On Independence Day, July 4th, in the small town of Twin Rivers, Sam Harper, a US Army soldier killed in Operation Desert Storm and always known for his uncompromising brutality in the military, rises from the dead. He crawled out of his zinc coffin to cold-bloodedly begin to kill those who, in his opinion, do not respect the laws of their country and behave unpatriotically. Nobody loved Sam Harper except his nephew Jody Baker. But soon he will have to try to prevent Uncle Sammy from attacking him with a cleaver in his hands
This low-budget work is dedicated to the “maestro of horror” Lucio Fulci. The film was released straight to video by A-Pix Entertainment. A stunningly creepy and humorous movie, a kind of summer madness from the famous director William Lustig and the equally famous screenwriter Larry Cohen. I never liked Lustig’s films, due to their incompleteness in horror: “Maniac” is rather a tough maniac thriller, and “Maniac Cop” is an action movie with horror elements. And here in front of us real movie horror with brutal murders, a gloomy atmosphere and “black humor”, or rather banter, flowing throughout the entire picture. The director and screenwriter so strongly and clearly ridicule the traditions of American citizens, who are injected with extreme patriotism with a “vaccine of feeblemindedness” while they are still in the womb. It is not surprising that their ratings on the “American film database” are too low; one cannot touch what has been laid down since childhood as the “foundation of a bright future.”
For two million US dollars, William made a fairly bloody slasher film with super-inventive, ultra-original scenes of physical violence: a naturalistic beheading; holding up a person instead of the national flag; driving a hatchet into the frontal part; toasting; burying; the flag is pierced into the body; and another brutal beheading. An anti-war movie with noticeable similarities to “Maniac Cop” by the same director. The special effects and makeup of the well-known effects master in narrow circles, as well as director Joe Castro, are beyond praise, his credo is natural, high-quality murders on the screen without any hackwork. There is a little bit of nudity. The dead killer, dressed in the costume of the symbol of America, “Uncle Sam,” with a huge cleaver, looks really textured and intimidating. A special move from the filmmakers. There are moments in this picture where you can be scared; you can see what is happening in one breath. It's busy here famous actors Stars: Bo Hopkins, Robert Forster, Timothy Bottoms and Isaac Hayes.
A tightly balanced, well-staged atmospheric slasher film with a fair amount of “black humor” about soldier Harper, which will show everyone exactly how to love laws and glorious traditions United States, I sincerely recommend watching it to all fans of the genre, and not just slashers and trash, without exception. An undeservedly criticized and also undeservedly forgotten mini-masterpiece from the cult creators of horror. Moreover, this last film William Lustig.
A little over 200 years ago, on September 7, 1813, an angry article appeared in a newspaper in a provincial city with the proud name of Troy: “This disapproving nickname, earned by our government, has already become common!” It happened in the state of New York, and the nickname, about which journalists so lamented, is now known to the whole world. Hello - Uncle Sam, symbol of the USA.
Uncle Sam is a remarkable figure whose image has been a symbol of the United States for many years. There are several versions of the “birth” of the famous Uncle. Some believe that this figure came from the acronym USLD (United State Light Dragoons), which was used in the name of an American regiment formed in 1807. When anyone asked these soldiers what exactly was “hidden” behind these letters, the answer was extremely clear: “Uncle Sam’s Lazy Dogs.” Thus, according to this version, the figure of Uncle Sam does not have any prototype, but is only the result of fantasy and play on words.
There are many versions of the origin of the image of Uncle Sam
Others believe that the image of Uncle Sam was created by opponents of the War of 1812, since it was referred to, as a rule, by pacifist newspapers, where Uncle Sam acted as an object of scorn and ridicule. It is worth noting that even today the personality of Uncle Sam inspires brave supporters of anti-Americanism. In their interpretation, this “arrogant and arrogant figure” personifies “authentic American imperialism.”
Samuel Wilson of Troy, New York
The most common, but actually unproven, version of the origin of Uncle Sam is mythological in nature and lies in the following American legend.
According to one legend, the prototype of Uncle Sam is Samuel Wilson.
During the War of 1812, Samuel Wilson (“Uncle Sam”), a businessman from Troy, New York, and his colleague Elbert Anderson supplied the American army with provisions in barrels. Out of patriotic sentiments, the kegs were marked with a stencil "US" - an abbreviation for United States, and a joke spread among American soldiers about the generous "breadwinner" Uncle Sam.
Uncle Sam in a political cartoon. Thomas Nast, 1877
Or here’s another version: after the war, Samuel Wilson went to Troy and started producing canned meat. On October 2, 1812, a group of excursionists came to the factory. One visitor, New York Governor Daniel D. Tompkins, asked what the "EA - US" sign on the meat cans meant. The worker replied that "EA" were the initials of Wilson's canned partner, Elbert Anderson. And then, jokingly, he added that the letters “US” “belong” to “Uncle Sam.” This case was described on May 12, 1830 by the New York Gazette & General Advertiser.
The image of Uncle Sam gained particular fame during the First World War.
