Who Should Play the Lovely Mark Twain?

America’s most celebrated author, Mark Twain, may seem likely an unlikely sort to be characterized in a television series about the American Civil War, but many may not realize that it is because of good ol’ Samuel Clemens that we are even having this series to begin with. The spine of To Appomattox is going to be the memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant, and this book may not have ever been written if it was not for Twain who persuaded the retired general and then former president to sit down and write his memoirs. Grant had been in deep financial trouble and ailing with throat cancer, and though it was not Twain by himself that prompted Grant to write, he was definitely a large part of it, including offering him a reported 75% royalties to help his situation, if he would sell the rights to Twain.

Grant never got to see his memoirs reach “stardom” for the time, because he died only days after finishing them. It is because of this, that we are able to get an in-depth look at one of the only generals to see major and influential action in both the Eastern and Western Theaters.

Twain, a staunch abolitionist, once said that, “[The Emancipation Proclamation] not only set the black slaves free, but set the white man free also.” I do not know how much of a role his character will have in the series, but he will no doubt be involved in later episodes, when Grant is nearing the end of his life. There was one actor being mentioned, at one point, on the show’s official Facebook Group, to play the part, and that was Jeff Daniels. While I am a big fan of his, I just do not see him in this role. Perhaps his acting as Joshua L. Chamberlain has blinded me from seeing him in any other historical role, but I just do not see the blond-haired Daniels looking convincing in wacky white hair and a mustache, other than the handlebar he sported as a part of his previous Civil War roles.

The actor who I would very much to see as Twain, is actually an Englishman named David Warner. For a man who is now 70 years old, he has aged very well and continues to act in all sorts of movies. I first saw him in A Christmas Carol, as Bob Cratchit, when I was a child, and since, I have been hooked on his acting. He was also in another one of my favorites, The Omen, while moving on to do some recent independent ventures such as The Code Conspiracy and The Black Death. He has proven to be an extremely versatile actor, and is even a member of the esteemed Royal Shakespeare Theater Company, a spot which he has held since 1963. It is because of this, that as long as he can master Twain’s Missouri accent, he will be a perfect candidate to portray the eloquent author, who one could argue is the American Shakespeare.

Pre-production News and Notes (8/31/11)

Here is the latest edition of our articles concerning some of the latest news, and some insight, as pre-production continues on To Appomattox.

• Recently, we presented an article on why Stephen Lang would be an excellent choice for the role of President Abraham Lincoln in the miniseries. The day after the article was published, it was announced that Mr. Lang would indeed portray our 16^th President in the program. He is the latest acting announcement from the production team, and makes the second actor from Ron Maxwell’s Civil War duo (Gettysburg, Gods and Generals) to join the cast, following in the footsteps of Patrick Gorman.
• As with previous Civil War films, the production team will look to the community of Civil War reenactors to fill the ranks of the armies that will be used for the epic battle scenes in the film. In addition to portraying the soldiers who fought for the Confederate and the Union armies, reenactors may also be used to help prepare the actors for their roles as soldiers and officers. No official word yet on when reenactor recruitment will begin, but with pre-production set to begin in February, it is bound to happen very soon.
  

  Civil War Reenactors present the Civil War soldier as authentically as possible at several events throughout the year.

