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Post by Jim on Jan 4, 2006 15:23:32 GMT -6
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Post by El Crab on Jan 4, 2006 23:31:41 GMT -6
Has anyone ever come across LBH computer software. I think I've heard of at least one that you can select different scenarios and all the what ifs we discuss. For the life of my I can't remember where I saw it (on-line or somewhere else). Anyway, I think that would be quite the game! I have Custer's Last Command v1.0 myself. Its a bit disappointing, in that its impossible to fight the battle realistically. The Sioux and Cheyenne fight more like Zulus, casualties be damned. And its impossible to win with the "historical" mode, because of this fact. Also, you lose soldiers at a rate of 5 at a time, and are unable to combine companies when they become weak. Its a fun little game, but there are a few glaring issues that I found.
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Post by alfuso on Jan 5, 2006 5:54:47 GMT -6
All
slightly related
Personally, I think Manfred Rommel was being extremely diplomatic when he wrote to this author:
The Hero Award Winning Books Written by Official Web Site for Dr. A.C. Ross Dr. A.C. Ross ~ Ehanamani "Walks Among"
A new book by Dr. Ross - Ehanamani provides a comparison of two of the world's most renown warriors. 37 Comparisons Dr. A.C. Ross ~ Ehanamani
Both Crazy Horse and Rommel had childhood nicknames, both were excellent horsemen, both were wounded in the leg - the same leg. The list goes on and on... 37 similarities in all! Ehanamani is a member of the same Tribe as Crazy Horse. He used Teton Sioux ceremonialism in acquiring information from the Spirit World to answer intriguing questions in the book. This is the first time this technique has been used to solve these questions.
This book provides a new perspective on age old questions surrounding their mysterious deaths.
It Also Contains:
20 Illustrations 4 Crazy Horse Maps 5 Rommel Battle Maps Rare photos of the Panzer and 88mm flak gun Field Marshall Rommel's son, Manfred Rommel stated after reading Dr. Ross's book, "Many thanks for your book with the comparison of Crazy Horse and my father. I find your book very interesting. The virtues of a soldier and a warrior are the same all over the world, and certainly Crazy Horse will be remembered as a hero. My father said, in order to become a hero one has to live at a certain time, show courage, creativity and leadership, and find a dramatic, tragic end. I wish your book the well deserved success."
HOME
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Post by elisabeth on Jan 5, 2006 6:24:04 GMT -6
That Rommel quote is great. Very diplomatic, as you say -- but a terrific definition. The point about having to live at the right time is a good one, isn't it? If Custer hadn't had the Civil War to exercise his talents in ... Intriguing to speculate what would have become of him without that. And the "tragic end" bit: something Hollywood misses out on these days, with its insistence on upbeat, feel-good endings. Yet that is what makes the story ...
Leyton, I'd forgotten about the Rolland book. Sounds promising!
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Post by fred on Jan 5, 2006 13:35:20 GMT -6
Y'all--
First of all, I'm ordering the Custer game, right now. Don't ask me why, but I am. I have loved these military board games ever since the original "Strategy" by Avalon Hill when I was in college. At one time, I had dozens: both Avalon Hill & Simulations Publications. And Mike's looks great. (Of course-- DIANE!!!-- I lost all those games in my divorce, but have managed to replace 2 of them: "Panzerblitz," the all-time classic, & "Geronimo." Both are Avalon Hill, which, of course, no longer exists.)
Elizabeth-- How about our Kiwi gal, Dame Ngaio Marsh? She's my all-time favorite mystery writer & I have all 32 of her novels (try THAT on for size, alfuso!!!).
Best wishes, Fred.
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Post by fred on Jan 5, 2006 13:36:21 GMT -6
And...
what's w/ this Custer computer stuff? What's THAT all about?
Fred.
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Post by Diane Merkel on Jan 5, 2006 19:01:00 GMT -6
I just downloaded the demo, Fred (thanks for the link, Jim!). It looks cool, but I don't know how to play it. I might actually have to read the directions . . . if I can find them. Help!
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Post by Melani on Jan 24, 2006 18:55:12 GMT -6
It seems like a great many of us got into this--and other topics--through historical fiction. For me, it was Comanche of the Seventh at age ten. I believe several other people have said the hook for them was They Died with Their Boots On, which is factually ridiculous, but what difference does it make if it causes you to become interested enough to find out the truth? I saw Gettysburg for the first time recently (don't get out a lot!), and went into a frenzy of research on Chamberlain. I do a lot of living history, and am currently up to six time periods (which can be rather confusing--only the threat of divorce has kept me out of the Confederate Navy and making it seven!) When I am trying to create a living history character, I find the best introduction to a time period is historical fiction, followed by actual research to see if the fiction rings true. I prefer fiction that is based as nearly on fact as possible.
