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Johnny Tremain is the product of a time
MWMafodda
Johnny Tremain is the product of a time when a film made for television could wind up in theaters and you'd not notice the difference. In 1957, when this…
Johnny Tremain is the product of a time when a film made for television could wind up in theaters and you'd not notice the difference. In 1957, when this Revolutionary War drama was released to theaters, Walt Disney was savvy enough to ensure that movies which made their debut on that living room staple, TV, had no stigma attached to them.
Our story begins in July of 1773 when Boston was more of a harbor town than a metropolis. There, the titular hero, Johnny Tremain (Hal Stalmaster), has a life more humble than he might recognize. A hardworking silversmith's apprentice, Tremain values the standing and stability of his master Ephraim Lapham (Will Wright) and his family of three. In an effort to complete an important (and potentially lucrative) job submitted by the Laphams' landlord Jonathan Lyte (Sebastian Cabot, who would later narrate The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and voice Bagheera in The Jungle Book), Johnny breaks the Sabbath, which was clearly a severe transgression then for the religious colonial people. In the process of covering up his work, Johnny burns his right hand. This act would single-handedly (no pun intended) change his life, for without proper treatment, his fingers begin growing together. Too proud or stubborn to keep residence with the Laphams without pulling his weight financially, Johnny is quickly out looking for a new job.
As you might expect, a young man with a nonfunctional dominant hand is not in high demand. At this low point, Johnny decides to pursue something his mother told him before dying: that his middle name is "Lyte" and that he is indeed a relative of the pompous and prosperous Mister Jonathan of the same name. Not the least bit convinced, Mr. Lyte has Johnny arrested on the suspicion of stealing a family heirloom as part of his scam. Johnny winds up behind bars, but has the good fortune to have Josiah Quincy (Whit Bissell), one of the best lawyers in Boston, defending him. With Quincy's service and some testimony from his former master's daughter Cilla (Luana Patten in her first adult role for Disney, following a career as a child actor in films like Song of the South, So Dear To My Heart, and Fun and Fancy Free), Johnny walks free.
Silversmith's apprentice Johnny Tremain takes a piece to Paul Revere for examination. JT hears about The Observer from this laid back young gentleman.
Still in need of a job, Johnny finds work as a one-handed horse-riding messenger boy for a publication called The Observer. This newspaper is the voice of the Sons of Liberty, a growing organization with members who are interested in obtaining basic rights for Americans. It is this new source of employment that pushes Johnny towards the American Revolution movement and makes his an historical story worth telling. It leads Tremain to the Boston Tea Party, where the Sons of Liberty, unconvincingly dressed as Indians, throw an extraordinary amount of tea off a boat into Boston Harbor, in protest of the British government's taxations and other activities. It is where the first of two installments neatly culminates for television airings.
The second half of the film begins in the spring of 1775 and one can assume Johnny's right hand has been surgically treated in the passed time, though it's never explicitly stated. This half of Johnny Tremain features more of the historically significant but at a cost: it's noticeably less engaging. It details the Sons of Liberty's progression towards battle, with too many specifics to appease historians and American Revolution buffs and not enough of the human drama that made Act One so fluid and captivating. By the time the film is done, rousing speeches have been given and some gunshots fired, and the viewer is still compelled by what is going on, but the potent emotional core seems to have come subservient to vague ideals and some dry facts.
Overall, Johnny Tremain is a noble and mostly enjoyable effort but one which demands your attention and sometimes struggles to retain it. With sharp dialogue and fine acting, the stately historical drama proceeds in an interesting and technically sound fashion. The film is even able to overcome one of its biggest drawbacks - namely, that it was clearly shot on a budget. This is evident in how much a film about taking action consists solely of talking, plus the liberal use of only partly-convincing matte work to make the sound stages appear like location shooting.
The pompous Jonathan Lyte laments the dumping of valuable tea. Look at Johnny Tremain (Hal Stalmaster) and Cilla (former Disney child star Luana Paten) look all important and patriotic.
Johnny Tremain represents director Robert Stevenson's debut outing for Disney. It is the first of nineteen theatrically-released Disney films that put Stevenson at the helm. While Stevenson was the on-set shot-caller behind such studio hits as Old Yeller, Darby O'Gill and the Little People, Mary Poppins and The Love Bug, it's often difficult to distinguish his sensibilities from what is perceived as the general Disney "aesthetic." As such, Tremain feels like one of Walt Disney's early live action dramas and specific praises and criticisms are tough to pinpoint.
