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General Grant’s Western Shiloh Character: Played by Justin Salinger in The History Channel miniseries is perfect for that Western role. Justin Salinger’s character of Grant portrays a humble, rustic, dry, plainspoken, no-nonsense, True Grit character of Eastwood
There’s aren’t many of us that doesn’t miss Clint Eastwood in those true westerns that we remember watching with that true grit character. If you are like me, you enjoy watching that rustic true grit westerns like Outlaw Josey Wales, High Plains Drifter, and the Unforgiving as will as those military films like Heartbreak Ridge, Flag of our Fathers, American Sniper, Letters from Iwo Jima, and Kelly’s Heroes.
If you were looking for a character who could accomplish two objectives, FIRST, to capture that Clint Eastwood mystique; and SECOND, to fit the role of Eastwood’s western cowboy spirit, than I have your candidate. The man for your role is Justin Salinger who played the role of General Grant in History Channel’s miniseries by the same title, Grant. (This was a three part miniseries).
Clint’s western, salty characters got his start in Rawhide, as Rowdy Yates, that launched his career, in what we called Spaghetti Westerns, because these movies were filmed in Italy. This included Fist Full of Dollars, Few Dollars More, and The Good, Bad, and Ugly. Later Clint starred in Hang ‘Em High, High Plains Drifter, and Outlaw Josey Wales; just to name a few of his westerns. The movie Outlaw Josey Wales is made for Justin Salinger, the perfect man to take on that epic role. But my favorite role with Eastwood was in the Unforgiving, with a close second being Outlaw Josey Wales.
That Rusty, Dry, Plainspoken Character of Clint Eastwood
That rustic, dry, plainspoken, no-nonsense character of Eastwood was forged out of the period of the Civil War, a spirit that was replicated in the Rough Riders during The Spanish-American War (1898) under Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, our 26th President of the United States. President Theodore Roosevelt is the first President to win our National highest medal, The Medal of Honor.
But if anyone has seen the History Channel’s miniseries entitled Grant, played by Justin Salinger, he could step right into these roles and replicate that same Clint Eastwood’s true grit character. There would be little to no contrast from that classic western character that Clint made and brought to the screen that Justin Salinger could and should step into.
I have attached below a 10- minute trailer depicting General Ulysses S. Grant, where Justin played Grant to perfection at the Battle of Shiloh, a pivotal battle of the Civil War. If you compared Salinger’s with Clint Eastwood’s performances you will see that same characteristics. Justin continued his role in Grant as our 18th President of the United States that historians supported with their commentary during the History Channel miniseries. While watching this trailer, look at the rustic, dry, no-nonsense personality portrayed by Justin that you couldn’t help to project onto Outlaw Josey Wales. This captures that inherit quality of it’s not what you say; but how you say it that counts.
Being that I’m from the Ozarks region of Arkansas and Missouri; and now live in Mississippi since 1995, The siege of Vicksburg was also interesting, captured in this miniseries, that led up to the Confederate forces surrendering on July 04th, 1863. This was as in the words of President Lincoln- the Key to the South. Justin’s portrayal of Grant’s humble approach to victory was the same as Grant’s character in dealing with defeat that you will see in the following trailer. Grant in this scene was discussing the struggles of the day’s battle with William T. Sherman. That character is portrayed perfectly by Justin Salinger.
If you haven’t seen Grant miniseries with your family and/or your friends, you are in for a treat watching Justin playing Grant that is historically accurate. Historians inserted observations into the movie to provide documented reference to depict Grant’s character in this role. This movie is a great way to introduce children and teenagers to our American History at a pivotal time before another critical time occurred 75- years later. World War II was where a new generation of Americans stepped up to save freedom and liberty this time not for a nation, but for the World.
When this miniseries was aired in May of 2020, I wasn’t just a spectator watching from a distance; but as if I was walking and standing on the battlefield with Grant and Sherman. Justin role made American History realistic that came alive with the sight and sounds of an unassuming character of the true grit of Grant. Audience are eager to see these type of movies again of historical characters and significance as evident by the success of Oppenheimer that earn seven (7) Oscars, including best Picture, Actor, and best supporting Actor.
