A salute to the US...

[Lionheart]

For anyone curious about watching the movie the Patriot, catch the 'how the movie was made' where they go into huge details of how they recreated the scenes, clothes, people, political discussions (town meetings and views of the Colonials) and tons of other aspects where they show you how they attempted to be as accurate as possible in making the movie.

But, it is a movie, not a text book in movie format. Hollywood is Hollywood.

Mel plays a great part.

Thank the Lord that war is over.


Some interesting things occurred in that war also that people refer to as miracles on a huge scale. Books have been written on them. One was the surrounding of Washingtons army near the end of the war. Fog dropped down and encompassed Washingtons men before the British who surrounded them on 3 sides were about to take them, which would have ended the war basically. The fog kept them from taking them that evening. So they waited till morning. During the night, Washington moved his men out groups at a time with small little boats. Wagon wheels were fitted with towels and blankets so they would roll noiselesy through streets. The British thought the Colonials were waiting their doom, trapped against an ocean front, no where to go. The fog slowly lifted as the last 4 soldiers departed on a small boat. (We're talking row-boats here).

No victory for the Britians on that day.

Bill

 

[BananaBob]

Interesting, had never heard of that. :ernae:

 

[kurt190]

I'm not disagreeing but could you point to something that is accurate if you think that movie is not, I'm just curious and want to know history accurately because if we don't, we will fall into the same traps and I see it happening everyday right now. Thanks. :ernae:

Best thing to do is read some primary sources if at all possible. Hollywood is never history.

Typical Hollywood the villain in the film is Colonel William Tavington, he is "loosely based" on Colonel Banastre Tarleton - an English Colonel who commanded the British Legion, made up of American Loyalists. He and his troops earned a hard reputation, "Tarleton's" Quarter" meant none. However they did not herd women and children into Churches and set them on fire. This sort of activity is more Nazi than British. Hollywood not being quite truthful. Tarleton did however surround and threaten to burn down a house containing an American Colonel. he was forced to surrender in his dressing gown.

kurt

 

[hobofat]

First off let me say Happy 4th of July to all of our cousins across the pond.

Now, Lionheart - "The Patriot" accurate? Its one of the most inaccurate so-called historical films made. It ranks along side "Braveheart" - complete cobblers but entertaining.

kurt

It did play fast and loose with some historical figures and events, took some Hollywood licenses, a few anachronisms if I remember correctly, but as a pictorial look at life in the colonial era, trying to get into the "simplified" (by Hollywood, people were just as complex then as now) mindset of the era, it definitely has merit. Like all media that is put forth, it should be taken with a grain of salt, a healthy dose of skepticism, a tall heaping of background research...but also appreciated for what it can show us

 

[Cazzie]

Well, given that some 30 or so % of the US citizens are of German origin (if memory serves me well) makes it kinda a celeb day over here, too.
Wishing you well over the big pond and have a grand day!:ernae:

Were it not for one vote, we Yanks would be speaking a *******ized form of German in lieu of the *******ized form the Queen's English we have as our national language. There were so many German immigrants in the original 13 colonies that once America gained her Independence and a vote by committee went forth for the national language; choices being English German, Spanish, and French, German lost out by a mere one vote.

There are two German families in my lineage, Schnapp and Blankenscheipp (Americanized to Blankenship).

Caz

 

[spotlope]

If you're looking for an interesting account of early American history, I heartily recommend the "John Adams" miniseries that ran on PBS a while back. I got it from Netflix recently, and was just blown away by the depth of historical research that went into it, and the extremely high production values. Watching old JA in his later years made me want to go brush my teeth. Repeatedly.

Ditto on the German lineage. My mother's maiden name was Froelich; a second-generation American.

 

[BananaBob]

If you're looking for an interesting account of early American history, I heartily recommend the "John Adams" miniseries that ran on PBS a while back. I got it from Netflix recently, and was just blown away by the depth of historical research that went into it, and the extremely high production values. Watching old JA in his later years made me want to go brush my teeth. Repeatedly.

Ditto on the German lineage. My mother's maiden name was Froelich; a second-generation American.

Now I did watch this and it was the best I've seen so far and the foresight of these gentlemen is unbelievable, too bad many have already forgotten.

 

[spotlope]

The story of the rivalry and friendship between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams was fascinating, I thought. The book "John Adams", on which the miniseries was based, is a cracking read, even if you're not normally into biographies.

 

[Lionheart]

Were it not for one vote, we Yanks would be speaking a *******ized form of German in lieu of the *******ized form the Queen's English we have as our national language. There were so many German immigrants in the original 13 colonies that once America gained her Independence and a vote by committee went forth for the national language; choices being English German, Spanish, and French, German lost out by a mere one vote.

There are two German families in my lineage, Schnapp and Blankenscheipp (Americanized to Blankenship).

Caz

<-- German, Irish, and French heritage here.

Nothing but a huge cooking pot of other nationalities, all condensed into one big country of everyone, lol..