MovieChat Forums > Gettysburg (1993) Discussion > Question for the British watchers....

Question for the British watchers....

posted 10 years ago by FrankBeachem
8 replies | jump to latest

I enjoyed the scenes with Colonel Fremantle who provided a nice contrast to the Union and Confederate Americans, and his commentary was fascinating as representing the European perspectives on the American Civil War.

In one scene, Colonel Fremantle is queried by Longstreet on the English having "had a civil war once". Fremantle replies "Oh that was ages ago... the Cavaliers and Roundheads... "Off with his head... Off with his head. Toppled heads lying about everywhere!"

Having done some research on the English Civil War, I only find the mention of the beheading / execution of Charles the First. Am wondering if any of you know of other executions that Fremantle could have been referring to... "One could hardly take a step without tripping over a fallen crown!"

Cheers from across the pond,
Frank Beachem

[–] echoesofglory 10 years ago

Good point, I could find these:
Archbishop William Laud,
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford.

[–] FrankBeachem 10 years ago

Thanks EchoesofGlory!!

Though I don't know that 3 heads would qualify for "one could hardly take a step without tripping over a fallen crown!"


Frank Beachem

[–] kincaid-5 10 years ago

I think we are to assume that Fremantle had the same feeble grasp of English history memorably satirized by Sellars and Yeatman in 1066 and All That. (For anyone even moderately familiar with that history, the book is a must-read.)

http://redkincaid.com

[–] echoesofglory 10 years ago

Considering the ECW wasn't really a dynastic conflict or about the crown Fremantle's comment seems rather out of place. A nobleman like Fremantle would of course have known the history. Perhaps Shaara or the screenwriter simply got it wrong, or Fremantle was just joking.

[–] TheFonz79 10 years ago

Maybe he was just dumbing down the history of it so Americans can understand. I'm not saying this to be an ass - what I mean is that in the 1860's no one unfamiliar with it could just go google info about the English Civil War.

[–] tallkennj 10 years ago

Freemantle was, by all accounts, quite a bit of a character and in more ways than one. I always assumed he was just exaggerating what would then have been well-known history for laughs.

[–] pepperdog61 9 years ago

I'm not British but I've always wondered if a British viewer might find the portrayal of Fremantle a little insulting. I thought he came off as a bit of a shrinking violet. Can't place the exact scene but there's one where a cannon goes off somewhat nearby and he visibly cowers, while the battle-hardened Confederate officers don't seem to react at all. I would suspect as commander of what is stated to be an elite British unit he must have had some exposure to the sound of cannon fire?

[–] nighttrumpet 9 years ago

Fremantle never experienced combat prior to the Civil War.