Well fiddle-dee-dee, they are getting something to talk about back in Dixie in the spiffy Southern rebellion romance The Legend Of Van Dorn, directed by Shane Stanley from a script by Lee Wilson. Inspired by a true story, it follows Major General Earl Van Dorn (Lee Wilson), one of the South’s most brilliant military strategists against the Yankees. Lincoln has put out a bounty on his head, claiming him for being a pirate over an instance where he commandeered two Union boats. It was a bloodless takeover, as Van Dorn dislikes slaying other Americans, and the Union sailors agreed with that idea. He is primarily a lover, as well as a painter, yet he rose to fame as a killer of white men. His friend, General Nathan Bedford Forrest (David B. Meadows), is in awe of Van Dorn’s battle plans, but disapproves of his personal habits.
A couple dances at a candlelit Southern ball in The Legend of Van Dorn.
“Lincoln has put out a bounty on his head, claiming him for being a pirate over an instance where he commandeered two Union boats.”
Despite his battlefield prowess, Van Dorn’s thirst for whiskey and lady juice had thoroughly stained his sterling war record by the time he arrived in Spring Hill, Tennessee. With the assistance of Major Kimmel (Andrew Reid), he makes himself at home in his new command post. A vivacious young woman from town, Anna Daniels (Darby Cappillino), lets Van Dorn know she is available to help in any way at all, even in his bed chamber. Van Dorn resists lifting Anna’s hoop skirt, as he is smitten with Jesse Peters (Ellie Patrikios) in the house across the street. Mrs. Peters follows Van Dorn’s exploits in the papers, while he husband, Dr. George R. Peters (Joe Lando), disapproves of the destruction of human bodies. Van Dorn and Mrs. Peters start a secret affair, one that will be hard to keep quiet, as the hills of Tennessee have a thousand wagging tongues.
To paraphrase Repo Man: some men spend their lives avoiding sensational poppycock. I’ve spent my life looking for sensational poppycock to get into. Thanks to the devil in the details, The Legend Of Van Dorn looks completely sensational right down to the seams. The amazing costumes designed by Christian Michael are some of the most imaginatively authentic I have seen of that period. The dresses for Patrikios alone are worthy of their own 19th century runway show. Combine the dynamite outfits with the pitch-perfect art direction by Ruby Guidara and set decoration by Carmel Roman, and you have a full-on time travel experience on your hands. I haven’t had this level of Dixie immersion since Jacopetti & Prosperi’s Goodbye Uncle Tom. You can almost smell the candlewicks burning as the wardrobe comes to celluloid life. When film historians celebrate costume dramas, this one will rank high in 21st century examples.
"…one of the most country strong movies in years. "