By the end of the War of 1812, Uncle Sam had already come to symbolize the character of the entire nation, the American state and government. In 1961, Congress passed a resolution declaring that "Uncle Sam" Wilson of Troy was officially recognized as the prototype of the American national symbol.
Annexation of Hawaii. Uncle Sam represents the USA. Political cartoon, 1897
Uncle Sam is usually represented as a tall, gray-haired man with a goatee wearing a red, white and blue single-breasted frock coat. The most striking and characteristic detail in the image of Uncle Sam is his top hat, on which the US flag is depicted. Such appearance Uncle Sam was made popular by cartoonist Thomas Nast. Since then, of course, there have been other, more modern, variations of Uncle's appearance, but, as before, the top hat remains an integral part of his image.
Uncle Sam was and remains a very popular character among cartoonists.
Artist James Montgomery Flagg, 1915
Over time, journalists and, mainly, artists began to regularly turn to the figure of Uncle Sam. The most famous image Uncle Sam appeared on a poster calling for young men to join the army. This poster was created in 1917 by artist James Montgomery Flagg and was later also used during World War II. The caption read: “I want you for the U. S. army.” As for Uncle Sam's face, Flagg based it on himself to save on model fees. In general, the idea for this image was taken from a similar British recruitment poster, which depicted Lord Kitchener in the same pose.
A British recruitment poster featuring Lord Kitchener. Alfred Leet, 1914
Uncle Sam recruiting soldiers for the First world war. James Montgomery Flagg, 1917
It was this poster that gave the Russian artist Dmitry Moor the idea of the famous poster of the times Civil War"Are you among the volunteers?".
Dmitry Moor. “Have you signed up as a volunteer?”, 1920
Irakli Toidze. “The Motherland is Calling!”, 1941
Like Flagg, Moore portrayed himself as a determined Budenovite. Later this idea was borrowed by artist Irakli Toidze when creating the most famous Soviet poster during the Second World War - “The Motherland is Calling!”
Initially, people used some sign with secret meaning, understandable only to a certain group of people. Symbolic forms are formed from two elements: image and meaning. Sometimes humorous, and sometimes quite serious images, figures, sculptures, objects that carry a certain or implicit meaning are found among individual groups united by some interest or secret, among peoples and countries.
Who was the prototype of the American Uncle Sam?
Since the middle of the last century, this has been the name given to the government of the United States, the country itself, and government agencies related to intelligence, state security, the army, and justice. It happened naturally. For many years, private entrepreneurship and business were identified with this phrase.
It is generally believed that Uncle Sam is a playful stand for the abbreviation USA. Where did this misconception come from, which has become a symbol?
This expression was first used in one of September 1813 in an angry article denouncing the government. And a character with that name (Samuel, or Sam Wilson) actually existed. During the war with England successful owner slaughterhouse and part-time merchant was engaged in the supply of large quantities of provisions for the US Army. The barrels of salted meat were stenciled with the large letters US, indicating that the cargo belonged to the state governments. Several dozen barrels marked with these signs were delivered daily to a large military base in the city of Troy, located near the front line.
There was an error
One day, one of the guards of Irish origin began to prove to the soldiers next to him that these letters have direct relation to the supplier, Uncle (Mr.) Sam. The soldiers enjoyed making fun of the Irishman about this. Every day, when another shipment of meat arrived, the jokes began all over again. It was the Togzha who introduced this phrase into use, which was later picked up by journalists.
Later it was transferred to all goods from the USA. There is even a holiday called Uncle Sam's Day, which Americans celebrate on the 13th of March. real date the birth of a popular person who became the prototype of the famous symbol.
When was he first drawn?
The first drawing, a newspaper cartoon depicting Uncle Sam, was published in 1852. It depicted a thin, gray-haired old man with sideburns and a goatee, with a tall top hat on his head. His clothes, painted in colors - a blue tailcoat, striped trousers - were added later. Thanks to the imagination and invention of artists, different years changing the image of a handsome but demanding grandfather in their own way, the whole world imagines that this is exactly what he looked like. Photo depicting real person, may differ from the image invented by the draftsmen.
The real Sam Wilson, judging by the surviving descriptions of his appearance, had a short stature and a rather round, corpulent figure.
Who drew it
The very first “Uncle Sam” was drawn by artist F. G. Belew. There was absolutely no resemblance to the original, the real Mr. Wilson. A portrait created several decades later by D. M. Flegg famously bears the face of the artist himself. It was in this image that Uncle Sam first “put on” a tall top hat and a blue tailcoat.
Today, the famous image is presented in the form of souvenirs, images, large and small figurines. It is present in serious and not so serious subjects, in caricatures with kind and mocking meanings. The whole world recognizes the gray-haired old man with sideburns, and it doesn’t matter at all whether the image of the symbol is similar to the original or not.
Lady Liberty
Another famous American symbol is the Statue of Liberty, installed on Bedlow Island (now Liberty Island) in 1886 on the approach from the sea to New York. The huge structure, disassembled, was delivered by ship from France along the sea route.
