The Last Confederate: The Story of Robert Adams

Man, do I disagree with those reviewers who gave 'The Last Confederate' a low rating. Were they watching a different film than I was? The movie is an insightful and INTELLIGENT portrayal of the event that transformed the nation. Also, the choice of the actor...apparently a distant relative...to play the real-life Robert Adams, works. The man is a genuine Southernor [as opposed to a Hollywood Southernor] and sounds, looks and behaves like a Southernor. His acting is convincing. The quality of the audio on my DVD was poor but I rate a movie/book on its overall quality, not technicals.This is an absolutely superior film about love and war. The director has managed to weave a beautiful and sensitive love story into, through and around the brutality of an incredible war. The primary character, Robert Adams, is wonderful in his dedication to his woman and especially to the land he loves. He is a patriot, a nationalist and also a bit of a fanatic. When given more than an opportunity to quit the war and live peacefully with the woman he loves, he opts for privation, hardship, loneliness and danger. Others may quit but Adams doesn't.Nevertheless, Adams is riven by guilt for having his men and friends killed around him. Likewise, he feels guilt for abandoning the woman he truly loves. He is guilty of convincing men who aren't cut out for war into the fray, where they are slaughtered. Crawling with guilt but with a sense of honor even greater, he fights on...Ron Braithwaite, author of novels--'Skull Rack' and 'Hummingbird God'--on the Spanish Conquest of Mexico

This delightful film, based on a true story, was produced by, and features descendants, of the family whose story is told here.The film takes its time to unroll. Among the remarkable events shown with careful attention to historical accuracy, Robert Adams experiences imprisonment at Elmira, among the more despicable POW camps in history.From stories left by my ancestor in the 52nd NC Infantry, who starved nearly to death at Point Lookout, I know there is no exaggeration in this film.It is a surprise to many that U.S. soldiers brutalized, starved, and murdered other American soldiers in these camps (the largest mass grave in the Western Hemisphere is at Camp Douglas, Chicago, another U.S. Army-run PW camp).Camp Sumter in Georgia (Andersonville) had the same overall casualty rate as the United States PW camps, but U.S. prisoners went hungry there on the same rations given their Confederate guards.In contrast, in the North, Confederate POWs starved in the midst of plenty. At Elmira, New York, U.S. Army guards turned away local citizens who brought farm produce to the gate for the Confederate prisoners inside; the U. S. Army commandant sold the official rations on the black market and pocketed the proceeds, while the Confederate soldiers starved.Also see Pharaohs Army, The Hunley, Outlaw Josey Wales, Gettysburg, Gods and Generals, and Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge.

'The Last Confederate' is a Civil War Love Story based on the true story of people in my hometown of Columbia, South Carolina in Richland County. As a civil war buff, I learned alot in this movie, ie, had no idea they shipped so many confederates to the prison in Elmira, NY toward the end of the war because of overcrowding.Julian Adams, a USC Graduate, plays the lead of his real ancestor, Robert Adams. His Father and the Producer, Weston Adams, speaks with the accent that I grew up hearing as a child, exactly how my Father and his entire family speak from Sumter.It's worth seeing if only for the gift of hearing Weston's authentic southern accent which is derived from England and is a beautiful sound to hear. I fear it's dying away with our culture as I'm deprived of hearing it on a daily basis now having moved only to NC years ago amoung the many transplants in RTP. Yes, there's a difference, believe it or not ; )No, this is not a Hollywood epic but it's a lovely story going back and forth in time to highlight the struggle of loyalty and love between Robert Adams and his wife, a Yankee of all things, Ha !Watch this movie and the back story in 'Special Features' to gain better knowledge of why it's so special.

It's just a cheaply made film that pushes lost cause propaganda. Whenever movies like this are made from a confederate perspective the lead is ALWAYS sympathetic to the slaves plight and has a modern racial view. There are numerous letters from confederate soldiers, that didn't own slaves, espousing their support for the institution of slavery.This idea "most confederates didn't own slaves and therefore didn't like slavery so it wasn't about that" is pure fantasy. I'm not a presentist, I'm not going to put my modern values on people from nearly 200 years ago. If you want to be proud of your confederate ancestor, you do you. If you make a movie about them, don't make crap up just to make their character unassailable, I can guarantee you this dude was not of the same character as he is portrayed in the film.

Interesting story. Pretty cool how the good guys escaped from a Yankee prison too.The acting wasn't as polished as todays blockbusters are, but this is a real story about real people played by a descendant of the real life main character. That's pretty neat in itself...Kinda like when Elizabeth Montgomery played her ancestor Lizzy Borden in 1975.i withheld a couple of stars because i felt with such a HUGE plantation mansion that more should have been done to portray the slaves.... and i wanted to see what the Yankee command thought about the escaped Confederates.Overall a good film.

Fantastic Movie. My husband loves the old South War Movies and he said this was one of the best so far. Great Quality.

I purchased this DVD as i am interested in all things about the American Civil War and the title of this film caught my attention. The title of the film, however, is slightly misleading in that 'The Story of Robert Adams - A confederate' would have been more appropriate.This film was produced,written, and directed by the the descendants of the Adams family and Julian Adams plays his great-great grandfather Robert Adams,a strong willed Southern Captain in the midst of the American Civil War. This is the probable reason for the other critic saying it had a made for television feel about it. Not so, but being an independant film, it lacks the finesse of a really professional film, although they had Mickey Rooney(Very small part)and Tippi Hendren (Hitchcocks 'The Birds' fame) featuring in it with consultation about filmaking.In fact, if you are going to purchase this unusual film, it is MOST IMPORTANT that you first look at the DVD Features, in particular'Once Upon a Time in the South:Behind The Last Confederate' and then watch the main film. I did it the opposite way round and only fully appreciated what i had seen after seeing the DVD features and that is why i gave it ****, otherwise it would have been ***.The film is based on a true story and is a tale of love and country and am glad that it is part of my DVD library and it is not necessary to even have a liking for The American Civil War. However, if you are a person that is not partial to independant filmaking, i would not recommend it.Just as a passing thing i do not own the DVD 'Gettysburg' as i saw it on television and while the acting was good, the false moustaches etc were just too much for me to take.If you are an American Civil War buff, look at 'The Colt' and 'Ride with the Devil'.

Watched it a few months ago. It's not a very good movie in my opinion. The plot isn't anything special and the story is confusing to say the least.It scrapes a 3 out of 5.

This film has the feel of a made for TV mini series. That said, it is competent, has good battle scenes, and a 'true story' plot. Covering much of the war, including prison camps, it holds no surprises for the collector of films on the U.S.Civil War. If, like me, you are trying to collect all the films set in that period, then it is a must buy. If you just want a war film, then get 'Gettysburg' or 'Gods and Generals'