• The producers of the series want to make sure that this project is infused with historical authenticity. For this important element, several historical figures have been hired to make sure To Appomattox presents an authentic and historically accurate look at the history of the American Civil War. Among those offering their help are: Ed Bearss, J. David Petruzzi and Cary Eberly (Both of whom were recently interviewed for the blog), D. Scott Hartwig, Sue Boardman, and Thomas Fleming. To see the full list of historical advisers on the program, click here.
• The show will present the production designers, costume designers and prop masters with the challenge of recreating the history of the United States from the Mexican War through the 1880s. From West Point in the 1830s and 40s, to armies invading Mexico City, to bloody battlefields, small towns and major cities in America, the production team will have their work cut out for them. The official website has a section that shows the type of authenticity the producers are looking for. To view this section of the website, please click here.
• The director chosen to direct the miniseries is Mikael Salomon. Anybody curious as to whether or not he is qualified for the job of filming a major historical epic need only look at the miniseries Band of Brothers. Mr. Salomon directed two episodes of that acclaimed miniseries: Episode Three, “Carentan,” which presents the best pure battle sequences filmed for the series; and Episode Ten, “Points,” the dramatic episode that closes the series. Both episodes show that he can handle both major battle scenes and powerful character drama. These episodes alone show that he is the right man to direct this eight-hour historical drama about the bloodiest conflict in American history.

As soon as more information is available, we will post it here on the blog.

“To Appomattox” Fan Casting, Part Two

Here is the second in our series of fan casting. It is interesting to think about possible choices for certain roles in the upcoming miniseries. Hope you find these as great as we do.

General Joseph Hooker: Brent Spiner

This is actually a suggestion made by a Facebook member a while back, so this isn’t really our idea. But I feel that their suggestion is perfect for the role of “Fighting Joe” Hooker. Although remembered mostly for his role as Data in the Star Trek franchise, he is a very versatile actor who has had roles in several films and television series, including Independence Day, Phenomenon and the television series Threshold. But the best place to see Spiner’s ability to play different roles, and why he would do well as Hooker in the miniseries, is the episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation entitled “Brothers.” Here, he played three very different roles: the emotionless android Data, his evil brother Lore, and their old and eccentric creator, Dr. Noonien Soong. Each character is different from the other, and Spiner is pitch-perfect in each performance. In addition to bearing a remarkable resemblance to General Hooker, Brent Spiner has a talent that makes him the ideal candidate for the role where he has to switch from being very cocky in his assessment of his campaign against Lee, to losing confidence when Lee makes a bold move against him.

General William S. Rosecrans: Eric Bana

Eric Bana is one of those unsung actors in Hollywood that almost never gives a terrible performance in a role, even in some mediocre movies. One such film was Wolfgang Petersen’s Troy, which I felt was a bit hit and miss in casting. But Bana’s portrayal of Hector in that film was brilliant, and you couldn’t help but root for him in the battle against Achilles. He was also very good in Spielberg’s Munich, playing the head of the Israeli force sent to take out those behind the murder of members of the Israeli team at the 1972 Olympics. But he is probably best known for his role as Nero, the eccentric and villainous Romulan bent on revenge in 2009’s successful Star Trek reboot. These and other roles show that he can play almost any character given to him. The role of William Rosecrans, the officer Grant removes from command after the defeat at Chickamauga, would be the perfect fit for an actor of Bana’s talent. Not to mention that, like many of the actors chosen for their roles, he does bear some resemblance to the Union General.

Colonel Ely Parker: Roger Willie

When it comes to comparing actors to the historical figures, it seems that few come closer to resembling one another than actor Roger Willie and Ely Parker, one of Grant’s staff. But then again, talent also has to go with it as well. If you cast somebody that looks the part, but gives a lackluster performance, then you’ll be in some trouble. Fortunately, Mr. Willie is also a good actor. I’ve only seen one film with him, as Charlie Whitehorse, one of the Navajo code talkers in John Woo’s World War II action-epic Windtalkers. Although this film has generated mostly negative reviews, it is one of my favorites, mainly due to the terrific cast they built up. Roger Willie gave a warm and beautiful performance in the film, but he also showed that he could be courageous, and a warrior, in combat. I feel that he could give an equally powerful performance as the man who some say was given the task of keeping Grant sober during the campaigns against Lee in 1864-65. I can think of fewer actors who could portray this often-overlooked character in American History.

When in 2013 Should “To Appomattox” Air?

See these artillerymen? They can't wait for 2013!