I am extremely fond of the Flashman series by George MacDonald Fraser. Flashman interacts with real historical characters, but in such a way that known fact is not contradicted, and Fraser is a wonderful researcher.
What I find is that I really want to get to know these people, and understand what they felt like and what their daily lives were like. Fiction is great for that.
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Post by Tricia on Jan 26, 2006 15:05:47 GMT -6
Melani--
You bring up some great points ... I became interested in historical fiction--both as a genre and as a possible way to make money--after reading Taylor Caldwell (probably waaay before your time). Her characters are "real," her stories interweave about and within actual historical events, but the most amazing thing about her writing is how she could build an entire atmosphere, a world, and a time in such a sfumato-esque manner, one doesn't know where the history ends and the fictional plot begins! I've never been to Paris of the 1620s, but she made me feel the era, right down to the hay poorer folks used for mattresses. There has been this tendency--thanks to Hemingway--in fiction to cut description to the bone, but when applied correctly, a narrator's ability to evoke a place and time is brilliant.
My hook was Son of the Morning Star. Believe it or not, I didn't see They Died With Their Boots On until just last year! I did have a major problem with the historical errors (or is that "license?"), and of course the Indians with New Jersey accents!
You're right. George Macdonald Fraser is great!
Regards, Leyton McLean
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Post by fred on Jan 26, 2006 18:39:52 GMT -6
Do Indians from New Jersey have New Jersey accents?
If you want some good historical fiction that falls into a reasonably close time-frame, try reading some of Alan Furst's stuff. They're the cloak & dagger kinda thing, set during WWII, generally involving Paris. If you've been to Paris, you'll recognize a lot of the places he talks about & that throws a nice little element into it. He also uses Moscow, Berlin, Madrid... I'm waiting for Vienna.
And, of course, there is the master... Eric Ambler.
Best wishes, Fred.
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Post by Melani on Jan 27, 2006 18:45:37 GMT -6
Leyton--whatever else you may say about They Died With Their Boots On, Errol Flynn and Olivia DeHavilland were the perfect choices for Custer and Libbie. The script, of course, is absolutely beyond help, but here and there a tiny bit of distorted fact peeks out. I saw that one as a kid on afternoon TV, and believe it or not, just both a cheap video copy. (Well, gotta complete the collection!)
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Post by Tricia on Jan 27, 2006 18:58:45 GMT -6
Melani--
You'll get complete agreement from me. I don't think another actress will ever "get" Libbie as wonderfully as did Olivia de Havilland (of course, Melanie was my favorite character in Gone With The Wind) ... I think Custer has been portrayed better than Errol Flynn (Peter Horton in Crazy Horse), but the chemistry he shared with de Havilland was real and palpable, even sixty years later! Personally speaking, I would have loved to see the Custers' chemistry while they lived at Fort Lincoln, after eight, nine years of marriage). Very different individuals who--for the most part--made a great success of it (sometimes to others' exclusion)!
I have heard They Died With Their Boots On originally was going to more resemble Van de Water's Glory Hunter: A Biography of General Custer, and there are certainly references to that exact term in the film, but the movie became more of a story about self-sacrificing all for country due to American participation in WWII.
They did get the onions "right," however! GAC said he could have had them morning, noon, and night (ad infinitium and ad nauseum, I believe, were his exact terms) ... although Libbie preferred he engage in that particular behaviour AWAY from her! Can't imagine why ...
Regards, Leyton McLean (BTW--have you made it to de Rudio's grave yet?)
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Post by crzhrs on Jan 28, 2006 12:28:25 GMT -6
Leyton:
I don't think anyone could have portrayed Custer as most "wanted" him to be portrayed other than Errol Flynn.
Handsome, dashing, debonair (spelling?) stand-up-type of guy who did what was right and "protected" the Indians from greedy capitalists (a la THEY DIED WITH . . .)
Of course, we know the movie was a historical farce, but excellent movie- and myth-making.
The de Havilland/Flynn relationship was outstanding (they had acted together a number of times and de Havilland was one of the few woman Flynn respected and didn't make a move on)
You are right about the original intent of the movie. The writers wanted a more hard-hitting and true depiction of Custer (possibly influenced by GLORY HUNTER) but the US had just entered WWII and the producers wanted a more "heroric" and patriotic version.
There have been numerous actors who portrayed Custer. If we wanted a true depiction of Custer who would that be?
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Post by fred on Jan 28, 2006 13:33:38 GMT -6
How about Gary Cole? Every time I think of Custer moving to battle, I think of Gary Cole.
Best wishes, Fred.
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Post by El Crab on Jan 28, 2006 14:50:05 GMT -6
Gary Cole wasn't skinny enough, and his moustache wasn't bushy.
In They Died, it wasn't all untrue. It seemed a lot of it was loosely based on real events, but Hollywoodized. Like Custer's testimony at the Belknap is translated into Custer wanting to protect the Indians because he gave them his word.
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