Callan the Wargamer: Part 2

I managed to watch CALLAN: THE MOVIE last night, and I enjoyed the experience no end!

Watching the scenes that featured the wargame between Callan and Schneider reminded me that at the time the film went on general release, the terrain and figures that were used were what every wargamer seemed to aspire to have. Now it would look rather run-of-the-mill at most wargames shows in the UK. I suppose that this demonstrates how far the desire to have aesthetically appealing wargames has developed in the intervening years.

And now on to the film ...

David Callan (played by Edward Woodward) surveys the battlefield at Gettysburg and writes his initial orders down.

A Federal commander near Little Round Top.

Federal troops - in this case Zouaves - line the top of Cemetery Ridge.

More Federal troops deployed along the top of Cemetery Ridge.

The Confederates are deployed in the valley below the ridge.

Another view of the Confederate front line.

Confederate Artillery Batteries occupy the high ground behind their Infantry.

Columns of Confederate Infantry advance on Little Round Top.

The Confederate troops move forward inexorably.

The view from behind the Federal troops on Cemetery Ridge.

The Confederate and Federal troops face each other.

The Confederate advance up Little Round Top meets resistance ...

... but this is soon overcome and the Confederates appear to be about to turn the Federal flank.

However Federal Cavalry advance to cut off the Confederates on Little Round Top, and it looks likely that this will result in a disaster for the Confederacy.

As happens in so many wargames, the battle ended just as it was getting really exciting. Usually this happens because both sides have run out of time, but in this instance it was the arrival of the Police that brought the whole thing to a premature end.