As of right now, with much to still be done with the production of To Appomattox, the targeted release date the producers are shooting for is 2013. This is a very special year for Civil War buffs and historians, as we will be celebrating, or rather, commemorating, the 150th anniversary of the war’s largest and most important battle (at least in the Eastern Theater), Gettysburg. It is because of this that I would just like to raise the question as to when exactly in the year 2013 do they plan on releasing it? Granted, a lot can happen with filming and delays of some kind almost always affect every production in some way, but lets say that everything is completed by the beginning of the year, when should it hit television?

The first time of the year one would jump to would be the summer, mainly because Gettysburg, Vicksburg, and Fort Wagner all occurred in July of 1863, and people are more apt to travel to a battlefield they see onscreen, so it could be assumed that the eight part series stretched over July and August would make sense. However, it would be my suggestion that the best possible time to release this series would be February and March of that year, as schools generally get up to the Civil War by that point, at least in High Schools on the east coast. American History classes are broken down into two parts; the first covering the beginning of colonization until the Spanish-American War, and the second lasts from the early 1900’s and the Progressive Era until Vietnam, or in some cases, the Reagan years in the 1980’s. In every class I have either had as a student, or taught at as part of my college classes, the Civil War is always began in early February, as mid-terms and their preparation generally occur in January.

Because the Civil War is often times presented as merely a footnote in the classroom, releasing this series simultaneously when most schools in the country are learning about the subject is the perfect opportunity for the filmmakers and teachers alike to get the children involved. How awesome would it be, for a teacher to complete a lesson on Grant and Shiloh, and then turn to his class and say, “And for extra credit on your next test, make sure to watch To Appomattox tonight, airing at ___PM tonight on channel ____, and write me a two paragraph summary on what the episode was about.”

Not only does this give the production additional viewers, because perhaps their parents and siblings will sit together for the televised history lesson, but the child will see the battles and figures come alive onscreen. Will it be possible for every student to tune in? No, of course not, but it’s certainly a start. Showing a historically accurate movie in a classroom is a great way to enforce a lesson, but time is generally limited, and one must be careful what movies are rated before showing them in this politically correct society we live in. This will now be a way to not only spark an interest in the child’s mind, but to bring history into the household. Once the parents see an interest their child has undertaken, where does that lead? Normally, a family vacation to a battlefield is right around the corner. The people making this series are doing so as a labor of love, and if an entire generation of people can be influenced into studying the Civil War and seeing it as something interesting, and dare I say, FUN, well, I think that is something every producer and historical adviser involved would simply love to have had a helping hand in.

Fan-Casting Some Remaining Characters of “To Appomattox”

We all wish we could be involved with a production in some way, and that is why “Fan Casting” is so much fun. There are an endless list of candidates that every role is narrowed down from, but here, I tried to take some actors that I think would be good for the series, and cast them in some of the remaining roles that do not yet have an actor attached to them. I would just like to point out very clearly that this is MY opinion and thoughts, and these actors are not attached to the production in any way (though I wish they were!). This is my way of having some fun with Hollywood:

John Brown: Lance HenriksenAh, the eternal allure of abolitionist John Brown. Was he a half crazed extremist or a man ahead of his time, willing to go to any length in order to destroy slavery? Like all historical characters, how you define him is in the eye of the beholder. The storyline for To Appomattox will feature only a brief plot involving him, described as “intense” on their official Facebook Group. Had Charlton Heston still been alive and in his 50’s, this role just screams his name. There is something about his performance as John the Baptist in The Greatest Story Ever Told that draws a bit of a parallel between him and a more modern prophet in John Brown. But unfortunately, Mr. Heston is no longer with us, and I would like to see the task fall to Lance Henriksen, who played the title role in The Day Lincoln Was Shot. Put some messy gray hair on him, and you have a spitten image, so the only issue here would be acting ability. I said in an earlier post that his depiction of Lincoln was my favorite, however, everything that embodied that previous character would be the exact opposite here. Lincoln was soft-spoken, kind, and had a touch of humor. Brown was very stern, emotional yet humorless, and extremely outspoken. This would be the job for a veteran actor to undertake (might I throw out there that Stephen Lang also bears a resemblance), and if you look at Henriksen’s career, from historical roles to science fiction and futuristic, he could definitely be a candidate for John Brown.

