"Favorite American Revolution movie" Topic

It can be a TV movie or a theatric release. Or, straight to DVD!

I nominate April Morning. Book by Howard Fast.
In keeping with his political views, it was truly a "people's war".
Lexington Green.
I just wish Rip Torn had been Sam Adams to fire the "shot heard round the world", instead of some disreputable radical n'ere do well.

I just watched it on EPIX. Also available on Amazon Prime.

1776

"Well, in all my years I ain't never heard, seen nor smelled an issue that was so dangerous it couldn't be TALKED about. Hell yeah! I'm for debating anything. Rhode Island says yea!"

The Crossing 2000

Parts of THE PATRIOT are good, ditto parts (first half) of REVOLUTION.

I too will say "The Crossing". The one scene that makes me cringe is in the very beginning of the movie when the Continentals are skirmishing with the British, and the British are in the uniforms from the French and Indian war..

When I was a wee lad Disney's Johnny Tremain left quite an impression, leading me to a lifelong interest in the period.

1776

I can see your point about uniforms. Painters and reenactors care. However in Horrywood, the last thing to spend money on is uniforms. There's a company that stores uniforms by the dozens and rents them out. Even if a movie is being made with brand new "authentic" ((>cough<)) uniforms, at the end of the shoot, arrangements are made.
But we who noticed that make up 0.5% of the audience. It's just like tanks.
Once you get past the uniforms, it's quite good.

This can explain why the British marines in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies look like they stepped off the streets of Boston in 1775.
Heavens NO! I'm NOT nominating any of the POTC movies!

When I was a wee lad Disney's Johnny Tremain left quite an impression, leading me to a lifelong interest in the period.

Agreed--as did Disney's The Swamp Fox!

1776.

…it was truly a "people's war".

Really?

Swamp Fox got me interested in the period

Now now, Kevin. Stop cherry-picking. You would dock someone's grade for that.
What I said was

In keeping with his political views, it was truly a "people's war".

You left out the very important preceding phrase.
And that is exactly what the movie (and novel) is about. HIS view that the AWI was a "people's war". The only American officers are militia officers, none higher than Captain. That's the theme of the bulk of his novels, whether it be his many fine AWI ones, or Spartacus or Masada.

I noted in Bill's "Favorite Communist" thread that one of mine is Howard Fast.

I might also note that I was enchanted by the variety of LI caps. I must investigate that further. And I could pick out and identify many of the regiments on the British side by the facings.

The Crossing
1776
Johnny Tremain
The Patriot (Yeah, yeah, blah, blah, blah. Don't care— still a fun movie.)

Not much else out there, which is surprising.

Oh, and Revolution sucked. Drawn out, disjointed, and boring.
Yeah, I said it. Because it's true.
Ranks as on of the worst movies I've ever suffered through.

As far as I can recall, the only one I've ever seen is The Patriot.

I've heard of Johnny Tremain, and maybe 1776?

George Washington tv miniseries with Barry Bostwick count?

Otherwise I go with:
The Crossing

Yes it counts. I specifically allowed for TV material.
Good choice.

Parzival. I thought the first part of REVOLUTION, in NYC and Long Island, was quite good, except for the repulsive revolution groupie (saw too many of HER in the 60s). Then it did indeed become dreadful.

As long as I'm "allowing" tv miniseries, Turn is quite good, even though it traduces Simcoe worse than The Patriot treats Tarleton.

An oldie, and quite ahistorical, _Devil's Disciple_ with
Bert Lancaster and Kirk Douglas. Laurence Olivier portrayed
Burgoyne.

Filmed in 1959, the film uses stop-motion and 54mm
miniatures to show the movements of Burgoyne's force and
how it was delayed.

I was going to give a jokey answer because the first things that sprung to mind were dreadful at best. Then I remembered…

John Adams.

Drums along the Mohawk.

The Crossing.

Drums Along The Mohawk.

