican: [[JamesBond George Lazenby]] as General Pettigrew.
* FauxlosophicNarration: Lee, but also to a lesser extent by Col. Chamberlain.
* ForegoneConclusion: It does not end well for the Confederates, as Gen. Longstreet predicted beforehand as he describes the withering firepower the soldiers of Pickett's Charge would face.
* {{Foreshadowing}}
-->'''Chamberlain:''' ''(after three of the last deserters decide to fight)'' Give these men some muskets.
-->'''Sgt. Owens:''' There are no muskets, sir.
-->'''Chamberlain:''' ''(to the deserters)'' Wait here. There'll be guns available [[RedshirtArmy in a little while]].
* FriendlyEnemy: Several of the opposing generals are well acquainted, having served together before the war. The friendship of Armistead and Hancock is given the most weight.
* FunnyForeigner: Col. Freemantle. He's not meant to be funny, but the filmmakers accentuated his Englishness by having him wear a bright red dress uniform (which the historical character certainly did not do) and, in one scene, walk around the Confederate camp drinking tea from a china cup and saucer. Apparently the real Freemantle was so impressed by Pickett's Charge he wrote a book predicting that the South would win the war. It was published a few months before the South surrendered.
* GallowsHumor: Intentionally by Chamberlain, accidentally by Freemantle.
--> '''Chamberlain:''' Tom, stay away from me. Another one of those [shells] a bit closer and it could be a hard day for mother.
--> '''Freemantle:''' ''(In the morning, as the Confederates prepare to attack.)'' I slept like the dead, sir - a baby. Slept like a newborn baby, sir.
** Chamberlain's actually happened in RealLife, only there were actually three brothers present. The third, a medic who didn't get mentioned in the book or movie, was sent to a different part of the line than Tom, for the same reason.
* GeoEffects: Capturing and holding the high ground is a major point of the tension.
** Day 1: Buford rails against Meade, predicting the cautious commander will delay, allowing the Confederates to simply march onto the high ground if he doesn't deploy his brigade to stop the enemy vanguard. In real life, Meade moved his units much faster than was expected.
** Day 2: The Confederates attack the Union left flank, including Little Round Top and Devil's Den. Hood describes it as the "worst ground I ever saw," and sarcastically notes that the Union force could defeat their charge simply by rolling rocks down the hill.
** Day 3: The Confederates are forced to divert some of their artillery fire on the Union cannons placed on the high ground. Pickett's Charge, uphill, over open ground, into the teeth of the reinforced Union centre is brutally shattered.
* HeartbrokenBadass: Longstreet. Left unsaid by the movie; scarlet fever devastated his family and he knowingly ordered Pickett's division to make an attack he knew was suicidal.
* HeroicBSOD: Pickett after his eponymous charge. See EverybodysDeadDave, above.
** Armistead, when he hears during his own dying moments that his best friend Hancock is also wounded.
* HollywoodTactics: Pickett's Charge, in an unfortunate case of TruthInTelevision. The original strategy was to have the artillery break up the Union units on the ridge, but as Confederate artillery was outnumbered, of inferior quality, and short on ammunition, this failed. They also overshot the bulk of the union forces, aiming for an area behind the ridge where they thought the union was staging, when in fact most their men were tight to the line on along the ridge.
* HonorBeforeReason: Garnett. This is also discussed by Freemantle as being something the South and Britain have in common, which also serves as {{Foreshadowing}} considering that Britain lost the American Revolution (as Longstreet points out).
** [[AllThereInTheManual In the book]], the reason for Garnett's determination on going into battle with a hurt leg is explained. While under Stonewall Jackson's command, Garnett withdrew his troops from an impossible position and was branded a coward by the general. Everyone who discusses the matter knows that the only way for Garnett to clear his name is to die in battle. [[FridgeBrilliance Which is perhaps]] why his death in the movie almost appears that he is riding directly towards the cannon that kills him.
* HopeSpot: An in-universe one for the Confederates, when Armistead's forces finally reach the Union line and almost manage to break it. Then Union reinforcements arrive...
* {{Intermission}}: At least when it was shown in a theater. But then, it was planned as a four hour, two day TV Mini Series before they decided to show it in theaters.
* IronicEcho: General Stuart offers to resign after failing to do his job properly, and Lee refuses as he still needs him and doesn't think it will happen again. Not in the movie, but the same thing happened to Lee himself when he offered his resignation to Jefferson Davis after the battle.
* {{Irony}}: Early in the movie Buford rages quietly to his subordinate that Meade will move too slow to take the hills, requiring a desperate charge across open ground in an attempt to dislodge the rebels. He goes on that he [[TheCassandra can see it]] "clear as day" that it would surely fail and with high casualties and there would be nothing he could do about it except "help it fail". This happens exactly as he predicts. Except it happens to the ''Confederates'' as a direct result of Buford acting quickly to change the starting conditions and prevent it. Also, General Meade moved his troops faster than anyone expected, which was why Lee was surprised to find the Army of the Potomac so close.
* ItsAllMyFault: Lee, after Pickett's Charge
* ItHasBeenAnHonor: Sgt. Kilrain to Col. Chamberlain after being severely wounded at Little Round Top. Doubles as a TearJerker.
-->'''Kilrain''': "Colonel, I've never served under a finer man. The Army was blessed. Blessed! I wanted to tell you (pauses and nods at his wounded arm), you know, in case."
* TheLancer: Kilrain, to Col. Chamberlain.
* LargeHam: Pickett (Stephen Lang. Rightly so, as he was well-known for being a flamboyant and having an eccentric personality.
