Film Studies Coursework - Screenplay for an American Civil War film

Authors Avatar

A tattered and blood stained confederate flag waving in the wind, the beat of the drums, the report of musket fire, the screams of the wounded; Major General George Pickett, weary from battle – approaches General Robert Lee:

“General, you must look to your division”,

“General Lee, I have no division”.

Cut: Ext: A rocky outcrop overlooking a field, a field that once knew the beat of drums, the footsteps of men and the thunderous roar of canon.  A deep Virginian accent; “Some say war is beautiful, some say war is art (a pause, then a sigh), I know no beauty within war, see no art within its many facets. I know only this; if you visit that hallowed ground you can still hear the screams”.

July 3rd 1863 – Pickett’s charge. An event for ever emblazoned on the history pages of American, the pivotal moment when Union forces drove off the hardened Confederacy forces.

Cut Ext. A field – Men in confederate uniform. They stand, rigid and proud – heads held high, muskets cleaned and polished – bayonets cleaned and sharpened. Camera cuts to Private John Moore of the confederate army as he joins in with his comrades as they sing. The line is over a mile long – the Confederate flags of each regiment resplendent in the gentle breeze. The dirt on their faces, the determination on their faces a testament to the gruelling battles that have already been fought for Gettysburg.

An officer shouts “FORWARD” As one the line marches forward, a beautiful synchronicity, the drums beat a consistent tattoo, boots slam down in perfect unison. A proud moment for any soldier of the Confederate army.

Cut. Behind the line to a hill – The confederate cannons had stopped firing minutes ago; the ammunition had run dry... The guns lay dormant, their “duty” done. The scene had been beautiful – Artillery Commander – William Pendleton remarked on seeing the Three hundred cannons, the total efforts of both the Union and Confederate forces had commenced bombardments to soften up each other’s positions.

Join now!

“In all my life I have never seen anything so awe-inspiring as the collective roar of three hundred cannon, the landscape is scarred, men are dead and I am covered in dirt” Looking over at the body of men about to advance he raises his sabre to the air; “To Victory!” His tone betraying a hint of confidence.

Cut: Union gun positions on Cemetery Ridge – Edward Alexander commander of the Union guns had ordered his men to conduct a staggered cease-fire to trick Pendleton into believing the guns were being slowly taken out.

Private John C. Moore of the ...

This is a preview of the whole essay