Saul Levitt's "The Andersonville Trial" is a powerful courtroom drama based on the true story of the trial of Henry Wirz, the commandant of the infamous Andersonville Confederate prisoner-of-war camp during the American Civil War. The play explores the ethical dilemmas faced by the prosecution and defense, highlighting the horrors of the camp and the question of individual responsibility in the face of inhumane orders. The trial itself becomes a microcosm of larger societal issues, reflecting on themes of justice, morality, and the consequences of war. The play's enduring relevance lies in its exploration of these timeless themes and its chilling portrayal of the human capacity for cruelty. It remains a compelling and thought-provoking work that continues to resonate with audiences today.
Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary are on the jury in The Andersonville Trial. Based on the play by Saul Levitt, Quentin and Roger discuss Quentin’s last viewing of the film with Floyd, how director George C. Scott’s own performance in the stage play informed his direction of this testosterone filled powerhouse gang of actors, and the ethics of one’s own morals. Would you have done different if you had the chance? The jury’s still out on that one.
Quentin and Roger continue the conversation over on Patreon with two more titles. First up, the guys hit the slopes in The Ultimate Thrill. What starts off as a romantic rendez-vous ends in a supreme game of live or die! Quentin and Roger have fun making cyphers out of the characters and share with us where this movie shines. And, finishing up the episode, we watched a movie to prove that Quentin wasn't imagining things — and believe me, he wasn’t! It’s Jimmy Wang Yu’s Beach of the War Gods, where a wandering swordsman defeats a squad of Japanese invaders — thus agreeing to protect the town from invasion. Quentin gives us a history lesson on director Jimmy Wang Yu and his importance in the scope of both Hong Kong and Taiwanese cinema before we move on to the discussion of the director’s talent and commitment to cinematic language.
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The Video Archives Podcast with Quentin Tarantino & Roger Avary