Amid the bitter divisiveness of the Civil War, Confederate Capt. Robert Adams (Julian Adams) feels the rift within his soul. Steadfastly loyal to the South, Adams also holds an unshakable love for his Northerner wife, Eveline McCord (Gwendolyn Edwards). Based on the true story of Robert Adams and produced by his descendents, this stirring historical drama -- a film festival favorite -- delves into the themes of honor, patriotism and love.
_**Love story between North and South**_
In 1860 Captain Robert Adams of South Carolina (Julian Adams) falls in love with Eveline McCord from Pennsylvania (Gwendolyn Edwards). Their challenges during the Civil War are chronicled. Eveline’s brother and his wife are peripheral characters (Joshua Lindsey & Amy Redford), as is the comrade played by Eric Holloway.
Based on a true story, "The Last Confederate: The Story of Robert Adams" (2005), originally titled “Strike the Tent,” is a Civil War story produced, written, and directed by the descendants of Robert and Eveline, which compelled critics to write it off as a ‘vanity project.’ The low budget (about $1 million) is comparable to “The Colt” (2005) and “Pharaoh’s Army” (1995), but with a story akin to “Cold Mountain” (2003).
This is basically a Western transplanted to the Eastern Front of the Civil War. The tone is lyrical in a pleasant way that entrances the viewer, but the brutalities of combat are also depicted. Gwendolyn and Amy Redford (Robert’s daughter) are beautiful and Adams makes for a convincing protagonist. The ironies of war are shown, e.g. the hero mercilessly mows down four Union soldiers and then is spared for unknown reasons by a Federalist.
The film runs 1 hour, 36 minutes, and was shot in South Carolina (Columbia & lower Richland County), North Carolina (Wilmington & another area), Georgia (Conyers) and Maryland (Hagerstown). Mickey Rooney and Tippi Hedren have small parts.
GRADE: B-
