Lincoln and Lee at Antietam: The Cost of Freedom

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Starring: Ronald F. Maxwell
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Type: DVD
Directed By: Robert Child
Studio: Inecom Entertainment Company
Release Date: 2006-01-31
It's September 17, 1862 and President Abraham Lincoln needs a victory in order to issue the Emancipation Proclamation and end slavery in the South. But Robert E. Lee has other plans - invade the North. When Lee's strategy falls into the hands of the Union Army, the result is the single bloodiest day in American history at the Battle of Antietam in Sharpsburg, Maryland. The Battle of Antietam results in more casualties than the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Mexican War and the Spanish American War combined. In fact, the bloodiest day of World War II, D-Day, amounts to only one quarter of the casualties suffered at Antietam. Narrated by Ronald F. Maxwell, director of the epic Civil War films "Gettysburg" and "Gods & Generals," and written, produced and directed by Robert Child, "Lincoln and Lee at Antietam - The Cost of Freedom" vividly brings to life the story of America's fight for freedom in a battle that changed the course of the Civil War. Through first person accounts, an original music score from Composers Steve Heitzeg and Nicholas Palmer and scarce Antietam commemorative battle footage from the 125th, 135th and 140th Antietam Reenactments, this film tells the tale of the 14-hour epic Battle of Antietam. Historical insight provided by: - James M. McPherson, Princeton University, Pulitzer Prize winning author of Battle Cry of Freedom" and "Crossroads of Freedom: Antietam" - Allen C. Guelzo, Gettysburg College, America's only repeat winner of the Lincoln Prize; Nominated by President George W. Bush to the National Council of the Humanities - Dennis E. Frye, National Park Service (NPS) Historian at Harpers Ferry, author of "Antietam Revealed" and the Associate Producer of "Gods and Generals" - Patrick Falci, actor/performing historian portrays General Ambrose Hill at Antietam - Paul V. Chiles, National Parks Service (NPS) Historian at Antietam National Battlefield Park - Features Stanley Wernz, President of the Association of Lincoln Presenters, as Abraham Lincoln and Benjamin Black as General Robert E. Lee Special Features: - 25-minute On-Screen Interview with Ronald F. Maxwell - Feature-Length Commentary Track with Writer/Director Robert Child and Narrator Ronald F. Maxwell - Original Music Score from Composers Steve Heitzeg and Nicholas Palmer - Trailers for: "EXPO-Magic of the White City," "Gettysburg and Stories of Valor - CIVIL WAR MINUTES® III," "Johnstown Flood," "Horses of Gettysburg - CIVIL WAR MINUTES® IV," "Winters of War," "Civil War Life - Shot to Pieces," "CIVIL WAR MINUTES® - Confederate"

Good Basic History; Not for Veteran Civil War History Afficianados
Simply stated this is an acceptable documentary review of the Battle that gave Federal Troops what the Union "spun" as a victory by the North, ending a line of spectacular defeats that it had suffered while Lincoln labored to build an Army and looked for a General that would fight and pursue defeated CSA troops, unlike Gen. George McClellan,. McClellan, who was content to entrench and drill the much larger Army of the Potomac, which was 2-3 times larger than the Confederate Army at Antietam . The experienced Civil War historian will find this tape to be very basic, although it does recount the carnage accurately and the fact that the Army of the Potomac won--if, indeed they did-- at a horrific cost that might be seen as a loss today.

The Lincoln vs Lee approach is not really a story or a subtext to the Battle of Antietam, nor is it a proper subtext for a documentary. At this point Lincoln was trying to hold Maryland and Louisiana in the Union and praying (literally) for a General that could crush the Confederacy as quickly as possible. The real contrast was between one of Lee's uncharacteristic tactical mistakes and McClellan's characteristic indecision in engaging the enemy. This DVD is not a waste of money, but start with Ken Burns "Civil War" if you truly want to understand Antietam in context. Burn's masterpiece is still the best-written and most sweeping documentary on the Civil War ( or on any subject) ever made.

The Burns five-disc set is available from Amazon at a substantial reduction from its $150 issue price. Good sets (get the re-mastered version--much sharper and 16:9 aspect for HD Televisions) go for half that if you shop carefully and really care about this pivotal battle.

Not Quite Realistic
This is a documentary, not a drama. But the many scenes of reenactments of Antietam by local Civil War buffs drags this down a bit. They don't look realistic. If men were being shot at, they wouldn't look so casual or silly as do the amateurs seen throughout this film. Still, you get a decent recounting of the Civil War's bloodiest battle. The real thing was most surely vastly worse than what you see here.

Get this now
This is one of the best movie / documentaries i have ever seen on the battle of Sharpsburg. mostly historians are telling the story, But tell it in a very detailed very informative and compelling way. This is a winner.

Excellent!
I bought this for my husband who loves anything Civil War related. I read the reviews and seemed to be well received. It was excellent. We both thought it was very well done. I highly reccomend it!

The Antietam reason:
Lincoln and Lee at Antietam covers the entire struggle of the Antietam Campaign. The political concept about why Lincoln needed a Union victory and Lee's need to take the war north were covered as well as the battle. With various interviews featuring historians such as James McPherson, this documentary is very well done. The battle coverage is brief and not entirely descriptive although it includes reenactment scenes from the 125th, 135th and 140th Antietam Reenactments. A majority of the footage and photography is excellent as it shows the beauty of the Maryland landscape around Antietam. Some of the film really points out General McClellan's "slow-to-react" method of dealing with Lee's invasion and how he missed a multiple of opportunities to really whip Lee during this campaign.

Being a reenactor, covering a battle in detail in under two hours is nearly impossible. Naturally I would like to see more. I did enjoy the political views shown on both sides be it Union or Confederate. It showcased the importance of how crucial this conflict was to each party. It presented the facts about what could be gained and lost for both armies and governments that I liked.

For a veteran reenactor or student of the battle of Antietam, a majority of this presentation is fairly basic and might be too standard although McPherson's explanation about why Antietam was politically important for Lincoln is something most people could learn about in this great presentation.