The film is adapted from Esther Forbes' award-winning 1940s account and while it reportedly takes a few dramatic licenses with the story, like most chapters of history that are more than two hundred years old, such inaccuracies are likely to be detected by an esoteric scholarly lot. For taking liberties, I wish that Tremain had gone further if it would render it a little less dry and static. Even with the budget limitations, the film teeters on the brink of truly rousing and inspiring art, but falls a bit short of timelessness.
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★ 6 / 10
" If you mean to start a war, . . . let it begin here "
thinker1691
In the 1700's, England had in it's possession perhaps the most lucrative colonies in the world, securely in its grasp. However, due to poor management and a…
In the 1700's, England had in it's possession perhaps the most lucrative colonies in the world, securely in its grasp. However, due to poor management and a royal arrogance, it instead created enough resentment to establish a growing uprising which led instead to The Revolutionary War. That is the setting which author Esther Forbes used to write her book. The Walt Disney film directed by Robert Stevenson, which used her book is called " Johnny Tremain. " The story follows the exploits of young silversmith apprentice Johnny Tremain (Hal Stalmaster) as he does his best to stay out of the approaching conflict, seek his mother's brother and keep to his trade. Unfortunately, events soon engulf him and his country, beginning in Boston with a rebellion over an imposed Tea Tax. Thereafter, the movie traces the growth of the Sons of Liberty and their efforts to secure their rights as Englishmen. Thrown in for good measure are the key figures of the Revolution including Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, John Adams, his cousin Quincy and James Otis (played by Jeff York). Key events like The Battle of Lexington, Concord Bridge and the "Shot Heard round the world" are added to coincide with American history. Although, his life is central to the story, it's added only for continuity to the War and it's place in history. Nevertheless, it's a good and wholesome movie and easy for students to learn of the important segments of our early country. Easily recommended for the entire family. ***
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★ 7 / 10
The exciting and thrilling story of the brave patriots that participated in the American independence
ma-cortes
The true story of the gallant American patriots that took part in the American Revolution . The film being dedicated to the youth of the world. Set in 1773…
The true story of the gallant American patriots that took part in the American Revolution . The film being dedicated to the youth of the world. Set in 1773 Boston when the valiant patriots participated in the Boston Tea Party, this deed signed the initiation of American war of independence . Based correctly on historical events with inclusion of various known happenings, as the notorious feat carried out by Paul Revere .Well recreated the beginning hostilities in April 19, 1775, skirmishes among the British troops and the colonial militia in Lexington and Concord. The first battle of the American war was in Lexington , Northwest of Boston .Anticipating a rebellion , general Thomas Gage sent 800 troops to seize stores at Concord and arrest John Hancock and John Adams , two prominent American rebels. An advance party encountered a party of about 50 minutemen , American rebel militia , on Lexington . They refused to disperse when ordered to do so, and then Brits to open fire . 8 Minutemen were killed and the remainder retired . Fervent patriots against redcoats were led by Salomón Chandler .The British party turned back for Concord and was later ambushed , it was only saved by reinforcements sent out from Concord . The total losses in two actions were 73 British troops killed and 174 wounded , 49 Americans killed and 39 wounded . While Johnny Tremain , Hal Stalsmaster , is drawn into the war . Along the way , he falls for a beautiful girl , Luana Patten , befriends a Revolutionary young , Richard Beymer , and learns about life, being caught up in the dangerous events of the revolution . As he joins the Sons of Liberty, a group of colonists who get together secretly and scheme their strategies against the tyrannical British rule.The picture is a good adaptation upon the notorious historic events, being colorfully shot with great cinematograpy by Charles Boyle and rousing musical score by George Bruns . Directed with tenderness and carefully cast and appealing to history aficionados and sentimental susceptibilities . In the movie appears several historical characters as Samuel Adams , Paul Revere, Otis , Josiah Quincy, Joseph Warren , all of them played by notorious actors. The motion picture was well directed by Robert Stevenson . He was a fine craftsman from Walt Disney studio who made several movies and hits , such as Mary Poppins, The darn cat , Monkey's uncle , Gnome Mobile , BlackBeard ghost, The love bug , My dog the thief , The Island at the top of the world, Our Dinosaurio is missing , The shaggy DA, In search of castaways, Herbie rides again , Old Yeller, Kidnapped, Darby O'Gill, Bednobs and broomsticks, among others. The flick will appeal to American history buffs.
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Ive only seen the BW version, thanks!