The West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History’s movie series continues on Saturday, May 14, 2005 with two showings at 1 and 4 p.m. at the Cultural Center, State Capitol Complex, Charleston. May’s theme centers on the Civil War. The film series is free and open to the public.
FEUD: The Hatfields and McCoys (32 minutes, 2002) is Mingo County filmmaker Bill Richardson’s award-winning documentary that tells the true story behind the feud, dispelling many of the myths that have grown up around it. Using local experts and the actual sites where the events took place, he explores the families and their conflict. The film includes interviews with leading feud historians and descendants from both families. It is filled with vintage photographs and music that was popular during the era, as well as beautiful footage of the rugged mountain and river valleys that were the setting for this world-famous conflict. This is not only the tale of a clash between two colorful families but also a story of ordinary people trying to cope with the aftermath of the Civil War and the upheaval caused by the nation’s change from an agricultural society to an industrial power.
No Drums, No Bugles (90 minutes, 1971) is a Clyde Ware film starring Martin Sheen in essentially a one-man tour de force show about Ashby Gatrell, a conscientious objector to the Civil War who is forced to leave his wife and daughter on Maxwell Ridge in the Appalachian Mountains when he refuses to pick a side and fight. Branded as a traitor, Gatrell disappears into the hills of what is now Doddridge County and lives in a cave for three to four years. The film shows the impact of isolation over a long period of time, how he copes with the loneliness, both mentally and physically, and how he contends with the unpredictable elements of nature.
The film series will continue weekly next month on Saturday, June 4, 11, 18 and 25, at 1 and 4 p.m. with a sci-fi theme. For more information about the free film series or other events at the Cultural Center, call (304) 558-0162 or visit our website at www.wvculture.org.
The West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. The Cultural Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. Visit the Division’s website at www.wvculture.org for more information about programs of the Division. The Department of Arts, Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
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