GETTYSBURG to Celebrate 30th Anniversary with Weekend-Long Festival

GETTYSBURG to Celebrate 30th Anniversary with Weekend-Long Festival

By Movieguide® Contributor

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Civil War epic GETTYSBURG, the original cast and crew are coming together for a weekend-long festival.

The movie tells the story of the Battle of Gettysburg, one of the bloodiest moments during the Civil War. It portrays each of the three days of the battle from multiple points of view, capturing the highs and the lows experienced by both the North and the South. 

A portion of Movieguide®’s review reads:

The epic movie GETTYSBURG, filmed on the actual battlefield in Pennsylvania, admirably recreates the events of those fateful days, even to the intimate moments between the men on both sides. The excellent acting and directing makes history live again. The movie overflows with positive references to God and prayer, with a clear inspiring musical score. GETTYSBURG is a magnificent movie, should be viewed by every American. The director was wise in limiting the amount of violence so that the movie could have a broad audience. Lee’s motto: “You could do no more than that, and you should not do any less” aptly sums up this film that will stir hearts and inspire its viewers. GETTYSBURG is a movie worth watching again and again. Ron Maxwell deserves America’s thanks for this mighty movie classic.

Now, as the movie reaches its 30th anniversary, The Journey National Heritage Area—the organization preserving Gettysburg—is partnering with GETTYSBURG’s original cast and crew to bring fans a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Festivities begin on Friday, October 13, with a bus tour of the filming locations, followed by cast appearances and a screening of the movie. The following day, October 14, will commence with a memorabilia display, an actors panel and a cast signing event. The day will conclude with a prescreening panel and another viewing of the movie.

Sunday will provide additional opportunities to meet with the cast, and the weekend will conclude with the premiere of the director’s cut of Ron Maxwell’s COPPERHEAD, followed by a discussion of the movie.

The cast and crew members currently confirmed for the weekend include director Ron Maxwell, Tom Berenger, Bo Brinkman, Billy Campbell, Patrick Gorman, Stephen Lang, Brian Mallon and John Rothman.

“I think historical films are enormously important if they’re entertaining because, if they’re entertaining, then people learn the history and don’t even realize they’re learning the history,” novelist Jeff Shaara said of the movie in a video for the American Battlefield Trust.

Those interested in tickets or further information can visit The Journey National Heritage Area’s website.

Movieguide® previously reported:

Movieguide® had the opportunity to speak with Ron Maxwell, the director of Gettysburg, Gods and Generals, and now Copperhead.

COPPERHEAD is a civil war drama that begs the question of whether the North should go to war against the South. This was a very controversial decision during this time period because it involved families against each other, brothers and fathers fighting for different sides.

Question:  How do you get passionate about the stories that motivate you to produce?

Maxwell:  I have to have a visceral connection with the story, and I have to feel like I want to tell it and that I’m the one to tell it. I have to believe it. The emotional intellectual connection with the material.

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