It’s been over a century and a half since theAmerican Civil War(1861 – 1865) ended, yet it remains one of the most talked about historical events. The conflict, also known as The War Between the States, was influenced by many factors, but it was primarily triggered by the election of the Republican candidate, Abraham Lincoln, who had been clear about his intention to abolish slavery. In reaction 11 Southern states seceded, forming the Confederate States of America under President Jefferson Davis.
Hundreds of Hollywood movies have captured the moral and economic issues surrounding the war. In the majority of films, those allied to the Confederacy are normally depicted as villains since they care more about the economy than human rights. Some big screen projects ignore the larger controversial conflict and only use it as a background to tell stories about smaller characters. Whatever side they fall under, these movies are ideal for anyone seeking to be entertained while also learning more the American Civil War.
20The Horse Soldiers (1959)
Cutting off supplies is a major strategy commonly used in war and inThe Horse Soldiers, a Union unit sneaks into Confederate territory to destroy a Newton Station depot and railway section that is crucial for transporting weapons and food. The secondary plot involves the unit leader, Colonel John Marlowe, falling in love with a plantation owner, creating an ethics-related quagmire for both parties.
Most war movies focus on the offense, but the strategy is all defensive here, with the Marlowe-led unit seeking to head back and destroy a bridge before the furious Confederate forces catch up with them. It’s undoubtedly one ofJohn Wayne’s finest collaborations with John Ford, thanks to the neatly choreographed battles that follow after the Union soldiers destroy the depot.
19Friendly Persuasion (1956)
The Old Testament is full of stories about war, yet modern Christianity often discourages people from heading to the battlefield. The moral question around killing for the country remains a big topic and the debate regarding the validity of war is explored perfectly inFriendly Persuasion. In it, a Quaker Christian community finds itself in a dilemma when members receive news that a Confederate Unit is approaching.
Whether they will stand up to defend themselves or sit back and watch themselves get massacred, in line with their Christian beliefs, remains the big question throughout the proceedings. And as tense as the film is, it lightens up the audience’s mood by including several comical subplots, notably one where a spunky child engages in an endless feud with the family goose.
18Lincoln (2012)
Lincolnis usually one of the movies that instantly pop up in the minds of cinephiles wheneverDaniel-Day Lewis’ greatest performancesare discussed. The biopic isn’t about Lincoln’s entire life as the title might make one believe. Instead, Steven Spielberg dedicates the biggest chunk of the running time to the American Civil War since it’s this particular President that triggered it all.
Rather than take audiences to the battlefields as many films do, the movie centers around the political strategies employed to make sure the war ends smoothly. As the noble and good-hearted person that he is, the POTUS remains focused on ensuring that the “Emancipation Proclamation” (Presidential order meant to end slavery) doesn’t get overturned by the Confederate states once they rejoin the union. Away from the performances and tense storylines, the costume designs and makeup styling are extremely impressive. Lewis looks exactly like the action Lincoln and serious efforts are made to ensure everyone looks like they are from the 1800s.
17Gettysburg (1993)
Every war has a few key battles and for the Confederacy versus Union conflict, the Battle of Gettysburg mattered a lot more than the rest. This is because Confederate General Robert E. Lee had a mega plan to invade the North and if he had been successful, the entire United States would have been absorbed into the CSA (Confederate States of America).
RELATED:The 10 Most Influential War Movies of All Time
Gettysburgcovers this battle via the eyes of a large ensemble cast that includes junior soldiers and commanders from both warring factions. There is as much fighting as there is scheming, resulting in a tale that is satisfactory in every possible way. Events are more focused too, since they are only spread across three days.
16The Beguiled (2017)
Adapted from Thomas P. Cullinan’s novel of the same name,The Beguiledbenefits from outstanding work from Colin Farrel and Nicole Kidman. The Southern Gothic thriller centers around the members of a girls’ school who fall in love with a wounded Union corporal after finding him in the woods. Initially keen on handing him over to Confederate forces as a POW, they decide to keep him until he heels, but they soon grow to like him.
Since everyone is vying for his attention, conflict soon arises, resulting in infighting between the girls and the matrons. The drama is fascinating to watch because of the evil tactics employed by each of the girls to ensure she ends up in bed with the only male in the building. The bitterness and hatred eventually grow out of control, resulting in a tragic outcome.
15Glory (1989)
Before Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman began dominating Hollywood in the ‘90s, they starred together as members of 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment (the Union army’s first all-Black unit) inGlory. Because of its flawless plot and wonderful work by the entire cast, the movie ended up being nominated for five Oscars.
Events are plucked from two non-fiction books (Lay This Laurel by Lincoln Kirstein and One Gallant Rush by Peter Burchard) and focus on the attempts by the regiment members to be granted more responsibility, having initially been restricted to performing menial manual tasks in the military. The desire for adventure eventually pays off, and the soldiers get to fight. Though they don’t obliterate their opponents in the movie, the courage, and commitment displayed by the soldiers encourages Abraham Lincoln to approve the admission of more Black people into the army.
14Shenandoah (1965)
The majority ofhighly rated anti-war moviescover modern conflicts, starting with World War I, soShenandoahfeels unique. The protagonist Charlie is depicted as a rugged individualist. He sees the war as pointless, so he only concerns himself with matters involving his six children. However, he is forced to act when his daughter-in-law gets killed and his youngest son gets captured.
So principled is Charlie that he doesn’t own slaves like several farm owners around him. He frequently goes to church too, but is soon forced to go against his principles when all around him falls down. The strength ofShenandoahthus stems from its numerous emotional moments, all of which feel relatable despite the old setting.
13Cold Mountain (2003)
The choice between love and patriotism is often a difficult one, but after getting wounded, Confederate soldier, W.P. Inman, doesn’t think twice about deserting his unit and heading back home to be with his lover after he gets wounded during the Battle of the Crater. The decision is influenced by a letter he received from her, urging him to come back home.
Cold Mountain’s entire running time is dedicated to Inman’s journey back home, which is far from straightforward. From being betrayed by a good Samaritan to fending off surprise attacks, the soldier endures all kinds of challenges. It’s one of the few movies that portray a Confederate soldier in good light, and audiences will find little to fault about this approach, given how likable Inman is. He even stops Union soldiers from raping a woman at one point, further endearing himself to those watching.
12Gone with the Wind (1948)
With a running time of 238 minutes,Gone with the Windis one ofthe longest movies ever made, yet the lengthy story never discouraged viewers. When its box office figures are adjusted for inflation, the romance drama still stands as the highest-grossing film of all time. Most importantly, it has been credited for changing how Black people were depicted in movies. Because of her performance in it, Hattie McDaniel became the first Black actor to win an Oscar.
Set at the height of the Civil War,Gone with the Windfollows the Southern belle, Scarlet, as she views the affection of the man she cares about. The movie perfectly highlights the minor and major challenges that often plague romance whenever there is a wider conflict. Perhaps it could have been enjoyable with a little more trimming, but those with time On their hands will find every scene worth it.
11The Andersonville Trial (1970)
A Civil War story constructed as a legal thriller is also a rare find, so watchingThe Andersonville Trialfeels revitalizing. The camera stays in the courtroom for the most part and majorly focuses on a Confederate general who is being tried for mistreating Union POWs while in charge of the Andersonville prison, leading to the death of 13,000 men.
Given the nature of the plot, the project by the now-defunct NET network entertains through its dialogue. Movie lovers will find some similarities betweenThe Andersonville TrialandA Few Good Men, which is also about a general on trial. It also has plenty in common with Nazi-related films that dive into the trials of former Third Reich officials who spearheaded the persecution of Jews.