* LastNameBasis: Lawrence tells his brother to address him formally. Generals, on the other hand, tend to do whatever they want.
* ManlyTears
* NotSoDifferent: Armistead and Hancock. Also arguably the point of the entire movie.
* OfficerAndAGentleman: Pickett.
* OnlySaneMan:
** Longstreet, for the Confederates:
---> '''Longstreet:''' You know what's gonna happen? I'll tell you what's gonna happen. [Our] troops are now forming behind the line of trees. When they come out, they'll be under enemy long-range artillery fire. Solid shot. Percussion. Every gun they have. Troops will come out under fire with more than a mile to walk. And still, within the open field, among the range of aimed muskets. They'll be slowed by that fence out there, and the formation - what's left of it - will begin to come apart. When they cross that road, they'll be under short-range artillery. Canister fire. Thousands of little bits of shrapnel wiping the holes in the lines. If they get to the wall without breaking up, there won't be many left. A mathematical equation. [...] If they get to that road, or beyond it, we'll suffer over fifty percent casualties. But, Harrison, I don't believe my boys will reach that wall.
** Buford, for the Union:
---> '''Buford:''' You know whats going to happen here in the morning? The whole damn reb army is going to be here. They'll move through this town, occupy these hills on the other side and when our people get here Lee will have the high ground. There'll be the devil to pay! The high ground! [...] Devin, I've led a soldier's life, and I've never seen anything as brutally clear as this.
* PowerTrio: Pickett's brigade commanders; Armistead is the ego, Kemper is id, and Garnett superego.
* RealMenLoveJesus: Characters main and minor are seen praying or quoting the Bible throughout the movie. Hancock even rides up to Fr. Corby gave absolution to the entire Irish Brigade.
* RagtagBunchOfMisfits: Pretty much everyone.
* RatedMForManly
* RousingSpeech:
** Chamberlain, to the 2nd Maine, and again later to the officers of the 20th Maine.
** Armistead to his brigade the morning of Pickett's Charge, both in the movie and in RealLife.
* SedgwickSpeech: Reynolds has an abridged form. Ironically, the actual General Sedgwick was sort of involved in the battle, though he is not portrayed in the film. Sedgwick's VI Corps was held in reserve.
-->'''Reynolds:''' "Forward Iron Brigade!.... Clear those guns out of that wood!.... Forward! For God's sake, FORWARD!" -bang-
** Hancock suffers a non-fatal (he is seriously wounded, but survives) version of this during Pickett's Charge.
--->'''Hancock:''' "Bring your men forward and we'll flank these bastards. By God we'll flank 'em" -bang-
* SelfDestructiveCharge: AKA Pickett's Charge.
* ShoutOutToShakespeare:
** Harrison is portrayed as a former actor and quotes ''{{Romeo and Juliet}}''.
** Chamberlain quotes ''{{Hamlet}}'' in the "Killer Angels" discussion with Kilrain (in the novel it is the TitleDrop scene).
* SingleIssueWonk: Several of the Rebels view the common Northern focus on slavery as a reason for the war this way. Many of them say they honestly don't care about it either way, and see themselves as fighting for their "rahts". Longstreet muses that they would have won their independence already if they had freed the slaves before firing on Fort Sumter, taking it away as a motivation for the other side and keeping in Britain and France's good graces.
* SoundtrackDissonance: "Fife and Gun," a catchy and energetic theme played over scenes of men being slaughtered by rifle and cannon fire.
* TakeAThirdOption: "We can't run away. If we stay here, we can't shoot." Given the choice between holding and retreating, Chamberlain decides to charge.
* TemptingFate: At the beginning of Pickett's Charge one of Hancock's aides asks him to get off his horse (so he'll be a less obvious target), to which he replies "There are times when a Corps commander's life does not count." Later during the battle, still riding his horse, he is shot and badly wounded (though he survives).
* TheQuietOne: Longstreet. Buford in the novel; the adaptation to the screen makes it necessary for him to turn his pre-battle presentiment into dialogue, rather than thought.
* TearJerker: in-universe example, Longstreet is so certain that Pickett's Charge will fail that he is too choked up to order the assault. When Pickett asks him if he should begin the attack, the best the heartbroken Longstreet can manage is a nod. Made worse by how eager and elated Pickett is to carry out the order.
** Armistead's reaction to learning that Hancock has also been wounded.
* TruthInTelevision: Since it's mostly historically accurate, some lines are actual quotes.
* WhamLine:
--> '''Col. Chamberlain''': "We can't run away. If we stay here we can't shoot. So let's fix bayonets. (Everyone stares at him.) We'll have the advantage of moving down the hill."
** In-universe, Pickett's reply to Lee in the EveryBodysDeadDave incident.
* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotAwesome: Pickett's perfume. He thinks its great. Everyone else thinks it stinks.
--> '''Armistead:''' He got it off a dead Frenchman.
* WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue: A particularly nice example of the trope with the actors faces morphing into the actual historic figures.
** Which is a nice reverse of the opening credits, where photos of the historical figures morphed into the actors.
* WorldOfCardboardSpeech: Armistead, to Freemantle before Pickett's Charge.
* WorthyOpponent: From the North, the Chamberlain brothers admit they admire their Southern counterparts. From the South, the fact that they are going up against Hancock is enough to cause Longstreet and Armistead apprehension.
--> Amistead (about Hancock): The Lord don't make 'em any better, and that's a fact!"
** Lee calls the Union troops "those people" rather than "the enemy," [[TruthInTelevision as the real Lee did]].
* YouShallNotPass: The whole Battle of Little Round Top.
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