Year:  1957
Rating: 7.0

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This was a little jaunt into my childhood when on Sunday nights I would be glued to my chair waiting for the Walt Disney show to come on with the Disney logo of a castle and fireworks signaling adventure ahead. I recall loving Johnny Tremain and after seeing it again I can understand why a boy would. As an adult it stands up pretty well too!


Based on a 1943 book by Esther Forbes (which I think I read as well), it relates the story of the events leading up to the American Revolution in Boston told through the eyes of a young teenager, Johnny Tremain (Hal Stalmaster). It goes from the Boston Tea Party to the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere to the battle of Concord and Lexington which was the spark that set off the Revolution. Tremain is an apprentice silversmith until an accident fuses his fingers together and he has to quit. But he joins the underground Sons of Liberty serving the likes of Paul Revere (Walter Sande), Sam Adams (Rusty Lane), Josiah Quincy II (Walt Bissell), Joseph Warren (Walter Coy) and James Otis (Jeff York). All real figures in the Revolution. It is fairly accurate history as far as it goes and a good lesson. I think it was shows like this that led me further down the line to major in History. Damn you Johnny Tremain!


It is also I suppose great propaganda - teaching us about the values of liberty, freedom, individualism, equality, self-sufficiency and patriotism that we used to hold so dear as an idea. James Otis - who coined the expression No Taxation without Representation - gives a great speech about these ideas in What are We Fighting For. More than just taxation and tea - more than just for us - but to spread an idea around the world of freedom without tyranny. There has been lots of historical debate about the reasons for the Revolution - it was generally led by the wealthy landowners and merchants - was it about freedom or wealth - it is ironic that many of these men had slaves. Certainly the people of the colonies had more freedom than nearly anywhere in the world - even the British people - so What Were They Fighting For is a complicated question.


But those are question for academics to joust about - Johnny Tremain is a terrific exciting plunge into history for children of any age. Btw - also on hand as the loyal Tory and relative of Tremain was Sebastian Cabot though I didn't recognize him for a while without his Mr. French beard till his voice rang the bell of Family Affair.