The Blue and the Gray

In the early 1860s, tensions between the federal government and the Southern states have risen to an unstoppable pace, and a civil war is inevitable. Young John Geyser (John Hammond) faces the terrible choice of fighting against his family or betraying his personal beliefs. When he decides to become a war correspondent and refuses to join his family in battle, they label him a traitor and ostracize him. Yet John cannot abandon his Virginia heritage and become a full-fledged citizen of the North. His work as a sketch artist takes him through the highs and lows of this bloody chapter in our country’s history. Through John’s eyes, the Civil War comes to life in The Blue & the Gray — a sweeping miniseries that presents numerous engaging stories about the effects of this bitter conflict. Immediately before the outbreak of war, John leaves the farm to work for his Uncle Jacob (Robin Hammell) at a local Gettysburg newspaper. His first assignment is the trial of the infamous John Brown (Sterling Hayden), whose attempts to free slaves lead to a revolt and murder. Hayden provides one of the numerous flawless performances in this feature and perfectly embodies this historical figure. He speaks with a wide-eyed fervor that presents the strong convictions of a man who realizes the troubles that lie ahead for this country. While covering the trial, John meets Captain Jonas Steele (Stacy Keach), and they immediately strike up a tight friendship. Jonas possesses some type of subconscious psychic skill that reveals incoming peril within his dreams. Unfortunately, it leaves him powerless to react because it provides no specific information. This “gift” comes into play when he falls in love with John’s cousin Mary (Julia Duffy) and then sees her in his dreams. While this subplot covers only a small portion of the story, it provides one example of the surprising level of depth in this miniseries. The primary characters emanate from the Hales and the Geysers—two families connected by blood but fighting on opposite sides of the war. The young boys (with the exception of John) enlist in the armies with a na i ve exuberance about the glories of war. This is especially true for Malachy Hale (Brian Kerwin), an athletic young man who believes that he will make a great soldier. When the battle begins, however, the bloody action contrasts sharply with his ideas, and he quickly loses his innocence. John’s older brothers—Mark and Matthew Geyser—join the Confederate Army with an aura of invincibility and a firm belief in defending their homes. When John adamantly refuses to join them in battle, he strikes a personal blow that creates a severe rift between the tight siblings. However, the tragic nature of the war shows them the sense behind John’s refusal. Three brothers from each family enter the war, and some of them will not survive. Even the ones who live will never be the same after this devastating war. —Digitallyobsessed.com