Now that the Hatfield McCoys has been shown on TV what do you Corn-squeezin, Moonshine running, Hillbilly, Ridge-runnin Kentucky/West Virginia types think? Did you like it? Is that the way it was?
> Now that the Hatfield McCoys has been shown on TV what do you Corn-squeezin, Moonshine running, Hillbilly, Ridge-runnin Kentucky/West Virginia types think? Did you like it? Is that the way it was?
I wanted to like it, but as many of my friends pointed out, there were too many flaws and it looked too much like a Costner western for many peoples tastes. Those things coupled with it being shot in Romania instead of Appalachia add up to a bit of a thumbs down for me.
Carl
I can't speak to the KY/WV nor corn-squeezin thing, but as a former [sorta] hillbilly gun-toatin hermit who did run some shine and ridge-runnin, I can't say for sure what I think. That feud was far away my place when I lived in Appalachia.
The theories about how it all started vary depending on who you ask. The lost pig with the notch is one. Civil War hatreds another. Uncle Jim shooting those 2 soldiers after the war is yet another. History that I have found shows all 3 to be plausible.
Truth of the matter is, no one today in either clan really knows for sure. Perhaps it was a combination of all those?
At least the 3 shows presented all those theories. That was fair enough.
As to Randall "Ole Ran'l" McCoy going bonkers towards the end of the 3rd show, I found nothing in history to back that up except he grieved constantly after the assault on his house where 2 of his kids were killed and his wife was wounded and the house burnt to the ground.
About 4 generations or so ago, some of my kin came from that area. I'd have to dig up my family records and see if there would be a Hatfield or McCoy in there. I just don't recall.
Factually accurate or not, I thought it was good.
Hatfields and McCoys - Carl
> I wanted to like it, but as many of my friends pointed out, there were too many flaws and it looked too much like a Costner western for many peoples tastes. Those things coupled with it being shot in Romania instead of Appalachia add up to a bit of a thumbs down for me.
>
Costner was one of the producers of the show so what you expect? Just like "Dance's With Wolves". But, yeah, maybe they/he, focused too much on Anse. It took me until show #3 to decided for sure that Uncle Jim was played by Tom Berenger. Either he's gotten really old or they had some remarkable makeup going there.
I did not know it was shot in Romania. However, where should they have shot it? In Appalachia? Way too many rich retired people have built places up and around there these days. At least in NW NC they have. There wouldn't be much good "remote" mountain scenary unless you "really" know where to go. I used to know some places like that but was very super reluctant to take anyone there.
> I can't speak to the KY/WV nor corn-squeezin thing, but as a former [sorta] hillbilly gun-toatin hermit who did run some shine and ridge-runnin, I can't say for sure what I think. That feud was far away my place when I lived in Appalachia.
>
> The theories about how it all started vary depending on who you ask. The lost pig with the notch is one. Civil War hatreds another. Uncle Jim shooting those 2 soldiers after the war is yet another. History that I have found shows all 3 to be plausible.
>
> Truth of the matter is, no one today in either clan really knows for sure. Perhaps it was a combination of all those?
> At least the 3 shows presented all those theories. That was fair enough.
>
> As to Randall "Ole Ran'l" McCoy going bonkers towards the end of the 3rd show, I found nothing in history to back that up except he grieved constantly after the assault on his house where 2 of his kids were killed and his wife was wounded and the house burnt to the ground.
>
> About 4 generations or so ago, some of my kin came from that area. I'd have to dig up my family records and see if there would be a Hatfield or McCoy in there. I just don't recall.
>
> Factually accurate or not, I thought it was good.
My wife thinks because the feud went for so long and got so bloody that it must have been a continuation of the Civil War.
> My wife thinks because the feud went for so long and got so bloody that it must have been a continuation of the Civil War.
Mr. Corner, my personal experience has been that it was likely between two of the most stuborn a-holes on the planet that one would dare not recede the fight should he be called a coward nor stand his ground. The civil war had ended when that encounter between uncle Jim and the soldiers occurred - so my history lookups show.
