American Civil War Movies Trivia Quiz

Answer: Clint Eastwood

"The Beguiled" was somewhat of a departure for Clint in that it was more of a psychological thriller than a shoot 'em up. He plays the wounded Union soldier who causes all kinds of trouble in the all-girl school merely because he is a male and they have been scarce because of the war.

It was the seventh movie in which he played a soldier or a cowboy but as a psychological thriller rather than an action movie, it prepared the way for his next movie, "Play Misty for Me". In that movie he played a civilian DJ stalked by an obsessed female fan. Both of these movies have Clint in an unfamiliar role of being hunted/haunted by strong women, a departure from his strong male leads who tend to solve their problems with the barrel of a gun.

Answer: Gone With the Wind

"Gone With the Wind" was a movie based on the classic novel by Margaret Mitchell of the same name. The film tells the story of Scarlett O'Hara, a Southern Belle living on a plantation in Georgia at the beginning of the Civil War. As the War progresses and turns against the South, Scarlett witnesses the burning of the ammo trains by Confederate troops, so they won't fall into enemy hands.

Many believe this is the torching of the city by Sherman's troops but it actually portrays an event that took place two months prior to the infamous burning of Atlanta.

The film won eight Oscars at the time and has since won two honorary Oscars. It is considered one of the first blockbusters and retains its popularity today.

Answer: Gettysburg

"Gettysburg" faithfully tells the story of the battle from the viewpoint of both sides. It is based on the book "Killer Angels" by Michael Shaara, a novelized view of what happened at Gettysburg. Martin Sheen plays Gen. Robert E. Lee, leader of the Southern forces. Tom Berenger portrays Gen. James Longstreet, Lee's right-hand man who realized the futility of what the battle was becoming. Jeff Daniels plays Col. Joshua Chamberlain, commander of Union forces on Little Round Top, one of the critical parts of the battlefield. C. Thomas Howell plays his brother, Lt. Thomas Chamberlain. Sam Elliot portrays Union Cavalry Gen. Buford, the man many credit with choosing Gettysburg as the place of the battle by deciding to face the Confederate infantry instead of retreating. Stephen Lang plays Confederate Gen. Pickett, who led his famous charge.

Answer: Nicole Kidman and Renee Zellweger

Nicole Kidman and Renee Zellweger play Ada Monroe and Ruby Thewes respectively. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Giovanni Ribisi, and Natalie Portman also have significant roles in the film. "Cold Mountain" is based on the novel of the same name by Charles Frazier.

It follows the story of Confederate deserter Inman (Law) and his love Ada while she is still at home when he has gone off to war. They finally do reunite but Ada has a premonition of Inman's death and her premonition comes true.

Answer: Clint Eastwood

"The Outlaw Josey Wales" is considered a classic Western. Eastwood stars as the title character, a man whose family was killed on a farm in Missouri by pro-Union raiders. He joins forces with Confederate raiders and refuses to surrender at the end of the war.

He heads to Texas with a couple of Indians and, in a twist of fate, befriends some people from Kansas along the way. They find a life together on a ranch in Texas where they live at peace with the Indians until Union soldiers come looking for Wales.

He is able to kill his chief pursuer and is left in peace by his former commander who has been helping the Union find him.

Answer: Gods and Generals

"Gods and Generals" has been criticized for being too historically accurate, sounds like a good problem to have for a historical movie. The movie is based on the book of the same name by Jeff Shaara, the son of Michael Shaara, the man who wrote "Killer Angels", the book upon which the movie "Gettysburg" was based.

The movie was made after "Gettysburg" and seeks to bring context to that movie by telling part of the story of the beginning years of the Civil War as seen through the eyes of Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson and Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. Stephen Lang, who portrayed Gen. Pickett in "Gettysburg", portrays Jackson and Jeff Daniels reprises his role as Chamberlain from the first movie. C. Thomas Howell also reprises his role as Chamberlain's brother, Thomas.

Answer: John Wayne

John Wayne and director John Ford teamed together to make "The Horse Soldiers". The two collaborated in more than ten movies together, including many classic Westerns. "The Horse Soldiers" is a fictional account based on a true story of a Union Cavalry raid deep into the South.

In the movie Wayne plays Colonel Marlowe and William Holden plays Major Kendall. The raid upon which the movie was based occurred during the Vicksburg campaign and was led by Colonel Grierson. Both in the movie and in real life, the raid was a highly successful campaign meant to destroy Southern rail lines and communications.

Answer: Glory

"Glory" tells the true story of the 54th Massachusetts led by Colonel Robert Shaw (played by Matthew Broderick). Members of the regiment include - Thomas Searles an educated, free black man who was Shaw's friend from before the war (played by Andre Braugher), John Rawlins, the gravedigger who helped a wounded Shaw at the battle of Antietam (played by Morgan Freeman), and Trip an escaped slave (played by Denzel Washington).

The movie culminates with an assault on Fort Wagner, in which Shaw and half of his men are killed.

Although the assault fails, the bravery of the 54th spurs the creation of other African-American regiments, leading to 180,000 men under arms by the end of the war.

Answer: Kevin Costner

Kevin Costner stars in "Dances With Wolves". The movie begins with Costner's character, Lt. Dunbar, being wounded in the foot during a Civil War battle and about to have it amputated. Instead he mounts up and rides in front of the Confederates, preferring to die than to have his foot amputated.

His actions inspires the Union troops who rout the Confederates and the Union General promises Dunbar his foot won't be amputated because of his bravery. After he heals he is given the choice of what command he wants and he heads West to the Plains, where he meets the Souix Indians.

He becomes friends with the tribe and sides with them against the Cavalry.

Answer: The Red Badge of Courage

"The Red Badge of Courage" was written by Stephen Crane and is considered one of the most important works of American literature. The movie and the book tell the story of Henry Fleming, a young Union recruit. At first he gives into fear on the battlefield.

He learns to overcome his fear and ends up being a hero. The movie was directed by legendary director John Huston and starred Audie Murphy as Fleming. Murphy was a Congressional Medal of Honor winner in WWII and was one of the most decorated soldiers of that war.

After the war he became an actor. "The Red Badge of Courage" was one of his earlier roles.