Jesse Grant: Jeremy IronsOne might not think that the epitome of an English gentleman, Jeremy Irons, would be fitting for a series about 1800’s America, but being a huge fan of his work, I felt that I had to get him in here in some capacity. The character of Jesse Grant, father of Ulysses, would be the perfect place to insert him. The role is not too large, and gives Irons a chance to show his softer and more understanding side, which we have seen with his guest appearances recently on Law & Order: SVU. He can also be the rough-around-the-edges type, with roles in Die Hard: With a Vengeance, and my personal favorite, Tiberius in Kingdom of Heaven. I believe that he and Michael C. Hall, who is currently slated for the younger Grant, can develop some interesting chemistry together, and that would be the forefront of the elder Grant’s character in this series.

Winfield Scott: Stacy Keach

There may not be a more colorful character in the years leading up to the Civil War than its aging (and widening) commander-in-chief, Winfield Scott. While being nearly seven feet tall and three hundred pounds, while mounted atop a horse, he must have been a sight to behold. The actor I have selected for such a task? Stacy Keach, who has appeared already in a Civil War mini-series, The Blue and the Gray, back in 1982. He has also played that historical authority figure, when he tackled the role of Sam Houston in James A. Michener’s 1994 TV movie Texas. Keach, like Scott, has seen the days of when he was a lean, mean, fighting machine passed, and is now older, and yes, a little bit heftier. Okay, so maybe he isn’t 300 pounds of pure, unadulterated whoop-ass like Scott was, but how many actors are? There are not many people other than Keach who I think can step in and nail this role. He can play a funny guy too (The Assistants), which is something he might have to add to the character. There is something unintentionally funny about fat people in positions of power (I’m from New Jersey, so I know), and Keach, while not nearly as rotund as Scott, could keep the audience off-guard with a colorful rendition of one of America’s most celebrated military figures.

Edwin Stanton: Stellan Skarsgard

Originally, I had cast one of my absolute favorite actors, Terence Stamp, in the role of Edwin Stanton, but after some reflection, I felt that I needed to leave my old friend out of it for now. Stanton was not a huge man, but he certainly had a commanding presence in the room, if not for his brains, than for the fearsome beard he was sporting. He, along with J.E.B Stuart and James Longstreet, are the kings of beardom, which is why an always clean-shaven Stellan Skarsgard may seem like a mystery for this selection. Well, there is a method behind the madness, because Skarsgard too has a commanding presence in the room, as well as a very deliberate, almost enforcing style of acting, without being too overly aggressive. With Stephen Lang now officially attached to the production, we must now picture in our minds a bearded Skarsgard working with a much thinner, and soon-to-be lankier (thanks to the wonders of camerawork) Lang as Abraham Lincoln. These two could prove to be a formidable tandem, if only the Swedish-born actor can somehow manipulate Stanton’s Ohio accent.

Jefferson Davis: William H. Macy

You may be wondering, how can a man who portrayed a conniving, scheming husband who wants to have his wife murdered ever find himself as the esteemed President of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis? Well, it’s simple: William H. Macy is a man who can wear many different faces, and portray many different characters. Aside from the fact that if you put a goatee on him, he would look like the real Davis (they share commonalities in their high cheekbones), Macy can master any role he is given, whether it be a fast-talking, BS-ing car salesman, and emergency room doctor, or a horse racing radio announcer. We have heard him speak with different accents, depending on the demands of his character, and have already seen him nail a Civil War related role, as Colonel Chandler in Andersonville. Thinking back to that helped seal the deal for me, to see him as Jefferson Davis, the once confident, but soon embattled and overwhelmed President of the Confederate States of America (very much like his Oscar-nominated fall from grace in Fargo).

