GENERAL GRANT IS DOOMED!
“NEVER RETREAT, NEVER SURRENDER!” Ex-President Ulysses S. Grant struggles to complete his “Personal Memoirs” while combatting terminal cancer. He produces a masterpiece. The true story. Can be expanded to TV miniseries. Professional Coverage: “Recommend” - Dave Trottier (Author, The Screenwriter’s Bible) Multiple contest wins and placements
Undaunted, Grant proceeds with the formidable writing project in spite of violent coughing fits and a deteriorating physical condition.
Grant’s memories are depicted in the film as he writes the “Memoirs”. He recounts…
• The early days at West Point, his outstanding horsemanship, mathematical ability, and artistic talents, • His physical strength and heroic performance in the Mexican War, including encounters with Robert E. Lee, • His determination in leading his regiment to a California outpost via Isthmus of Panama during a cholera epidemic, • His resignation from the Army, drinking accusations, and subsequent failure in business, • His recall to active duty in the Civil War, and meteoric rise to Brigadier General, • His unique ability to concentrate and evaluate a situation – military or otherwise – and develop a clear, practical solution that works, • The Battle of Fort Donelson -- where he becomes “Unconditional Surrender” Grant, • His inner turmoil over Civil War casualties, • The surrender of General Lee at Appomattox.
Grant suffers greatly during this writing ordeal. He is unable to swallow without intense pain, and eventually loses his ability to speak.
His wife Julia, and children Nellie and Fred Grant stand by him – and also suffer -- throughout this ordeal.
Grant’s illness sparks a nation-wide death watch. Reporters camp out by his home and even try to dupe his doctors and the housemaid to get further information.
Then Grant has a severe choking experience which nearly kills him. Saved by his doctors – who use a unique medical procedure -- the Ol’ Warrior rallies and vows to finish his manuscript.
In June, 1885 Grant is moved to the Mt. McGregor Cottage in upstate New York to avoid the blistering heat of New York City.
There he complete his manuscript and dies on July 23, 1885.
The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant were published shortly after his death. Mark Twain's company printed 350,000 sets -- 700,000 volumes -- a record number of books for that time.
Grant’s “Personal Memoirs” were a great success -- praised by the public, historians and literary critics. They have been acclaimed as the foremost military memoir in the English Language.
They have never gone out of print.
Screenplays
Jim specializes in screenplays based on historical true events (including musicals), bio/pics and/or disasters. In alphabetical order:
“BOJANGLES, EUBIE AND BERT!” Three Black musical legends of the past – Bert Williams, Eubie Blake and Bill “Bojangles” Robinson – relive their show business success in spite of racism and theatrical bigotry.
ScriptLinks
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is a pulse-pounding Sports Thriller about a fearsome Championship-obsessed linebacker, who struggles to defeat an unhinged locker room psychopath in a game of life-or-death consequences.
The Cajun
When a notorious pirate, made immortal by the curse of a Voodoo Queen, is invited to a mysterious poker game in modern day New Orleans, he discovers a clue to find the treasure that can set him free.
Xanadu Shores III Rescuing Atlas
The Xanadu Team, their credibility restored after rescuing Natalia and the painting, are recruited to recover the plans to save the world from a rogue aerospace engineer.
Xanadu Shores (20pgs) -
This Proof of Concept showcases the central characters being introduced with sex appeal, all quite happy, in an office reception area, before the heist, kidnapping and chase.
Xanadu Shores: 10 Minute PoC for The TV Pilot
This Proof of Concept showcases the central characters being introduced with sex appeal, all quite happy, in an office reception area, before the heist, kidnapping and chase.
Xanadu Shores Introducing SEAN LANDERS
A recently discharged Navy pilot returns home anticipating matrimony, soon learning his fiance has cleaned out their wedding account and moved to Las Vegas.
Xanadu Shores II:
Four friends form the "The Xanadu Team" offering security and transportation, land, sea and air when they become deceptively involved with a nefarious jeweler and his charming assistant during an island gem heist, eventually escalating to international espionage in Xanadu Shores III - "Rescuing Atlas".
Xanadu Shores I:
Four friends unknowingly become entrapped after their employer's gold heist escalates to kidnapping.
THE ANDREW JACKSON DEFENSE
A reformed prisoner with a violent past frames his clemency petition using the biography of Andrew Jackson, arguing that like the seventh president, a man forged by violence can still become a force for good.
MASTER OF STATECRAFT
Booker T. Washington risks his reputation and his life to outmaneuver those determined to erase Black voices from democracy.
