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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
Post Your Script Here!Eternal Blessings
A dying woman enters a time portal to confront her criminal past, only to realize that what she seeks is in the present--but getting back is proving harder than she thought.
Bubbling Under the Surface
After a Holocaust survivor narrowly survives an assassination attempt in her nursing home, a wave of coordinated attacks reveals a covert network intent on erasing the last living witnesses, forcing a police task force into a race to stop history from being wiped out.
Between the Salt and the Sky
A small Portuguese fishing village in 1942 is on the edge of a war that seems far away.
A Risk of Exposure
In 1953, Russian ballet teacher plots to smuggle secret photos of Stalin's crimes while part of a cultural exchange to the U.
AT THE MERCY OF FAITH
A former preacher, haunted by the tragic rape/murder of his twin sister, spirals into darkness as supernatural forces, both angelic and demonic, wage war for his soul.
THE GEPETTO PROTOCOL
To stay "real" in the real world after their last creator dies, an action figure, fashion doll, superhero, anime girl, and crash dummy—now real flesh and blood—must find new believers in ten days or be forgotten forever, and get help from two kids and their dad at a cosplay convention.
FLIGHT OF THE HEN GLIDERS
When strong winds blow a flock of chickens and their coop away from young Emily and Sam's backyard, it's up to the chickens to learn to fly their coop back home.
NOT ANOTHER VAMPIRE STORY
An embarrassment-prone middle school girl's life gets risky when she suspects her pretty older sister's good-looking boyfriend is really a vampire, and sets out to prove it.
The Ephod
Based on a true story, after a disturbing Bible study shatters her lifelong Catholic beliefs, Faith Alvarez is driven by a supernatural encounter to uncover the mystery of the ancient Ephod.
Bre'gan's Fist
When Milo, a cook, meets Bastian, a powerful sorcerer, magic happens.
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