The Andersonville Trial . . . A Man Who Lost His Soul . . .

A scene from PBS's "The Andersonville Trial". Broadcast in 1970, this presentation depicted the post-Civil War trial of Captain Henry Wirz, commandant of the infamous prison in Andersonville, GA where 14,000 Union soldiers died. The scene shown here gets at the heart of the matter: a man who could not disobey his superiors allowing them to kill, vicariously, through him. The actor is Richard Baserhart giving the performance of a lifetime. Previous to this he was seen as Admiral Harriman Nelson in the 60's Sci-fi series "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" and as Ishmael in the motion picture "Moby Dick" a movie produced in the 50's.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Civil
• War
• prison
• camp
• Andersonville
• disobedience
• orders
• officer
• Basehart
• Shatner
• Mitchell
• Ebsen
• Cassidy

[KCOliver1960]

Once I got past the"Captain Kirk vs. Admiral Nelson" image, I found this to be one of the best things PBS had over shown.

[Neojedigoddess]

I wish more people would watch this and learn about Andersonville as well as the "reservations" for Native Americans in the 19th century. Little more than early concentration camps. Wirtz was a monster.

[LordZontar]

One of William Shatner's best performances, and Richard Baseheart's as well. This production was also a reunion of the two, having been part of the cast of the 1958 movie of The Brothers Karamazov, with Yul Brenner.

[mike102400]

Hollywood did a very poor job on Shatner's uniform! The Silver Oak Leaf on his shoulder bar is a Lt. Col. The single row of buttons on his frock coat is a Lieutenant or Captain, and his should have two rows of buttons running up and down the front about 7 inches apart. The biggest error is his belt with THREE gold bands, which is that of a General. His belt should have TWO gold bands and if he is a Lt. Col., he would not have been PERMITTED to wear that belt in court!

[rem2267]

Top notch acting for Basehart and Shatner. Both of them have made me cry at one time or another. Just look into their eyes, wow!!

Thanks for posting.

[bobbywinner]

lumanayan bakit mo pa dinisplay ang panget hindi makita ang dilim dapat kita yung color ehhhhhhhhhh hindi kita

[Armyofficer]

Not bad - even with a little overacting by Shatner, look at all these stars in a PBS Production.