Gettysburg Behind the Scenes: How Jeff Daniels was Cast as Chamberlain 

And his turn in The Newsroom is also an impressive example of his range as an actor.

When I heard that Jeff Daniels was going to film a movie called "Dumb & Dumber" after doing Gettysburg, I was crushed. How dare he?

lol. I was joking about that with my brother. The movies are just a little over a year apart so it could be possible some filming was done at the same time.

My mom was shocked. She loved Gettysburg but thought Dumb and Dumber was beneath him.

Daniels reminds me of Tom Hanks. He can shift from drama to comedy to historical movies/tv shows without skipping a beat. Both are fantastic actors that give Oscar winning performances every time they appear on the screen. Many other actors just walk through a scene and depend on their good looks, charm, and bad method acting to get through it. If it wasn't for people like that TNT guy (Mr. Tantrum and his business and profit mindset tops everything, including a great movie) we'd see more really good actors and actresses on the screen. I've known a number of excellent actors and actresses who went to other careers as they didn't want to endure the continuing pressure, disappointment, (and corruption) of the movie and TV industries. Now a days it's more about family and networking connections than talent. Too many Hollywood "Legacies" getting on the screen with only their families names; but little of their talent, on screen charisma, and acting skills. There are exceptions, but they're in the minority.

In a book I read there is a guy giving a password while entering a military camp. It was "Bayonet Chamberlain" Now I know where it came from.

If I had been a Confederate and heard that order for bayonets, I would have turned around and call it a day.

LOL@@henrys4838

Pretty good, but I’m going with Gen. Trimble’s visit to Lee.

It's the little extra widening of his eyes and their laser focus on the third syllable that always gets me: "Bay - o - NETS!!!" As much "facial choreography" as acting: mind, body, voice, and spirit all perfectly aligned. One of the greatest single moments in an masterful performance.

Thank you for doing such a great job. This is my all time top favorite movie and it was the reenactors that made the movie great for me. The stars were excellent, but the reenactors showed what life was really like during the civil war.

@@LtRee96se When you watch the first scene of the 120. Look for the dirty man who kept his head cocked to the side. We were told to look exhausted in the heat; given nothing not even water and been force marched there. Being I saw quickly that no one else did that at the front area I was hoping that somehow it would be in the film. It was. Over ten times. Only in a glimpse but enough on opening night in Harrisburg that I became a mini celebrity around me in the theater. My friend who was with me is also there in that scene. We had worn our uniforms for the opening night film. It was an SRO opening. I did it as a birthday present to him but am proud to have done it.

@@user-fj7vm9fz2h I will do that for sure. You have star status for me!! God bless and Happy Thanksgiving!

I agree 100% with your comment. He was superb in that role. Why Gettysburg did so poorly at the box office is one of the great mysteries to me. I walked the Gettysburg battlefield. What got me is how small of a place it is; it's not the wide open area of Kursk, the epic Tank Battle of the German-Soviet part of World War II. Besides, it was one of the few times as adults when I went to a movie with my older brother, and we actually enjoyed each other's company. You have to be into American History and History in general, something that is lacking these days. It's hard to believe it's a 30-year-old movie now.

In the Army NCO schools, we studied Chamberlain's leadership style. I came to really admire Col Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain as a leader, and as a soldier, as a scholar and someone who I would have followed without question into battle.

@@GeorgeSemel The length of the movie plus an intermission killed the box office. I saw it at the theater and enjoyed it. It is just the wrong movie length for a wide appeal. The Ken Burns documentary did very well so there was a desire for Civil war content.

Agreed. Sam Elliott as Buford was inspired as well. Really the whole cast. I didn’t watch the movie and think it was a great performance, they WERE those people. Completely sucked me in, it’s one of my favorite movies

@@patrickhenry4675 Another thing about the film is that it is a little bit repetitive, probably due to its origins as a mini-series. For instance the Armistead emotional breakdown appears a couple of times and is a little overdone. Nevertheless, it is a film that I enjoy.

Crowe’s performance in Master and Commander is a good indicator of how he might have done with the Chamberlain role.

