Robert Redford’s Film: “The Conspirator”

“The Conspirator” Theatrical Trailer

“The Conspirator” Official Website

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08/19/2011:

“The Conspirator” film has been released on DVD (2-Disc Collector’s Edition) with a documentary extra. The DVD is available from the Surratt House Museum Gift Shop for $22 + 6% MD tax (Maryland residents) and $3 shipping & handling. See Surratt House Gift Shop for ordering details.

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Several of the Surratt House Museum’s staff and members were invited to private screenings of “The Conspirator” before its nationwide release in April 2011. They were pleasantly surprised. The following is a short review of the film.

The movie focuses on the imprisoned Mary Surratt and her relationship with defense lawyer, Frederick Aiken, who is forced into defending her and soon becomes convinced that she does not deserve to die. The two starring roles are portrayed by Robin Wright and James McAvoy, both of whom do very credible and convincing jobs. Other major players are good also. Assassination buffs will find fault with some of the casting because they are so familiar with what the Booth conspirators actually looked like. Our museum director wanted to add hair extensions to Edwin Stanton’s (Kevin Kline’s) beard!

The film was shot in Savannah, Georgia, because Washington, D.C. could not offer the 1865 atmosphere needed. For the pure historian, Savannah will appear a little too elegant for the nation’s capital of the Civil War era; and substituting Fort Pulaski for the Washington Arsenal Penitentiary doesn’t quite work. Surrounded by a moat, Pulaski appears to look more like Mudd’s prison at Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas. Again, the general audience will not be aware of this.

It is our firm belief that, in order to learn history one must enjoy history. “The Conspirator” is enjoyable and educational when one realizes the strong-arm tactics that a military judicial system used to quickly convict the conspirators, stifle discontent, and move on with restoring the Union.

Education: Bringing History Alive

The American Film Company, producer of the “The Conspirator” film, has an Educators’ Webpage to help bring history alive for students. This webpage contains resources that complement the content of their movies, including “The Conspirator”. An Educational Resource Guide for “The Conspirator” is available for downloading at: Educators’ Webpage. On that webpage you can also register to receive updates related to “The Conspirator” educational materials.