Strike the Tent! Can Will Patton Tackle the Role of History’s Most Beloved General?

A fan composite of Patton as Lee.

The third and final commander of the Confederate Army, General Robert E. Lee, is often referred to as the most beloved military figure in American history. While many may dislike him for his stances on the war and involvement with the rebellious army, few can refute the sheer brilliance that he showed on the battlefield time and time again. Whether it was forcing Ambrose Burnside to attack his heavily protected entrenchments on Marye’s Heights at Fredericksburg, or launching a daring surprise attack on the Union’s unguarded flank at Chancellorsville, Lee always made do with what he had, which often times was not much. For the first two years he commanded the army, taking over in 1862 after Joseph E. Johnston was severely wounded towards the end of the Battle of Seven Pines, Lee made the Union Army and all their commanders look like fools. He led George McClellan on a wild goose chase up and down the Virginia Peninsula, and then made John Pope’s command look like such a disaster, that Lincoln had to replace him with the man he loathed, McClellan again, for a second stint.

Lee has been personified many times on film, the two most memorable performances being by Martin Sheen and Robert Duvall. While I love both, Duvall’s stood out to me, not only because of his resemblance (and actual family lineage tracing back to the Virginia-born General) but because of his mannerisms and how he responded to certain situations. To me, and I have not done as much research as I would like to on the matter, Lee seemed to be a very calm and reserved individual. How else could someone maintain an army that lacked supplies, food, and manpower like that, and not only keep up to par with a far more advanced Union Army, but actually beat them several times?

There is a lot going on with Robert E. Lee, both in his personal life, physical health, and fighting on the field. The name attached to the production of To Appomattox, is Will Patton, who to me, through viewing his past acting, can give that calm, almost grandfatherly demeanor to a very revered, and to some, detested figure. In seeing Patton’s performances in The Agency and Mothman Prophecies, I will say that he is right for the job, as long as they can get a good beard and hair style for him. After speaking with actor Bo Brinkman a few months ago, as part of my coverage of Gods and Generals, I asked about his role as Walter Taylor, Lee’s aid, and which actor, Sheen or Duvall, was more accurate. His assessment shows the complexity that Patton, as well as all others finding themselves in historical roles, will have to face:

…at the time Lee was at Gettysburg, he was ill, so Sheen was kind of playing reluctant to go into war, and he was also playing his illness a little bit, because historically, all during the battle, Lee was not at a hundred percent. Some people feel that he gave this vague performance of Lee, but he did not have a vague performance at all. He was playing Lee’s illness, and Lee was a humanitarian, he truly was—he was way above his time, and at the time of Gettysburg there was a certain reluctance, and Sheen was playing that. With the performance that Duvall turned in, he was more of a war-horse, and he, not to critique Duvall, seemed to have less humanitarianism. He approached it as a warrior, and not a reluctant warrior, as did Sheen.

This is what happens every time two different actors play the same part years from one another. Which one is more accurate? That is the question always asked. It is possible for them to both be accurate though, as Brinkman says, because Lee changed throughout the course of the war. In order for Patton to “get it right”, so to speak, he needs to be energetic for the Mexican War scenes and arrest of John Brown, then a competent but not yet legendary commander before the war begins, when he is offered command of the Union Army, one which he famously declined. Once he takes command, he must transform into the trusted and confident general, who wants to put an end to the war. The reason why Lee invaded Maryland and Pennsylvania was because he felt that victory was within the grasp of the Confederate Army, but when he failed at Gettysburg, all of a sudden, that confidence turned to a sort of reluctance and sadness.

