Directed by Shane Stanley and written by leading actor Lee Wilson, General Earl Van Dorn seeks redemption through a daring military comeback during the Civil War, but as his bold tactics win battles, a dangerous affair with a married woman and her jealous husband’s vengeance threaten to destroy him. Also starring: D. B. Sweeney, Joe Lando, John James, Ellie Patrikios, Charles Ambrose, David B. Meadows, Andrew Reid, Lisa Stewart, Jay DeMarcus, Geoff Falk and Darby Cappillino.
An element which undoubtedly stands out quickly and strongly with The Legend of Van Dorn is the sheer amount of effort which went into creating the costumes (by Christian Micheal), the makeup (led by Roxy Brouphy) and the sets (production design by Nate Griffin). The dedication which the filmmakers put towards creating that period visual, creates an extremely strong foundation. It’s satisfying to watch it unfold with all of its detail and opulence.
The aesthetic is an aspect which is incredibly consistent all throughout The Legend of Van Dorn, it does a great job of capturing the colour while still trying to remain in the everyday. Joel Layogan nicely manages to avoid the temptation of trying to artificially add grit or action, instead striking a tone appropriate for the era, simply adding increased sharpness and definition to its more intense scenes.
As history has taught us, historical settings and messy affairs go hand in hand, and The Legend of Van Dorn is another prime example. While some may walk into this film expecting a headier exploration of confederate politics, the Civil War or even to find some controversy, what you’ll instead find is a romance. The age-old tale of a man putting himself in a precarious position by falling for another man’s wife. In that sense, it is very familiar, and is a story perhaps best enjoyed by dedicated romance fans, or Civil War afficionados.
Although, the war itself feels more of a secondary character in The Legend of Van Dorn, it certainly influences what’s going on and we do get a few key war scenes, but it never feels fully integrated into the film. Especially in how it deals with General Van Dorn’s (Lee Wilson) politics. That’s something which would have been interesting to explore further, how he could be considered an outlier among the rest of the confederacy, it is touched upon but quite briefly.
Part of why that’s a shame is Lee Wilson’s performance demonstrates a lot of potential to explore those issues. Wilson has a great presence, it’s composed and eloquent. The Legend of Van Dorn never really makes the most of that, he’s slightly trapped in this polite realm of romance. Similar could be said of David B. Meadows, it’s a shame he doesn’t have a bigger role, as he brings a strong, natural tone. Joe Lando is another great addition, he adds a note of intensity, which the film can otherwise be lacking. Whereas the women’s roles here are quite two-dimensional, overwrought with endless praise and adoration of the men.
The Legend of Van Dorn: Neither Hero nor Villain is shot well and it’s easy to admire the effort which went into crafting its strong period visual, with the excellent costuming work, and Lee Wilson gives a strong lead performance, but it’s missing the fiery, passionate notes that it’s crying out for. Its romance is a solid story, if familiar, and everything works but it’s delivered in an overly even-noted tone, making it struggle to build an impactful suspense or intensity. The score can be extra sentimental, though it is era-appropriate, and the atmosphere is relatively old-fashioned, so this one will definitely work best for an audience with a taste for romance and history.
