BLACKSBURG, Oct. 5, 2001-- When James I. Robertson answered the phone and heard someone say, "Hello, Dr. Robertson. This is Robert Duvall," Robertson's first thought was "Oh, right, and I'm the king of...." But as he listened to the familiar voice that started asking him about the character of Robert E. Lee in the film-in-progress Gods and Generals, Robertson realized he really was talking to one of the actors he admired most.
Robertson has been hired to be an historical consultant for the movie based loosely on the book Gods and Generals by Jeff M. Shaara, which has four main characters. However, Robertson said, Ron Maxwell, the director and screenwriter for the movie (best known for the landmark film Gettysburg), decided it would be hard to do justice to four main characters. He had read Robertson's book Stonewall Jackson: The Man, The Soldier, The Legend and decided to focus the movie on Jackson, using Robertson's depiction of the soldier. So he hired Robertson as a consultant to review the movie script for accuracy of fact. Also, if the filmmakers are adjusting the scenes and have questions about whether the events happened a certain way, they call Robertson. For example, he got a call to spend one recent weekend on the movie set watching scenes being shot and offering suggestions. But Robertson's most important task is to counsel various actors, including Duvall, on how they should play their roles.
Filming on the movie started the last week in August, with one crew filming Jackson in Lexington and another filming Lee crossing the Potomac in Leesburg. A crew filmed battle scenes just outside Staunton and then moved to a farm south of Hagerstown, Md., for filming. Robertson accompanied the crew and Steven Lang, a well-known Broadway actor who is portraying Jackson in the movie, to Hagarstown, at Lang's invitation, to watch filming and help keep the movie accurate. The crews will have to wait until the leaves fall off the trees to film the Battle of Fredericksburg because that battle was fought in winter.
Duvall, who is portraying Robert E. Lee, wanted Robertson's ideas on capturing Lee's character. He has called Robertson twice and invited him to a dinner, where he sat beside Robertson and picked his brain about Lee. Robertson also has been able to talk with Duvall about his movie career. "His favorite of his movies is Lonesome Dove," Robertson said.
Robertson has talked with Stephen Spacek, nephew of Sissy Spacek, about how to portray aide James Power Smith, a member of Jackson's staff. Robertson already knew Patrick Falci, who is playing Gen. A.P. Hill, because Robertson worked with Falci on the filming of a biography of Hill based on Robertson's book about the general.
"I've been working with Mr. Maxwell and others since late spring," Robertson said, "and hardly a week goes by that I don't get one or two phone calls with a list of questions about the accuracy of this or the reality of that."
"The biggest dividend so far has been not only to meet, but to become close friends with Robert Duvall," Robertson said. "He's the consummate actor. He's played everything from the lawyer in The Godfather to Gus in Lonesome Dove. The thing about him is that, when he asks a question, he listens to the answer. I find him very warm and engaging." Duvall asks a lot of questions about the character of Lee and how he should be portrayed, Robertson said.
Duvall is a pleasure to be around, Robertson said. "He's also a perfectionist. That's why he's so esteemed." Duvall also is a funny man. "I think he played Gus naturally," Robertson said.
Describing Duvall as easy going and extremely easy to talk with, Robertson said, "When he's going to say something interesting or funny, his eyes twinkle. I'd always heard of twinkling eyes, but I never knew what that meant until I met him." Duvall apparently is a Hokie football fan, Robertson said. "He always asks about the Hokies."
Although Robertson has met and talked with Duvall, he has not yet seen him dressed as Lee. "I'm anxious to see how much he looks like Lee," Robertson said. "The agent said the first time they put him in uniform was the first time he believed in reincarnation."
Robertson will be involved through the end of the movie, which is tentatively scheduled for release to theaters at Christmas of 2002. It is being produced by Turner Broadcasting Station, which started with a $60-million budget, Robertson said. After its theater run, the movie will be carried on TBS.