It was then, for the first time, that Lee was seen as human by his adversaries who thought they were squaring off on the field of battle with a God. As much respect and awe as his own men showed him, the enemy was more inclined to respect that at any given time, Lee could turn an impending defeat into a sure victory. But with the Confederates severely hindered upon the loss at Gettysburg, it all changed. When Grant was transferred to the east to put the final nail in the coffin, the God-like aura that surrounded Lee since 1862 had shrunken to the point where Grant knew that if he pursued him long enough, the war would be over. He saw through the intensified persona and looked to reality, when he so famously stated to one of his subordinates, “Oh, I am heartily tired of hearing about what Lee is going to do. Some of you always seem to think he is suddenly going to turn a double somersault, and land in our rear and on both of our flanks at the same time. Go back to your command, and try to think what are we going to do ourselves, instead of what Lee is going to do.” This is a quote, much like Lee’s quip about government, “I have been up to see the Congress, and they do not seem to be able to do anything except eat peanuts and chew tobacco, while my army is starving”, that I would love to see included in the script of To Appomattox. Few people realize that those wooden figures staring out at us from dusty history textbooks actually had a sense of humor.

Can Patton encompass all of this—so many emotions and viewpoints from both his own men and those opposing him? I would not necessarily call it a fall from grace, but one could argue that is in fact what happened. After Pickett’s Charge, the slippery slope to destruction began to form. Lee rode amongst his men to exclaim that it was his fault. What general in human history has ever admitted fault, and on a scale of that nature? Lee was a brilliant man, but he was also very down to earth, and very, very human. When I see Patton’s acting, I get that vibe. The characters in this series are not going to put anyone up on a pedestal to be worshiped, but to bring them down a notch and to a level that we can all relate to. How can people like you or I relate to a man such as the great Robert E. Lee? Because we all have faults and make mistakes—every single one of us.

Lee was not perfect, and as J. David Petruzzi told me in our interview a few weeks ago, “Angels didn’t sing when Lee walked into a room.” The best way to understand history is to humanize our heroes. That is my personal belief and something I try my best to bring into every lecture or appearance in a classroom that I make. Just because someone lived a hundred and fifty years ago does not mean they did not laugh, cry, live, and love the way we do. It is hard to look at a grainy black and white photograph and see them come alive, but close your eyes and picture Lee—have him act out in your mind. Whenever I do this, and put Will Patton in his place, I am comfortable in doing so. Not many people can be both a warrior and humanitarian all in one shot, on top of being a devoted father and husband. Every character in history is complex and no one will ever be portrayed in a way that everyone will love. Author Jeff Shaara once told me that he has actually received emails from perturbed readers telling him, “How dare you put words in the mouth of Robert E. Lee?”. Well, if we think of him as human, then answering that question is not so difficult. That is more important than anything To Appomattox can ever hope to accomplish—we do not want to see people playing around as our favorite generals, we want to see actors AS our favorite generals, to the best of their abilities, positive and negative aspects both. Not many actors and actresses out there can do this, but those that can, I am sure will find their way into this production.

Civil War Journal: The Pictorial Transformation of Abraham Lincoln

While we are on the topic of Abraham Lincoln and who will portray him in To Appomattox, I wanted to take a step back to a presentation I had to give in my Art History class this past spring. We were asked to choose any artist from the 19th or 20th century, and due to my interest in the Civil War (and already existing material for the lectures I give on battles for one of the jobs I work), I chose Mathew Brady and his war-time photography. One could argue that the War Between the States gave birth to American photography, as the up-and-coming technology finally had a purpose. Before that, shots were only taken of politicians or anyone wealthy enough to sit for a photograph. Few shots of nature sprung up, but that all changed when the fall of 1862 came around, and the Civil War was reaching the height of its destruction. Mathew Brady took some of the very first pictures in history of dead soldiers on a battlefield, when he arrived in Antietam only a few days after both armies lost a combined total of 22,000 men in just one day (twelve hours) of fighting.