1776
Drums along the Mohawk

I'm split. I really liked The Crossing. Jeff Daniels is amazing as Washington. I also really like April Morning. I read the book for a class on the American Revolution back in the bicentennial year and always enjoyed the story. I used to show the movie to my students back in the day. It was a Hallmark movie and safe.

The Crossing, April Morning (Howard Fast did good.) and 1776. 1776 is a 4th of July ritual in our house since I was able to get the movie on VHS. As a kid, I loved the Disney stores: The Swamp Fox, Johnny Tremain along with other non-Rev stuff like Scarecrow and Zorro.

1776…

"For God's sake John…sit down!"

Eric :-)

Drums Along the Mohawk, The Patriot, and Turn are all good fun even if not perfectly accurate. I like fun so I like them

"The Scarlet Coat" (1955) with Cornel Wilde and George Sanders had its moments.

link

Kinda surprised there are so few. I guess Hollywood likes to see more Benjamins than Washingtons.

"For God's sake John…sit down!"

+1…'Never!'

'Drums Along the Mohawk' is an old favorite.

Turn for me, allowing for the modernizations inherent in it.

Also, an oddball one- Sweet Liberty. Does that one count?

The series, "John Adams," was quite good.

Drums Along the Mohawk
John Adams

'The Hector Heathcote Show'

"April Morning" (1988) – made for tv movie – was good.

Sorry, hate "The Patriot".

I think we did this poll a few years ago. Back then I voted for "The Crossing". Since then I bought the DVD and the film didn't age well. Trenton took place in a blizzard, lots of snow. "The Crossing" had very little to no snow. I noticed onion shaped domes on some of the buildings in the movie. Not something you would see in Trenton. Turns out it was filmed near Toronto. I think there were some other discrepancies that could of been easily corrected had they bothered.

Hollywood has yet to produce the definitive American Revolution film. A "Gettysburg" type film. Voting today I would pick.

1. "John Adams" HBO series.
2. "Revolution" Yeah I know Al Pacino, but the rest of the movie wasn't that bad, if you squint your eyes.

Thanks for the reminder, Disney's "The Swamp Fox" with Leslie Nielsen in the title role.

I will join the chorus for Drums along the Mohawk. The novel is also good. There were a few things in that old talkie that are eye-rollers, such as the Iroquois attempting to storm a fort (they were never so foolish, unless the garrison could be surprised or something, but otherwise, a rare event) The main disappointing thing about Drums Along the Mohawk, is that the Battle of Oriskany is not shown, only the aftermath.

Hollywood has yet to produce the definitive American Revolution film. A "Gettysburg" type film. Voting today I would pick.

Unfortunately, I think a "Gettysburg" type of film will almost certainly never happen for the AWI. I don't think the appeal is there and, except for a skirmish film, the reenactors really aren't either.

However, a "Glory" type film might happen if someone does a script based on the experiences of an African American regiment or soldier.

Or, a script based on Kosciusko being either female or intersex might get set against the backdrop of a larger campaign.

Turn : Washington's Spies

Played fast and loose with historical characters, but made for a very good drama.

Sorry to say this but I found "Turn: Washington's Spies" boring. The episode that ended it for me was the one where Washington lost it and begin hallucinating or something akin to it. His servant was trying to help or make sense of it. I found the scene quite disconcerting. But I have to give the series credit for the Queens Rangers uniform. That was totally unexpected. But too much of a soap opera for me.

Have to go with April Morning. Bits of other films are nice, but they still haven't done the perfect AWI movie. Not sure they will, now.

Really enjoyed Turn: Washington's Spurs. Loads of material in there for wargaming and thought the uniforms etc were done really well.

Tried to like turn. But the uniforms were ridiculous, along with a number of key characterizations.

I realize as entertainment that didn't bother some people, but it did me.

1) What's the shortest one?
2) Does Johnny Tremaine count?

If I have anything to say about it, yes.