Strike the Tent (2005)

Directors:

A. Blaine Miller
Julian Adams (co-director)

Writers:

Julian Adams (story)
Julian Adams (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

2007 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | History | Romance | War

Tagline:

In A Country Divided...One Love Would Cross The Line.

Plot:

The true love story of the conflict between Capt. Robert Adams' dedication to the south and his love for Eveline McCord, his beloved from the north. Produced, written and directed by the descendants of Robert and Eveline, this American Civil War tale is an explosive, richly detailed saga of fierce combat, honor and the will to risk all that's precious for love or country.

Plot Keywords:

Southern | American Civil War | Confederate | South Carolina | Family Relationships

Awards:

9 wins

Cast

Julian Adams	...	Robert Adams
Gwendolyn Edwards	...	Eveline McCord Adams
Eric Holloway	...	Benjamin Young
Amy Redford	...	Sylvia McCord
Joshua Lindsey	...	Nelson McCord
Tippi Hedren	...	Grandmother Adams
Mickey Rooney	...	David McCord
Weston Adams	...	Grandfather Adams
Bob Dorian	...	Gov. James H. Adams
Edwin McCain	...	Belcher
Elizabeth Nelson Adams	...	Madame Bonneau
Foster Walker	...	John Boone (as Mick Walker)
LaChanda Alexander	...	Elizabeth
Tessa Belongia	...	Little Evie
Anna Linn	...	Little Evie

Also Known As:

The Last Confederate: The Story of Robert Adams (USA) (new title)

MPAA:

Rated R for some violence.

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Columbia, South Carolina, USA

Company:

Strongbow Pictures

Trivia:

The watch carried by Julian Adams, playing Captain Robert Adams, in the film was the actual watch that Captain Adams owned and carried during the War. The watch was made in England in 1801. It was given to Captain Adams by his father Robert Adams I, who was given the watch by his father Joel Adams. It has been in the possession of the family ever since.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Eveline is shown from behind, "playing" the piano, she does not play far enough down on the piano to coordinate with the low notes we hear.

Soundtrack:

A Cold Wind

Honest depiction, even if shallow and provincial

Very well done, especially considering the budget. I liked the independent, realistic feel to it, vs manufactured or contrived Hollywoodism.

I read somewhere a reviewer saying that this was "revisionist history" wrt this movie's depiction of how the slave owners treated their slaves so nicely. Absolutely untrue... there really wasn't that much depiction of slave owners with slaves to begin with, and to see one white gentleman actually talk nicely to a few slaves was totally believable.

That same reviewer also said this movie was about "nostalgia" for the pre-war south. But I think it was more about southerners protecting their tradition, and then finally knowing when to surrender (hence the title "Strike the Tent"). Otoh, the extra featurette on the DVD about how the film was conceived did show that Julian's intention was to proudly depict his much beloved, land-owning family history.

The film depicts pre-war southern life favorably, yet doesn't demonize the north (much), even after it's clear that the south had lost the war and had to free their slaves. It was a good depiction of one side "protecting their own", but pretty much intentionally blind to the issue of slavery itself. An interesting "real life" depiction of real history--at least from a southern, white-man's point of view.