I have seen plenty of movies depicting General Ulysses S. Grant, but none had that rustic, dry, salty, true grit character that was hardened by Grant’s failures and human frailties that was brought out in this miniseries as a young officer. This miniseries covered when Grant was deployed and serving in the western territory of our Nation.
This miniseries showed the human frailties of even historical figures that they carry with them, as we all do. These frailties consist of the good, bad, and ugly events in all our lives. This miniseries was significant because it allow us to have empathy with Grant and his enteral battles and struggles. Grant achievement was that he was able to turn his frailties into his strength.
American History is my Minor
I’m an amateur history buff who enjoys studying American History from the Revolutionary War, up to the present. But there are two periods in American History that span just 75- years that represent a person’s lifetime between the end of the Civil War (1865) and the start of World War II (1940). This was when the Greatest Generation since the Civil War stepped up to save a nation that President Lincoln mentioned in his Gettysburg Address (19Nov1863) 77 years earlier.
Some of those who fought and survived the Civil War (Confederate and Union solders) went west to forge a new life out of carnage that they experienced on the battle field. The war put such a great toll on these men that fought in the Civil War, similar to the experiences of those that fought in World War II, up to what our current Veterans are facing.
These World War II and current Veterans returned home for instanced to join motorcycles clubs, like Rolling Thunder and other organization to address their PTSD. But, in the case of the Civil War Veterans, instead of riding motorcycles, these Civil War Veterans rode horseback that took them to the Western frontier for the promise of fortunes, freedom, and a new way of life; or returned back home to pickup the pieces. This lifestyle that was forged during the Civil War became the True Grit of the western cowboy character.
Considering Justin Salinger for that Eastwood Mystique
I would like to request that movie directors and producers who are thinking about creating that Clint Eastwood mystique again would consider Justin Salinger for that iconic role that we have missed watching since Clint (now age 94) took up directing and producing movies, like Flags of Our Fathers. That rustic, dry, salty, true grit western character that Justin created and portrayed in Grant would and can be accurately replicated in any western or military setting. But the script has to reflect that Clint Eastwood mentality of no-nonsense, salty, true grit, with that confidence and is well-accustomed to the circumstances of that western frontier or battle field story line.
Eastwood was able to Play Beyond Westerns
In the movie FIREFOX, Clint played an elite U.S. Air Force pilot that was smuggled into the Soviet Union to fly out the new MIG Jet Fighter to be studied by the United States Military. This was also a great movie. I have a deep love for aviation that goes back for me 33- years in flying aerial patrol for a utility company that covers Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. I love and enjoy aviation and the history of aircraft and that of aviators. If you are talking about Kerosene Cowboys, or pilots, you have my background story. I even smell like Jet-A fuel.
Aviation in the U.S. started on the sands of Kitty Hawk shoreline of North Carolina on December 17, 1903. That was a span of only 38- years from when the Civil War ended in 1865. Up until then at Kitty Hawk the only aviation that was done up until then except where flights in hot air balloons were performed for aerial observation of the battle field.
If you who are writers, directors and/or producers casting the roles of people, like Orville and Wilbur Wright, or other historical characters, think of Justin Salinger for these type characters from the western cowboys, to military, or to aviation roles. Justin has that characteristics of an aviator or pilot during the first flight taken to Those magnificent men in their flying machines, to Twelve O’clock High, to Vietnam and current aviators and pilots.
There is a great untold story down in Hattiesburg, Mississippi of Colonel George Robert Hall who was shot down in North Vietnam, that I had the pleasure of interviewing. He spent over seven years at the Hanoi Hilton. Justin Salinger would be perfect for this role, as well.
Writers, producers and/or directors of studios from Hollywood to Atlanta, up to New York, I would ask for you to strongly consider Justin Salinger for a casting role in your westerns, military, and aviation, as well as, other movies for that true grit character. He is a proven actor with tremendous amount of experience , talent, and that look.
I served with heroes and I’m all too aware of their true grit character that they must posses and demonstrate under pressure situations. Justin Salinger portrays this type of Character.