American Primeval on Netflix

[JEBMs]

JEBMs, what did you say? I can relate to the hearing aid issue and they’re so darned expensive. Age, noise, genetics and guns.

Yup….I checked every one of those boxes.

 

[lone pine]

FLINTLOCK FELLOW - "Isn’t that part of what makes storytelling meaningful?"
yes. it IS THE point of storytelling. just finished watching the series. enjoyed it, even with the graphic scenes.

 

[kyron4]

Anyone able to comment on the revolving rifle seen in one of the parties? I am wondering that met the period correct scrutiny?

I saw that also, but I'm not an expert on gun of that period. I thought I saw a brass framed 1851 Navy in one scene, but not 100%. I don't think they existed in 1857 but could be wrong.

 

[Frontstuffer070]

Anyone able to comment on the revolving rifle seen in one of the parties? I am wondering that met the period correct scrutiny?

The Army Captain is holding it in Episode 4 when the Shoshone come up on the ridge at the Army encampment. It is an 1855 Colt Revolving rifle. It has a full stock, I don't if recall the one I held at a gun show having a full stock.

 

[Frontstuffer070]

I found the old pic. I guess the one I held indeed had a full stock.

 

[Taevers]

I appreciate that the show isn’t for everyone, but dismissing others who enjoy it as ‘sick’ seems unfair. American Primeval is intense and raw, but it reflects the brutal realities of the frontier era. If you’re looking for something more idealized, maybe Little House on the Prairie would be a better fit for your tastes.

Now you’re just being mean spirited, Flint. Go ahead and pull up a chair by our fire. You’re my new idol.

 

[RobertIN]

Finished it up last night. Very enjoyable, and I don't even think the violence was overdone. If anything it was understated compared to what is written in Empire of the Summer Moon, though that was Comanche not Shoshone.

 

[CuNosecap]

I found the old pic. I guess the one I held indeed had a full stock.

Thank you for both the screenshot and your cool picture. I knew there was a revolving rifle/carbine and have seen reproductions. I was unsure of the year of patent or introduction. This movie was set in 1857. I wondered while watching the movie how difficult it would be to get a relatively new model of rifle (1855) or pistol (1851) that far west given the logistics of the Mountain Man era. I guess the fur traders were well connected.
Rick

 

[Siringo]

Anyone able to comment on the revolving rifle seen in one of the parties? I am wondering that met the

Anyone able to comment on the revolving rifle seen in one of the parties? I am wondering that met the period correct scrutiny?

Time period was 1850’s.

 

[mushka]

I watched about an hour and a half of the American Primeval trying to get interested but it just didn't happen for me. Don't think I will waste any more time on it. Maybe look at Dexter.

 

[Flintlock Fellow]

Now you’re just being mean spirited, Flint. Go ahead and pull up a chair by our fire. You’re my new idol.

Mean-spirited? Never! Just calling it like I see it. But I’ll gladly pull up a chair—sounds cozy. Let’s swap stories by the fire, friend!

 

[TrophyGuy]

As a Northwest Arkansas native I've always been interested in the Mountain Meadows Massacre. I've read every historical account I can lay my hands on. American Primeval is a historic dramatization that takes some license with known history. That said, it lets the LDS off lightly in many respects. Superstitious, illiterate LDS butchers lined up 140 men, women and children and shot them. The LDS has labored for decades to suppress the gory details of this tragedy. Governor Mike Leavitt illegally had remains buried without coroner forensics when too many children's skulls were found with close range bullet wounds. American Primeval depicts the massacre as a battlefield combat. It was a mass execution of surrendered prisoners, all but toddlers who were distributed to LDS families for rearing. Brigham Young was an illiterate bigamist with megalomaniacal designs on a theocratic empire after being propped up by the U.S. government to settle a lawless territory. The U.S. became nervous about rebellious, secessionist states in the 1850's and marched on Young's cult theocratic state. Nauvoo Legion fighters never won battles against U.S. cavalry. The sordid affair was settled by Utah's grudging acquiescence to foreswear bigamy, which they did over a period of decades. Criminal liability for the massacre ended with John B. Lee's trials and execution and the LDS's sweeping up of incriminating documentation against anybody else. Young's offer to read the sales contract to Jim Bridger is laughable. Young's secretaries wrote and read his documents for him.

I noted that period revolvers were a combination of 1851 Navies and Dragoons, though the Dragoons may have been Navies in petite hands. Many of the Army cavalrymen had Sharps carbines. Sharps enthusiasts could weigh in on whether paper cartridge breechloaders were possible in 1857, certainly not metallic cartridge versions.

American Primeval is worth viewing for its positive resolution, not the dark gory details.

 

[Flintlock Fellow]

Fascinating history, and I’ll definitely keep this in mind the next time a pair of well-dressed missionaries knock on my door. I might just casually ask if they’d like to discuss the finer details of the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Should make for an interesting chat!

 

[Clint Meier]

I have so far only watched the first 3 episodes, and found the story very interesting and somewhat informative, given the dramatization.
I got a quick glance at what looked to me very much like a Stevens single shot falling block rifle in A-P, which would be way before its time.

What intrigued me the most was the way in which both early battle attack scenes in The Revenant and American Primeval appear to be shot. Both appear to be one long continuous 'take', seemingly without a break or cut in the filming. If you missed that, go back and see them again! Close scrutiny of The Revenant does show that breaks, or cuts, are there, but very skillfully hidden and transitioned. In The Revenant I recall one scene where the camera is following one trapper and then is passed off to follow along with an Indian on horseback going at breakneck speed. I remember reading somewhere that most of The Revenant's early battle scene attack footage was shot using a pole-mounted GoPro Camera that was passed around during the live filming. It is amazing to me how filmmakers achieve some of the effects that they do, so credit the director and special effects folks!