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Brian Wills: UVa-Wise historian examines Hollywood's portrayal of Civil War

A new book by historian Brian S. Wills examines the Civil War's depiction in cinema.

Wills, a Kenneth Asbury Professor of History at the University of Virginia's College at Wise, combines two of his passions - history and movies - in his latest book, "Gone With The Glory: The Civil War in Cinema."

Wills said he has been an avid movie fan since boyhood.

"I always preferred the historical epics to other genres, partly because of my interest in history and partly because these films were what I thought movies should be. That is, big and entertaining depictions of another place and time," Wills said.

In "Gone With The Glory," Wills examines the portrayal of the war in film, exploring what Hollywood got right and wrong, how the films influenced one another and, ultimately, how films reflect the nation's changing perception of the conflict and the country.

From the 1915 "Birth of a Nation" cinematic legend to "Cold Mountain" in 2003, hundreds of directors, actors and screenwriters have used the Civil War to create compelling drama. However, Wills said every generation of filmmakers has resolved the tug-of-war between entertainment value and historical accuracy differently.

"In the case of the American Civil War, the tableau is rich in color, conflict and character," Wills said. "Yet some producers, directors and performers have less interest in, or knowledge of, the demands of history than others. Many will use the war as a mere backdrop or context rather than seeking to inform audiences of the issues and complexities of the conflict itself. Others cast the struggle in the simplest forms. Even in the best of situations there is always a tug-of-war between two powerful poles: entertainment value and historical accuracy." ...
Read entire article at http://www.timesnews.net