October 2023 marked the 30th anniversary of the release of the motion picture Gettysburg, and I was fortunate enough to be a guest at a star-studded event IN Gettysburg celebrating the occasion!
Gettysburg is a 1993 epic war film about the Battle of Gettysburg, written and directed by Ron Maxwell, adapted from the 1974 historical novel The Killer Angels (winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1975) by Michael Shaara.
Numerous events were held at a venues across Gettysburg as part of the 3-day weekend event, and while I couldn’t attend ALL of them (some overlapped with others), I’m going to recap for you the ones I did make it to.
I also made time for sightseeing on my own; I’ll share a few photos here while the rest will be featured in future Gettysburg articles on my website.
Gettysburg the Movie | 30th Anniversary Press Conference
The event officially kicked off on Friday the 13th with a press conference at the Beyond the Battle Museum in Gettysburg.
While more than a dozen actors from the film were in town for the event, the keynote speakers for this press conference were director Ron Maxwell, actor Stephen Lang (who portrayed Confederate General George Pickett), and actor Tom Berenger (who portrayed Confederate General James Longstreet).
Garry Adelman from the American Battlefield Trust made some opening remarks and introductions at the press conference.
And then the floor was turned over to the actors and director, who shared their memories of making the film and the impact it had on them.
Stephen Lang is easily one of the most inciteful and engaging actors I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to, as he recalled what it meant to him to help make this monumental film.
The press conference concluded with a group shot of many (but not all) of the film participants in town for the event.
Gettysburg the Movie | 30th Anniversary Bus Tour
Immediately following the press conference, I hopped on a bus tour that took participants around Gettysburg to view locations where various scenes from the movie were filmed.
Lead by Licensed Battlefield Guides Tim Smith and Phil Cole, we spent a gorgeous Friday afternoon visiting various farms and historic sites around Gettysburg.
At each location we were shown printed screenshots of what scene was filmed there, and Phil shared some of his excellent first-hand stories of what it was like being a historical reenactor during the shoot.
At the location used to portray Little Round Top during the combat scenes, we were treated to special guest appearances by both Garry Adelman (mentioned earlier) and actor Maxwell Caulfield, who portrays Union Colonel Strong Vincent in the film.
For fans of the movie, you’ll recall this is where Colonel Vincent utters the famous line “now we’ll see how professors fight”, so it was extra-special to see Mr. Caulfield here on this same location, 30 years after the film was released.
At the conclusion of the bus tour of film scenes, I took off on my own to visit Sachs Covered Bridge, which I’ve previously written about.
I also wanted to get a shot of the marquee at the Majestic Theater in downtown Gettysburg, where screenings of the director’s cut of the film were being shown throughout the weekend.
I finished up my evening watching the sunset from the Cemetery Hill area on the battlefield.
Gettysburg the Movie 30th Anniversary | Meet the Rebels
On Saturday morning I took part in an actor meet and greet/panel discussion event at the Beyond the Battle Museum dubbed “Meet the Rebels”, as all of the actors on this panel portrayed Confederate soldiers in the film.
One of the panel discussions was lead by Matt Callery, founder and host of the excellent Addressing Gettysburg podcast.
In between panels, I checked out the Jonathan Pinkerton Gettysburg movie memorabilia exhibit.
This exhibit featured props and uniforms from many of the film’s most memorable characters.
Although Martin Sheen (who portrayed General Robert E. Lee) was unable to attend the anniversary event, it was a treat to see some of his film-used props on display.
As someone who collects (my family would say hoards) a variety of historic and pop culture items, I enjoyed seeing Mr. Pinkerton’s collection so artfully displayed for all to enjoy.
Gettysburg The Movie | 30th Anniversary Screening
As great as it was hearing from all the actors, seeing all the memorabilia, and visiting all the filming locations, the highlight of the weekend for me was seeing Gettysburg on the big screen in IN Gettysburg!
Director Ron Maxwell delivered some opening remarks prior to the screening of his 5 hour opus.
His remarks were followed by a short panel discussion featuring actors Brian Mallon, Stephen Lang, and Tom Berenger.
And then it was showtime, where I watched the film from my preferred vantage point – the back row of the balcony.
Near the midpoint in the film, there was a 20 minute intermission.
I have to say standing in line for popcorn behind so many reenactors decked out in full garb was an added element of interest!
At the conclusion of the film, the screen went up, and the cast, crew, and director of the movie made a curtain call – what a memorable way to cap off the event!
There were additional panel discussions and screenings scheduled for Sunday, but family obligations dictated that I “saddle up” and bid Gettysburg adieu before those took place.
All in all, it was an incredible anniversary event celebrating an epic film, and I am grateful I was able to partake in many of the festivities and activities.
Related Attractions
Exploring the Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum introduces you to an engaging collection of exhibits, artifacts, short films, and immersive experiences that illustrate the history of Gettysburg before, during, and after the famous Civil War battle fought there.
The National Military Park at Gettysburg covers roughly 6000 acres of the battlefield, and contains more than 1,300 monuments.
The Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg is the final resting place for more than 3,500 Union soldiers killed in the Battle of Gettysburg, as well as American veterans of subsequent wars.
While there are several excellent museums around Gettysburg that interpret the story of the famous battle, the Seminary Ridge Museum is located in a building that was a crucial PART of the story!
11 Must-See Attractions in Gettysburg is your guide to even more great things to see and do in this historic town!
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