Here is a selection of films that focus on the American Revolution period:
“1776”, 1972
Director: Peter H. Hunt
This musical film adaptation of the Broadway play of the same name focuses on the efforts of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson to persuade the Second Continental Congress to vote for American independence and to sign the Declaration of Independence.
Starring: William Daniels, Howard Da Silva, Ken Howard, Donald Madden, John Cullum, Roy Poole, David Ford, Ron Holgate, Ray Middleton, William Hansen, Blythe Danner, Virginia Vestoff, Emory Bass, Ralston Hill, Howard Caine, Patrick Hines, William Duell, Daniel Keyes, Leo Leyden, Stephen Nathan, Jonathan Moore, James Noble, John Myhers, Rex Robbins, Charles Rule, Andy Albin, William Bassett, Nicolas Coster, Jack De Mave, Gordon De Vol, Frederic Downs, Peter Forster, John Holland, Heber Jentzsch, Richard McMurray, Mark Montgomery, Barry O'Hara, Dick O'Shea, Jordan Rhodes, Fred Slyter;
Production year: 1972;
Genre: musical, history, drama;
MPAA rating: g;
Duration: 141 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,6;
More information about the film “1776” on the website imdb.com
“Johnny Tremain”, 1957
Director: Robert Stevenson
This Disney adaptation of the classic children’s novel by Esther Forbes follows the story of a young silversmith's apprentice who becomes involved in the events leading up to the Revolutionary War.
Starring: Hal Stalmaster, Luana Patten, Jeff York, Sebastian Cabot, Richard Beymer, Rusty Lane, Walter Sande, Whit Bissell, Walter Coy, Will Wright;
Production year: 1957;
Genre: adventure, family, war;
Duration: 80 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,4;
More information about the film “Johnny Tremain” on the website imdb.com
“Revolution”, 2012
Director: Charles Beeson, Steve Boyum, Frederick E.O. Toye, Helen Shaver
Starring Al Pacino, this drama tells the story of a New York fur trapper who is involuntarily drawn into the American Revolution after his son enlists in the fight without his father’s consent.
Starring: Billy Burke, Tracy Spiridakos, David Lyons, Elizabeth Mitchell, Zak Orth, Giancarlo Esposito, J.D. Pardo, Stephen Collins, Daniella Alonso, Graham Rogers;
Production year: 2012;
Genre: science fiction, action, thriller, drama, melodrama, adventure;
Age: 16+;
Rating: IMDB: 6,6;
More information about the film “Revolution” on the website imdb.com
“The Patriot”, 2000
Director: Roland Emmerich
Mel Gibson stars in this fictional account set during the Revolution. It features a South Carolinian who initially desires a peaceful life but is driven to lead a Colonial Militia after a sadistic British officer murders his son.
Starring: Mel Gibson, Heath Ledger, Joely Richardson, Jason Isaacs, Chris Cooper, Tchéky Karyo, Rene Auberjonois, Lisa Brenner, Tom Wilkinson, Donal Logue;
Production year: 2000;
Genre: action, drama, war, history;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 165 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,2;
More information about the film “The Patriot” on the website imdb.com
“Drums Along the Mohawk”, 1939
Director: John Ford
Directed by John Ford and set during the American Revolutionary War, this film dramatizes the life of settlers in the Mohawk Valley who must defend their homes from Tory and Native American attacks.
Starring: Claudette Colbert, Henry Fonda, Edna May Oliver, Eddie Collins, John Carradine, Dorris Bowdon, Jessie Ralph, Arthur Shields, Robert Lowery, Roger Imhof;
Production year: 1939;
Genre: drama, melodrama, western, war, history;
Age: 12+;
Duration: 104 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7;
More information about the film “Drums Along the Mohawk” on the website imdb.com
“The Crossing”, 2014
Director: John Woo
A television film featuring Jeff Daniels as George Washington. It dramatizes Washington's crossing of the Delaware River and the Battle of Trenton.
Starring: Zhang Ziyi, Song Hye-gyo, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Masami Nagasawa, Johnny Kou , Huang Xiaoming, Lin Meihsiu, Yang Kueimei, Tony Yang, Tong Dawei;
Production year: 2014;
Genre: history, drama, melodrama, war;
Age: 18+;
Duration: 128 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,1;
More information about the film “The Crossing” on the website imdb.com
“April Morning”, 1988
Director: Delbert Mann
Adapted from Howard Fast's novel, this television film captures the experiences of a 15-year-old boy during the Battle of Lexington during the onset of the American Revolution.
Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Susan Blakely, Chad Lowe, Robert Urich, Meredith Salenger, Rip Torn, Joan Heney, Nicholas Kilbertus, Griffith Brewer, Thor Bishopric;
Production year: 1988;
Genre: drama, war, history;
Duration: 100 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,4;
More information about the film “April Morning” on the website imdb.com
Please note that while these films aim to represent historical events and figures, the level of historical accuracy can vary. They often mix fact with fiction for dramatic purposes.
The American Revolution, a pivotal period of change and uprising, has been a rich source of inspiration for filmmakers over the years, offering captivating narratives of bravery, strategy, and the quest for liberty. From the gritty realism of battlefields to the strategic dialogues behind closed doors, these films collectively paint a vibrant tapestry of a nation's struggle and triumph. They bring to life the complexities of historical figures, making them accessible to contemporary audiences and providing a lens through which we can explore the themes of freedom, sacrifice, and the indomitable human spirit. As we reflect on these cinematic journeys through America's fight for independence, it's clear that the allure of the American Revolution lies not just in the events themselves, but in the timeless stories of courage and perseverance that continue to inspire and resonate with viewers around the globe. In essence, these films about the American Revolution serve as a powerful reminder of the enduring values that have shaped the course of history and continue to guide us today.