The female figure, created by Frederic Bartholdi, has a height of 46 m. Together with the pedestal and pedestal, inside which the museum is located, the height of the sculpture is 93 m. He designed the internal frame on which the copper sheets of the statue are attached. It is noteworthy that the figure is made of Russian copper, and the pedestal is made of German cement.
Under the terms of the treaty signed by President Ulysses Grant in 1877, the United States agreed to accept a sculpture of the Statue of Liberty as a gift for the 100th anniversary of Independence. The pedestal was built with donations from American citizens. For the sculpture itself, funds were collected in France. The gift was 10 years late for the planned anniversary. Despite this unfortunate fact, a grand celebration was organized with a parade in honor of the installation of the long-awaited sculpture on a hexagonal pedestal.
Since then, for almost 130 years, Uncle Sam, in the form of the Goddess of Freedom, has been greeting guests of the country with a torch held high in her hands.
Which of the American images-symbols are most recognizable, absorbed national idea, live in the hearts of many people? hamburger, Mickey Mouse. And, of course, Uncle Sam! This (akin to extractive ideas about Russians: balalaika, caviar) is forever imprinted in the brains of any tourist who comes to the United States.
Character history
Who is Uncle Sam? This is, in fact, main character American propaganda poster. The drawing depicts an elderly man with delicate features, dressed in a blue tailcoat and a top hat in “American” colors with stars. He looks straight at us and says (literally), “I need YOU for the US Army!” The fact is that as a character, Uncle Sam has gained popularity in American folklore since 1812, during the war with Great Britain. According to one version, the supplier of provisions for the army was a certain businessman named Sam. All supplies for the troops were marked then (and are marked now) in bold letters, U and S, which meant, of course, United States. However, miraculously, the abbreviation coincided with the humorous decoding of Uncle Sam (USA - This is where this came from) stable expression. Fortunately, that was the name of the ardent assistant to the American military!
Another version
According to another legend, the United States was not always called USA. Another name used was USAm, from which Uncle Sam (U. Sam) comes. The jokers of that time “deciphered” the inscription, hence the phrase “Uncle Sam.”
Poster with finger
It must be said that Uncle Sam is not the first (and not the last) propaganda for the army. Three years earlier (1914), the British released a similar poster, depicting the then British Minister of War, Lord Kitchener, on it. And the classic drawing of Uncle Sam was designed as a poster in 1917, during the First World War. Moreover, the artist (J. Flagg) painted his face on the character, thus immortalizing himself for all time. Then the famous inscription appears at the bottom of the picture: “The US Army needs you.” Uncle Sam seems to point his finger at the interlocutor standing right in front of him.
It’s interesting that in the USSR they used this idea in the famous poster “Have you signed up as a volunteer?”, only they changed color scheme pattern from blue and white to radical red. The artist who painted this work (D. Moore) also used his face as a prototype of the Budyonnovsky hero and painted himself. At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, Moore updates an old poster - here is a soldier with a rifle, in a helmet and with sectional pouches. And the idea of the poster with the Budyonnovist, in turn, was borrowed by I. Toidze, the artist who created the famous poster from the Second World War - “The Motherland is Calling!”
Tracking picture
All of the above posters, including “Uncle Sam”, are built on a model called “tracking image”. Such a peculiar artistic illusion, known to artists from ancient times, in which, looking at a picture from any angle, from any perspective, you seem to see the character’s eyes. It feels like he's constantly looking at you. In propaganda campaigns, such techniques are designed to enhance the psychological impact on the human brain. To make the picture follow, they draw a person from the front. The body is turned directly towards the viewer. And the gaze is directed straight ahead. In this way the desired effect is achieved.
Uncle Sam today
A classic, revered image in modern interpretation sometimes undergoes some changes: it can be depicted in everyday clothes, even in overalls or jeans. But the cylinder, the same as a hundred years ago, remains traditional. The main feature of the uncle was and remains unchanged - caring for those who need it so much. There is also a well-known phrase: “Uncle Sam is looking out for you,” familiar to every poor or suffering American.
Perpetuate the image
In September 1961, the US Congress passed a resolution glorifying Sam Wilson as the prototype of Uncle Sam. IN hometown businessman, a memorial monument was erected telling how the events took place. There is a similar thing at the grave of “Uncle Sam” in the city of Troy. Disputes about the origin of the character continue to this day. New versions and alternative theories are appearing. Although the exact story is unlikely to ever be known!
Interpretations and irony
In peacetime, as opposed to wartime, when the bright image of the uncle carried positive, agitational, propaganda notes, many caricatures and parodies were created that seemed (at first glance) to “discredit” the name of Uncle Sam. But this is far from true! After all, negative advertising also has a good effect on people’s consciousness. In countries where there is anti-American sentiment, posters with Uncle are often used to illustrate the imperial ambitions of the United States. At their demonstrations and pickets, anti-globalists also sometimes burn an effigy of Uncle Sam along with But, despite all this, the image of Uncle Sam in history has been and remains more positive than negative.
