Hatfields and McCoys History Channel. Monday

[mc5aw]

Total waste of time ... I loathe Hollywood's penchant for using historical events as backdrops for fictionalized story re-telling.

Watching the Mall Ninja "How To" videos on youtube is more enjoyable and entertaining.

 

[McBear]

That is pretty sad.

"It was cheaper to film it in Romania"

Probably safer too...

Nothing unsafe about Eastern Kentucky or Southwestern West Virginia. With 20%+ very longterm unemployment the locals would have bent over backwards to welcome any film crew into the area [Fire Down Below is a good example filmed in Perry County, KY]. It is a shame that Costners production company would not wander down here for the shoot.

Then again, Harlan County War was filmed in Canada and Justified in California.

 

[McBear]

I was very dissapointed! I simply could not understand what was being said. They really butchered the southern dialect. I started several times to change the channel but kept thinking it would get better, it didn't. Aren't there any southern speaking actors out there? How about Billy Bob Thornton, Eric Roberts and such. I ended up sleeping through the last thirty minutes. I will try it again tonight and hopefully I can get interested in it.

The accents were pretty much dead on for Appalachian. A couple were a bit exaggerated but most were very much as they were at the turn of the 19th Century and today.

For another example listen to Justified. They have the accent and cadence down stone cold.

 

[Armyphotog]

I watched bits and pieces of the first episode. Probably won't watch the rest. Too much senseless killings by a bunch of ignorant rednecks for me to stomach. Must be something better on TV. (I can only hope!)

 

[spirit4earth]

I like the show "Justified". Set in Harlan KY, but it looks like it was filmed in CA mostly. Good accents, though, and Raylon Givens is one cool marshall!

 

[UncleEd]

Regarding Southern accent/patterns, a linguist in Dahlonega, Georgia, demonstrated for me the five fairly distinct patterns that can be found in Georgia, from the northern end to the Florida border.

It can be deep pitched and smooth to nearly a whine and that's just Georgia.

The only time I've had trouble understanding one of the Southern accents was on the Arkansas/Texas border near Texarkana.

Although Bill Paxton (McCoy) was born in Texas and Kevin Costner (Hatfield) is from California, actors often take diction
lessons before making a movie--how well one of them does depends on individual ability and their "ear."

As for sticking to literal historical accuracy, read a book. A movie is a condensed version of the "truth" with license to make it entertaining.

I doubt Costner, as producer, had a huge budget by Hollywood standards--his "Open Range" was made on a shoestring. And he does like to make long films, i.e. "Open Range" and "Dances with Wolves."

 

[LazyKB]

They aren't necessarily southern (geographically speaking), just because they were Rebels, they're more Appalachian. I'm Texan, but I don't talk like a Geogian, or Carolinian. But we are usually Rebel brothers.

Would have to hear your definition of "Southern" before entering a debate. Geographically, South is usually defined as being below the Mason Dixon Line, in which case both KY and WV, with the exception of the northern panhandle qualify. If you are comparing cultures you are correct Appalachia is a far cry from Southern aristocracy. Appalachia runs from southern NY down through PA, OH, WV, KY. VA, NC, SC, TN, GA, AL and even MS. I thought the dialect was pretty spot on for this area, maybe a little exaggerated but maybe not for that time period. I can remember great grandparents using a lot of the same words. The dialect in this part of Appalachia is likened to old English. This area was originally settled by the Scots Irish so I assume that would explain the dialect and why it is not your typical GA/SC sounding accent.

 

[LazyKB]

"Total waste of time ... I loathe Hollywood's penchant for using historical events as backdrops for fictionalized story re-telling."

Not sure what you mean by fictionalized story re-telling. I have only read one source on the subject but last night's show followed what I had read pretty well. The film goes into deeper or more exaggerated character development, I guess for viewer entertainment. But with the exception of the two young union soldiers that were shot for stealing the other murders were documented. There was a lot of time devoted to the romance between Johnse and Roseanna, which did occur (there is some question as to it resulting in a child) but I guess that is appealing to some viewers. You have to realize that this area is very remote. Because of that it was very lawless. The Earps and Clantons had nothing on the Hatfields and McCoys as far as taking the law into their own hands. The law was so slow, if you demanded justice, you went and got it. I moved just south of that area, Mercer county, and worked in the mines in McDowel and Wyoming counties in WV and Tazewell county in VA. The stories that come out of that area rival any from the old west.

"I watched bits and pieces of the first episode. Probably won't watch the rest. Too much senseless killings by a bunch of ignorant rednecks for me to stomach."

Now that hurts coming from MS.

 

[TheHobbyist]

I think its pretty good; it's just entertainment, take it for what it's worth.

They have shows now on cakes (i.e., Cake Boss)...this is a refreshing contrast.

 

[ogilvyspecial]

Regarding Southern accent/patterns, a linguist in Dahlonega, Georgia, demonstrated for me the five fairly distinct patterns that can be found in Georgia, from the northern end to the Florida border.

It can be deep pitched and smooth to nearly a whine and that's just Georgia.

When I was very young both of my parents worked so a neighbor family,
who lived right next door, watched me. They were from Blairsville GA, or as
they say it, Blarsvull, which is not far from Dahlonega, up in North Georgia.