As important as those shots were, I have chosen to focus on something different in this article—the next four years will provide ample opportunity to explore all aspects of the war that divided the nation. Instead, I would like to examine only two pictures taken by Mathew Brady of President Abraham Lincoln, one in 1860 and then one more in 1865. In just those five years, Lincoln underwent a transformation even worse than what modern-day presidents go through in regards to their physical features changing due to the stress. The change was so startling that when I went back and forth between the two slides to show the class I was presenting to, there were even some low, but audible, gasps, as perhaps they had never quite realized how bad Lincoln looked near the end.

Below is a picture taken in 1860, before Lincoln was even elected, and shortly after a debate in February of that year. This one photograph helped to sell Lincoln to the United States, because as you can see, Lincoln looks nothing like a politician. He isn’t particularly good-looking, but there’s no arrogance about him, and he seems rather homely or folksy. But along with all that stands a rather tall man who is no doubt proud of his accomplishments, and someone who is very earnest and honest looking (“Honest Abe” ring a bell?). His hand perched on a book gives away his lawyer profession, but without even speaking a word, we can tell that justice is in his eyes. Lastly, there is still some youthfulness left in this 51-year-old.

Now comes one of the most famous pictures of Lincoln, which chances are you have seen, but maybe never really looked at closely. On its own, it really isn’t that startling, but when compared with a shot taken just five years earlier, it truly is amazing, even saddening. In the picture below, taken on April 10, 1865, just four days before his assassination and one day after the Union finally triumphed over the Confederacy with Robert E. Lee surrendering at Appomattox, Brady was asked to take one more photograph of the victorious president; despite all the rigors the presidency had on him, we can see a look of victory in his face hidden in the wrinkles that formed over time, and the graying of his hair. Here, Lincoln is sitting, some sagging in his once strong and broad shoulders, and once again looking directly into the lens of the camera, but there is no earnest look this time, just one of peace. One could say he looks defeated, which could be true because of his health, but if you look closely, you can see a little grin forming in his mouth (something that was not often captured in pictures of the time), and it is almost as if he knows that his time is up. He looks at the camera as if to say, “I have done my job. It is time for me to go.” Lincoln had ended slavery, and even though he did not set out to do that when the war began, it clearly became prioritized and one of the goals of his presidency. He had saved the Union and ended the scourge of bondage, and now it was time for him to leave this earth.I have heard it said at a lecture on Lincoln’s life in the White House that, “John Wilkes Booth did not assassinate Lincoln, he simply put him out of his misery.” Having to deal with the death of two young children, and his wife, Mary Todd, who was never stable mentally after that, took quite a toll on him. That and the fact that he constantly waited for any bit of news about the war, sometimes staying at the telegraph office all night to hear casualty reports of battle. As I have said earlier, I never was a fan of his politics as president, but as a man, there may not be a more fascinating American than Abraham Lincoln, and these two pictures are just a small part of the legacy he has left us.

Why Stephen Lang Would Be the Perfect Fit as Abraham Lincoln

One of the many actors and actresses who have the potential for a role in To Appomattox is veteran actor Stephen Lang, who could wind up being cast as Abraham Lincoln. While many fans of his two previous Civil War ventures, Gettysburg and Gods and Generals, would love to see him involved with this production, there have been comments made on various message boards that he would not be a good fit as our 16th president. The reason cited for this? He is not tall enough. I must admit, when I first read that rationale, I laughed out loud. My, my, my, if that was the biggest problem a production had, they would have the easiest job in the world. Not tall enough? Are there no such things as visual effects and camera trickery? We live in a day and age where Tom Hanks can drink a Dr. Pepper next to John F. Kennedy (Forrest Gump, anyone?), and shake his hand to boot! So I would imagine that those involved can somehow put Mr. Lang’s height aside, and find him a role as Lincoln, who was a very tall man, especially during the time he lived.

