SHERMAN'S MARCH (2007 FILM)

'''Sherman's March''' is an American television history documentary that aired on April 22, 2007 on the History Channel. The film is directed by Rick King and the executive producer is Jason Williams.^[1]
The film tells the tale of Union Gen. 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.
The picture was narrated by actor Edward Herrmann.

Contents

Synopsis

Background

Critical reception

Cast

History consultants

See also

Footnotes

External links

Synopsis

This 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 in Washington County, Maryland^[2] and also at Endview Plantation and Lee Hall in Newport News, Virginia and in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Critical reception

The documentary was well received by the television critics.
Tony Perry, writing for the ''Los Angeles Times'' liked the film. He wrote, "Civil War documentaries are inevitably judged against the monumental work 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."^[3]
Broadcasting critic Dusty Saunders also liked the scholarly aspect of the documentary. He wrote, "...''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.^[4]

Cast

★ Bill Oberst Jr. as General William Tecumseh Sherman

★ Jared Morrison as Maj. Henry Hitchcock

★ Mike Brown as Gen. Oliver O. Howard

★ Jeffrey F. Smith as as Gen. Joseph E. Johnston

★ A.J. Roberts as Gen. Judson Kilpatrick

★ Allen Brenner as Brig. Gen. Jefferson C. Davis

★ Joan Moses as Dolly Burge

★ Guy Gane as Maj. Rhoads

★ Gavin Peretti as Hanged Man

★ Russell Haynes as Soldier

★ Shaun C. Grenan as Confederate Officer, Union Soldier

★ Lucas N. Hall as 1st Lieutenant C.S.A.

★ Robert A. Guadagnino as Soldier

★ Eric U. Lowman as Executioner, Western Zouave

★ Marc A. Hermann as Sherman's bummer, US Artillerist, CS Soldier

★ Brad Wyand as Soldier

★ Bob Waters as Leader of Escaping Slaves, Ebenezer Creek

★ Scott E. Zeiss as Chaplain John Height

History consultants

★ John Marszalek - Mississippi State University

★ Stephen Davis

★ Gordon Jones - Atlanta History Center, military historian

See also

★ Sherman's March to the Sea

Footnotes

1.
2. ''The Herald-Mail''. "''Sherman's March'' to be shown on The History Channel Sunday", April 20, 2007
3. Perry, Tony. The ''Los Angeles Times'', film review, April 21, 2007.
4. Saunders, Dusty. ''Rocky Mountain News'', April 20, 2007.

External links

★ ''The Atlanta Journal-Constitution'' article about the film, including interviews.