I just can't imagine him as Chamberlain...

Chamberlain's house was across the street from Bowdin College, where he taught, and he had his office there when he was Governor of Maine ...

I read somewhere that it is his favorite role of all his movies. Also that he did extensive research and could not find one thing not to like about Chamberlain.

Chamberlain's service in the war overall was beyond praise, not to mention his postwar career. But the historicity of the Bayonet command isn't ironclad. Chamberlain had two benefits in the postwar recounting: he outlived almost everyone else. And he was a professor of rhetoric!

@@firstminnesota Wasn't he also there at the start of the war and at the close of it?

Went and grabbed my book Killer Angels by Michael Shaara that's mentioned in this clip. I noted in my book that Ken Burns was inspired by Killer Angels to do his documentary on the Civil War. And oh yeah; I've got the DVDs Gods and Generals and Gettysburg that Jeff Daniels stars in.

No. Can't agree with that at all. Absolutely no. Go study the real history of Chamberlain...go to war with brave leaders of men, and lead men into battle. No, Jeff Daniels IS a great actor, he did do a good job. Crowe? Would have made this a movie for all the ages. Crowe shows just that touch of fire and psychopathy that men under fire facing their own death. He can radiate that atmosphere...Daniels? NO

First, I agree with you that Jeff Daniels was the perfect casting for Col. Joshua Chamberlain. In my opinion, that was the best performance he has EVER given - bar none. He SHOULD have been nominated for an Oscar for that performance. He wasn't PLAYING Col. Joshua Chamberlain - he BECAME Col. Joshua Chamberlain. And surprisingly, he even looked like Joshua Chamberlain. Last - I don't think you meant to type "stinking" to your craft. But that's okay - we ALL have typing errors at one time or another.

Nope. Martin Sheen was not convincing as Lee. Robert Duvall was much better as Lee in Gods and Generals.

Patrick Gorman, although a great actor, was poorly cast as Hood. Hood was over 20 years younger than Gorman at the time Gettysburg was produced, and even more so during Gods & Generals.

'..perfectly _cast_ ..'

@@douglasiles2024 I thought his performance was a standout.

@@laurellane1721 he gave a great performance, but historically he was much too old to have been Hood.

Yeah, Crowe doesn't fit at all, I'm surprised he was even considered.

Hard to tell without seeing him in costume with the mustache.

I love the soundtrack. Used to listen to it every day at work.

It is my No. 1.

These are _actors_ ..you're aware of that, right?

yes to all of that, but he was talking about the actor audition just before Jeff was chosen. The actor who got turned down was Russell Crowe who was just coming to the US for the first time to work in movies and was not yet a 'name'.

I have to agree. Crowe's a great actor. But he is built bear-like. A professor? Hard to imagine.

@@firstminnesota and yet he played a economics professor in "A Beautiful Mind" ......lol

Thought that was the Delaware that Washington crossed

I expected Daniels to get a nomination, really a crime that he didn't.

I took an adult continuing education class on the Civil War and the teacher was a reenactor who was in that film, along with The Blue and the Gray and a few more. He told us all the reenactors just loved Sam Elliott.

Couldn't agree more.

I think so cause I watched it last night.

It says at the very beginning of the video "This is a re-upload without the music"

Very few could have done his character justice. I think Tom Hanks would have been memorable, though it's hard to imagine civil war era facial hair on him !

The Civil War was the peak of facial hair. They got *creative*@@AdamsOlympia

No!

Crowe doesn't look anything like Chamberlain. it wouldn't have been a good fit.

20th Maine.

Or the new Disney films...

Russell Crowe.

@@brysonwest93 I know it was - but when he first mentioned it I was wondering. New Zealanders will tell you he is a Kiwi because that is where he was born, and spent half his childhood.

The 2nd Maine was the group of mutineers who were delivered to Chamberlain's safekeeping.

@philipcolumbus3054, Chamberlain was addressing what was left of the 2nd Maine trying to convince him not to sit out, and, help out the 20th Maine(remember, the 2nd Maine men wanted to mutiny and go home).😊😊😊😊

Us too!