There are many great actors that will be involved with To Appomattox, but Lang is probably the one I wish to see the most. Being one of the more versatile actors in Hollywood, it has taken him far too long to get the respect and fame he deserves. He is also an accomplished actor of the stage (which I think is a more difficult setting to perform in), and a member of the Actors Studio in New York City, which is a very esteemed organization. Whenever I talk about him to a casual film fan, sometimes they will try to find who Lang is in their memory. It is then when I mention, “He was in Avatar“, and their eyes light up. “Yes! I know Stephen Lang, and he’s an awesome actor!”. Awesome is most certainly the word to describe his abilities. He went from sick and twisted serial killer Freddy Lounds in Manhunter to the emotional and humorous Gen. George Pickett in Gettysburg, one of my favorite roles of all-time. He was a one-armed murderer in The Fugitive TV-series (which Mikael Salomon directed), and one of the most revered Civil War figures, “Stonewall” Jackson, in Gods and Generals. He is now, finally after 81 acting credits since the 1980’s, at the height of his popularity. How is he not the perfect fit as Abraham Lincoln?
Just take a good look at the picture above for comparison (especially the one in the bottom right corner), and you can see some pretty startling resemblances in their facial features. Both have very thin necks and piercing eyes. Lang is also a master of dialogues, and I can already hear his rendition of Lincoln’s reported high-pitched, country-bumpkin accent playing in my head. Who else can play this part, and in doing so, instill the confidence of both fans and producers alike, knowing the final performance will be right and one for the ages?

EDIT: J.D Petruzzi has sparked some thinking in the comment section below. I just wanted to post my answer to his comment here, on how I feel about Lincoln, and WHAT his character should bring to the film:

I have a very mixed opinion of Abraham Lincoln. As a man, father, and husband, I am absolutely fascinated by him. I think he was a good man who tried his best to run a country and a war while dealing with the death of a child and his wife Mary Todd who was slowly beginning to lose it. It is his job as president that I am mixed about. I believe his suspension of Habeus Corpus was unconstitutional, yet at the same time, it was something that NEEDED to be done, at least from his point of view. I do not believe him to be the evil tyrant that some folks down south paint him out to be to this very day, but I also do not view him as the “Great Emancipator” and Christ-like figure that history books portray him as. I do not know how large of a role Lincoln has in this series, but the character is extremely complex. In getting to what you said about him being the ‘smartest man in the room’, I see him as having a quiet intensity about him– he won’t shout you down, but he will articulate in the most intelligent way possible that you are wrong. The actor would have to play a warrior, father, husband, politician, humorist, brilliant thinker, and “Doubting Thomas” all in one shot. I believe Waterston came very close to this because of how in-depth Gore Vidal’s “Lincoln” was, but Henriksen captured his final 24-hours perfectly. Lang has always had a penchant for historical figures (I believe he was George Washington in a TV series some years ago) and because he can play the anti-thesis, as you said, of what Lincoln is, I think he can reverse that and play WHO he is.

Other actors to play Lincoln in various films over the years include Gregory Peck, Sam Waterston, and my personal favorite, Lance Henriksen. All were terrific in their own right—Peck provided presence, Waterston the accent, and Henriksen had the actual look—but all of them lacked something. I cannot say exactly what it was, but something was missing from each performance. However, I have no doubt that Lang can fill some huge shoes here, and truly hope that whatever needs to happen for him to get involved will indeed happen.

The Official IMDB Page is Up!

The official page for To Appomattox is now up on the Internet Movie Database (IMDB). One of the go-to sites for information on films and television, IMDB gives mostly accurate information on upcoming productions. The link to the series can be found here.

UPDATE: The IMDB should not be considered “official,” per the words of some involved with the production. So, take any information presented on the page with a grain of salt. They do get it mixed up sometimes, for certain.

New Character Composites

I have some new character composites here which have been designed by a friend to replace the ones I had put up the other day. These are more professional looking and have morphed three of the main figures in the series, Michael C. Hall, Will Patton, and William Peterson, into Grant, Lee, and Sherman, respectively. They will have their own page, which you can click above, titled Cast Character Composites. Here is the best one, in my opinion, of Hall as Grant. Enjoy!