Friday, February 14, 2003
VMI hosts Virginia premiere of new Civil War movie

Those attending the premiere of "Gods and Generals" file into Jackson Memorial Hall on the VMI campus Thursday evening. Proceeds from the event will benefit three Civil War battlefield preservation groups, including one based in Roanoke. - photo by SAM DEAN

A Taste of Hollywood at Lexington Gala At $200 per couple, the 450 tickets available sold out in three days to people from as far as Texas. By MATT CHITTUM  Jeff Shaara, the author of the book on which the film is based, speaks with an admirer Thursday. Shaara made several trips to Lexington to ensure accuracy. - photo by SAM DEAN

LEXINGTON - Byron Faidley was bummed.

Here he was, wrapped up in a rented tuxedo, when he'd much rather have been decked out in his Rebel soldier garb.

But the 18-year-old Civil War re-enactor from Covington was willing to suffer the discomfort of his cummerbund to see the fruits of his labor, the 3 1/2 -hour Civil War epic "Gods and Generals."

Faidley, who plans to attend Virginia Military Institute next year, plays a VMI cadet in the movie, which had its Virginia premiere Thursday night in Jackson Memorial Hall on the VMI campus.

"A lot of long days on the set, and it's starting to pay off right now," he said as he reached the front of a buffet line at the formal reception that preceded the screening.

On his arm was his girlfriend and fellow re-enactor, K.C. Tolsen, who was wearing her prom dress. "I'm nervous. I shook the whole way here," she said.

"I think this is a little bit above a prom," Faidley said.

His parents bought the couple a Valentine's Day gift of tickets to the premiere, which put them in the company of Lexington's tuxedoed and sequined high muckety-mucks for the night.

At $200 per couple, the 450 tickets available sold out in three days to people from as far as Texas. Proceeds from the event will benefit three Civil War battlefield preservation groups, including the Roanoke-based Center for Civil War Living History.

Guests enjoyed valet parking and a coat check run by cadets, then filed down to a basketball gym and waited in a buffet line that at times ran the full length of the court. The cuisine included chicken francais, rice pilaf and seafood newberg.

A few got the chance to meet actors Stephen Lang, who plays Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson in the movie, and Brian Mallon, who plays a union officer, and Jeffrey Shaara, the author of the book on which the film is based.

More recognizable stars such as Robert Duval, Jeff Daniels and Mira Sorvino, and media mogul Ted Turner, who bankrolled the $90 million prequel to 1993's "Gettysburg," turned up for last week's world premiere in Washington, D.C., but not the Lexington event.

The film's producers chose the unusual option of forgoing a big New York or Los Angeles premiere in favor of a half-dozen smaller premieres in the locations where they filmed.

"Every premiere represents a thank-you," said associate producer Dennis Frye.

Mallon wasn't sure whether he'd been to three or four of the events so far.

"You lose track, but it's fun.... It's actually very nice," he said.

For the actors, writer and director, it was a return not just to where they had filmed but also to the wellspring of their inspiration.

The movie was shown in a building named for Jackson, one floor above the room where his horse's carcass is on display, a few yards from the room where he taught, a few blocks from his home and a few blocks more from where he is buried.

He's so revered here that some jokingly call him "St. Stoney."

"You can't understand Jackson without walking the streets of Lexington," Lang said.

"Gods and Generals" isn't VMI's or Lexington's first brush with Hollywood.

Ronald Reagan made his first film, a comedy about life at VMI called "Brother Rat," here in 1938 and attended a premiere here the following year. Pat Boone played a cadet in love with a film starlet in "Mardi Gras," which also had a premiere here.

Then there's 1992's "Sommersby," starring Richard Gere and Jodie Foster.

But those who attended Thursday's festivities were hardly jaded.

"It's the closest I can get to Hollywood," said Allison Coonley, director of tourism for Harrisonburg and Rockingham County.

Roanoker Chris Caveness, treasurer of the Center for Civil War Living History, went to the Washington premiere last week and was mistaken at least 10 times for Lang. The two do look alike. After a while, he just played along.

Thursday night, he wore something Faidley, the young re-enactor, would have envied: a Civil War-era formal frock coat.

"Stylin' and profilin' 19th-century style," Caveness said.

Staff writer Beth Jones contributed to this report.