Sherman's March (2007 film)

Infobox Film
name = Sherman's March


image_size =
caption = Publicity image
director = Rick King
producer = Executive Producer:
Jason Williams
Producer:
Lori Gibson
writer = Rick King
narrator = Edward Herrmann
starring = Bill Oberst Jr.
music = Mark Adler
cinematography = Rob Lyall
editing = Mickey Green
distributor = History Channel
released = April 22, 2007
runtime = 100 minutes
country = United States
language = English
website =
amg_id = 1:396112
imdb_id = 0899221

"Sherman's March" (2007) is an American Civil War television documentary first aired on the History Channel. The film is directed by Rick King and the executive producer is Jason Williams. [imdb title|id=0899221|title=Sherman's March.] The production combines narration with reenacted dramatic sequences as its foundation.

The film, narrated by actor Edward Herrmann, tells the tale of Union General William Tecumseh Sherman, called "Uncle Billy" by his troops, and his five-week assault from Atlanta to the Atlantic Ocean (Savannah, Georgia) and then north to trap Confederate States Army General Robert E. Lee.

Sherman's military campaign has become the mythic symbol of destruction during the Civil War. The opening sequence poses the question that reflects the film's theme::Sherman: Terrorist or Savior?

ynopsis

The documentary chronicles General William Tecumseh Sherman's historic "March to the Sea" through Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina during the fall of 1864.

Sherman marched 62,000 Union troops over 650 miles in less than 100 days, and lost only 600 men along the way.

The march introduced a new concept to the already brutal Civil War: total war, where the distinctions between combatants and civilians is blurred.

The documentary utilizes state of the art production techniques including CGI, special effects and historical re-creations.

Background

Filming took place on location in High Definition in Washington County, Maryland [ [http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=163771&format=html "The Herald-Mail"] . "Sherman's March" to be shown on The History Channel Sunday", television review, April 20, 2007.] and also at Endview Plantation and Lee Hall in Newport News, Virginia and in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Cast

* Bill Oberst Jr. as General William Tecumseh Sherman
* Jared Morrison as Major Henry Hitchcock
* Chris Clawson as Theodore Upson
* Mike Brown as General Oliver O. Howard
* Allen Brenner as Brigadier General Jefferson C. Davis
* Harry Bulkeley as General Ulysses S. Grant
* Shaun C. Grenan as Confederate Officer, Union soldier
* Robert A. Guadagnino as soldier
* Lucas N. Hall as 1st Lieutenant C.S.A.
* Russell Haynes as soldier
* Marc A. Hermann as Sherman's bummer, US Artillerist, CS Soldier
* Eric U. Lowman as executioner, Western Zouave
* Todd McCall as General Sherman's Staff Officer
* Joan Moses as Dolly Burge
* Gavin Peretti as hanged man
* Norman J. Pfizenmayer III as soldier
* A.J. Roberts as General Judson Kilpatrick
* Jeffrey F. Smith as General Joseph E. Johnston
* Timothy Smith as Union soldier
* Keith E. Whitehead as as Griswoldville soldier
* Brad Wyand as soldier

Other cast
* Guy Gane as Major Rhoads
* Bob Waters as leader of escaping slaves, Ebenezer Creek
* Scott E. Zeiss as Chaplain John Height

History consultants

* John Marszalek - Historian, Mississippi State University
* Stephen Davis - Civil War historian
* Gordon Jones - Military historian, Atlanta History Center

Critical reception

The documentary was well received by the television critics. Tony Perry, television critic for the "Los Angeles Times," liked the documentary, and wrote, "Civil War documentaries are inevitably judged against the monumental work [("The Civil War")] by Ken Burns. "Sherman's March," different in tone and approach, more than holds its own. Whereas Burns used period photographs and regional music, "Sherman's March" leans on reenactments, maps and, like Burns, academic talking heads. If there is a quibble, it's that the music tends to distract, not enhance, the effect." [ [http://www.calendarlive.com/tv/cl-et-shermans21apr21,0,2273961.story?coll=cl-tvent-util Perry, Tony] . The "Los Angeles Times", television review, April 21, 2007. Last accessed: April 23, 2007.]

Broadcasting critic Dusty Saunders also liked the scholarly aspect of the documentary, writing, "..."Sherman's March", [is] a compelling documentary on The History Channel that's must viewing for Civil War buffs. Even viewers with only passing knowledge about this military action will be mesmerized by this superb recounting." [ [http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/spotlight_columnists/article/0,2777,DRMN_23962_5496590,00.html Saunders, Dusty] . "Rocky Mountain News," television review, April 20, 2007.]

Brian Lowry, critic for "Variety" magazine, liked the historical presentation, writing, "... this tightly produced documentary provides a welcome primer on the military genius of William Tecumseh Sherman, whose famous march through the South remains a subject of controversy...this doc is among the better recent History Channel productions." [ [http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117933388.html?categoryid=1264&cs=1 Lowry, Brian] . "Variety," television review, April 19, 2007. Last accessed: December 10, 2007.]

ee also

* Sherman's March to the Sea

References

Notes

External links

*
*
* [http://www.accessatlanta.com/entertainment/content/entertainment/tv/stories/2007/04/19/0420alvsherman.html "Sherman's March"] article and interview at "The Atlanta Journal-Constitution"