I've never been in a full on feud like that but have been in a few "squirmishes". In the end of them all, it just took one individual to just stand fast and say "hey, lets end this now. No sense in this going on." A handshake, and it's over. Twice that was me and it was over. Another, the ahole sucker punched me from behind over something my dad did to his family - when they didn't pay the rent for 6(six) months. He forgot that part. I let that go as well but that idiot flipped me off every time he saw me on the road around town. By the way, I had been in college all that year and not around town at all. In honesty, I will say if that same idiot were to come around here now, I damm sure wouldn't have forgotten that. He might should just take care to not be around here - unless he cares to ask forgiveness. I would gladly give it without thought. That was some 30(thirty) years ago. Dad never knew about it.
All other squabbles are long forgotten or meaningless to me now. Not that last one.
When I lived in Appalachia in NW NC in my local community there was a few families who didn't have much good, or more ill, to say about another family. There was never any hostility or violence but I could SURE feel the tension when I was in the company of both. Puts me in a bad spot being friends with pretty much everyone around there.
Thank God no one everyone accused me of spying on another.
Thank God double I stand fast on my personal constitution that what you say to me stays with me. I do not gossip.
All that said, I really miss living in Appalachia.
It beats this dammnable crack infested metro-Atlanta crap. Even though I'm about 30 miles out.
Hatfields and McCoys - When men were men
> Now that the Hatfield McCoys has been shown on TV what do you Corn-squeezin, Moonshine running, Hillbilly, Ridge-runnin Kentucky/West Virginia types think? Did you like it? Is that the way it was?
I don't watch much TV, but I found myself glued to it during episode #1. The other (2) episodes are on the DVR. Can't wait to watch...hopefully this weekend...so far, so good.
I really enjoyed the series. I grew up in Logan (still read "that ol' hillbilly rag" The Logan Banner) and I am related to the Hatfields.
The stubbornness and willingness to back one's family member (no matter the situation) is just a way of life. That's just the way it is. Love 'em or hate 'em, they are family; cousins, aunts, uncles, everyone is just like a brother or sister.
I moved away after graduating high school (Logan High School, class of '97), to Atlanta, GA and lived there for 12 years but I am back in WV now, although about an hour north of Logan. I tried to correct my accent for a long time but gave up on that, it's just not happening.
As for it being shot in Romania, I don't know why they decided to do that. Anyone from that area could have shown them plenty of places where they could have shot that film.
All in all though, I did enjoy it.
One thing I find funny: We are related to the Hatfields. My father remarried several years ago to a woman whose ex-husband (and daughter) are McCoys. My step-sister is a "real McCoy". 😛
A side note: Logan High School's mascot is the wildcat. That name comes from the militia unit that Devil Anse Hatfield led in the Civil War, the Logan Wildcats.
Hatfields and McCoys - Carl
I did not know it was shot in Romania. However, where should they have shot it? In Appalachia? Way too many rich retired people have built places up and around there these days. At least in NW NC they have. There wouldn't be much good "remote" mountain scenary unless you "really" know where to go. I used to know some places like that but was very super reluctant to take anyone there.
I have a farm in central Kentucky right on the border of the Daniel Boone National Forest. You can ride a horse for a long time and not see any signs of modernization. The road running through my farm was built by local folks who all had to donate 10 days a year to road upkeep and has probably never seen any heavy equipment. Appalachia is alive and kicking with plenty of space. The Daniel Boone Forest is 675,000 acres owned and over 2 million acres managed.
I did not see the show on television.
Hatfields and McCoys - Carl
This weekend is the Hatfield-McCoy days over in Pike County, Ky. with a family reunion.....
The Scots-Irish clans could teach the Italians a thing or two about the concept of blood feud and vendetta.
:good:
Newspaper article in the third column.
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85058130/1888-02-26/ed-1/seq-10.pdf
I thought they were great. It looked a lot like WV to me (except for the trees). As fo why they didn't film in the actual location...have you been there lately? It's a pretty nasty place these days (as far as movie stars are concerned).
Romania? Hell, that is almost as bad as salsa made in New York City!