To this day I can pick up a North Georgia accent and if I don't get it right
I find that, more often than not, the person is from South Carolina,
but from the border area, down near the general Blarsvull region.

All of my life I've used some sayings that had Michigan folks looking at me funny.
When asked, I say, it's a North Georgia thing so you probably wouldn't understand.

 

[mjr]

In the previews someone carries a brass framed 1858 remington .44. They never existed!

Noticed that, too. That's what ruined Ride With the Devil for me--another brass-framed Remington.

 

[blade1949]

I'll continue to watch the series tonite.
I watch two other things on TV. Y & R & most golf tournies.
I really like The Open!!!

 

[amazingflapjack]

I'm with FT and Cudzu-I won't be watching again. I am a big fan of Costner's, but this is a clinker. I also have roots in this parrt of the south. The accent is more of a Scotts-Irish burr in West Virginia, and would be very difficult to "imitate" in my opinion. As has been pointed out, the south is a land of many accents, with great diversity. I remember when they did that mini series a while back about Charleston S.C. in the civil war. The extras didn't have the "expected" sound to their voices because the local folks have what has been described as a Scotts-highland accent, which is very "light" so they went inland and got some "typical" South Carolinian's to fill those roles. From there, all the way to New Orleans, where folks from one section can be mistaken for someone from Brooklyn by an untrained ear. But the movie folks have to play to what an average audience expects, so... My thought was that they could have gotten better action scenes by hiding a camera outside of a West Virginia beer joint just about anywhere-real accents too!

 

[ColbyBruce]

What is all this talk about a Southern accent?

 

[PA Reb]

Total waste of time ... I loathe Hollywood's penchant for using historical events as backdrops for fictionalized story re-telling.

Watching the Mall Ninja "How To" videos on youtube is more enjoyable and entertaining.

Actually, I believe if you do some good research you will find that the story so far is pretty close to historical truth. Kevin Costner would also not take part in a project like this if it wasn't at least as close to the truth as possible in a six hour movie.

 

[Rule3]

"Total waste of time ... I loathe Hollywood's penchant for using historical events as backdrops for fictionalized story re-telling."

Not sure what you mean by fictionalized story re-telling. I have only read one source on the subject but last night's show followed what I had read pretty well. The film goes into deeper or more exaggerated character development, I guess for viewer entertainment. But with the exception of the two young union soldiers that were shot for stealing the other murders were documented. There was a lot of time devoted to the romance between Johnse and Roseanna, which did occur (there is some question as to it resulting in a child) but I guess that is appealing to some viewers. You have to realize that this area is very remote. Because of that it was very lawless. The Earps and Clantons had nothing on the Hatfields and McCoys as far as taking the law into their own hands. The law was so slow, if you demanded justice, you went and got it. I moved just south of that area, Mercer county, and worked in the mines in McDowel and Wyoming counties in WV and Tazewell county in VA. The stories that come out of that area rival any from the old west.

"I watched bits and pieces of the first episode. Probably won't watch the rest. Too much senseless killings by a bunch of ignorant rednecks for me to stomach."

Now that hurts coming from MS.

You would probably prefer the movie "Wrong Turn"

Hey it's worth it just for Eliza Dushku

 

[nipster]

Nothing unsafe about Eastern Kentucky or Southwestern West Virginia. With 20%+ very longterm unemployment the locals would have bent over backwards to welcome any film crew into the area [Fire Down Below is a good example filmed in Perry County, KY]. It is a shame that Costners production company would not wander down here for the shoot.

Then again, Harlan County War was filmed in Canada and Justified in California.

The Movie "Matewan" was filmed in WV, Thurmond, WV. So some of them get it right.

 

[mpi]

Being from WV i wasn't particular impressed by the accents either. i noticed the brass frame too, as i did when i went to see Gettysburg too, to the the startlement of my friends who went along.

the story doesn't seem too far off according to all the things I've read on the subject. Including the fact that cline stirred up and kept instigating much of the friction between the groups. as to court time, both families were well acquainted with the court system, Anse Hatfield in particular was familiar with court system as he had both sued and been sued quite a few times.


in many parts of the state you can tell the different accents by whether you are from town or from a farm outside of town.

as to lawlessness, you really need to look to Fayette county. Thurmond and the New River gorge area, the murder rates were higher there in the coal boom years than anywhere else in the country. Dodge city or Tombstone never even came near. the Dun Glenn hotel had the worlds longest continual poker game, which lasted nearly fourteen years IIRC.

 

[NFrameFred]

We don't have 'accents' . . . God talks like we do . . .
(with apologies to Lewis Grizzard)

 

[jimmyj]

Firearms Observed:
1. Muzzle Loading Rifles (Confederates and Union Soldiers)
2. Remington Revolvers
3. Sharps carbines
4. Colt SAA
5. Winchester M1866
6. Remington Rolling Block
7. Colt Thunderer (Justice of the Peace)
8. DBL Shotguns
9. Telescopic Sight (Brass)
10. Henry .44 RF
Did anyone notice the Remington Rolling Block Carbine in one scene?