Patrick Henry's rousing speech before the Virginia legislature argues for colonial independence.Patrick Henry's rousing speech before the Virginia legislature argues for colonial independence.Patrick Henry's rousing speech before the Virginia legislature argues for colonial independence.
- Won 1 Oscar
- 1 win total
Photos
Ted Osborne
- Randolph Peyton
- (as Theodore Osborne)
Ralph Brooks
- Delegate
- (uncredited)
Carrie Daumery
- Party Guest
- (uncredited)
Jesse Graves
- Moses - Washington's Servant
- (uncredited)
Charles Frederick Lindsley
- Narrator
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
Jack Mower
- Gentleman
- (uncredited)
Bancroft Owen
- Tom
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaVitaphone production reels #7766-7767.
- GoofsThe guests at General Washington's house are shown dancing to Ludwig van Beethoven's "Minuet in G", which was not composed until 1796. In fact, Beethoven was born in 1770; i.e., five years before the events shown at the beginning of the film.
- Quotes
Patrick Henry: If this be treason, make the most of it!
- Crazy credits[Prelude] Our country's struggle for independence brought forth many great men. Some who earned their greatness by sword ~ others by pen.
One there was, whose name is immortal because he had a gift of oratory and the courage to use it. This is the story of that man ~ Patrick Henry.
Virginia 1765
- ConnectionsEdited into The Bill of Rights (1939)
- SoundtracksLiberty Rules Our Land
(uncredited)
Music by M.K. Jerome
Lyrics by Jack Scholl
Sung by Bancroft Owen (dubbed by Dick Foran) at Patrick Henry's house
Played as background music often
Featured review
Salute To A Patriot
A Vitaphone Technicolor Short Subject.
John Henry's passionate `GIVE ME LIBERTY' speech in 1775 rouses the Virginia legislators into joining the American Revolution.
This fine little film focuses in on Patrick Henry (1736-1799) and what finally led him to declare his beliefs regarding political separation from Great Britain. Actor John Litel does a magnificent job in performing the great speech which was delivered by Henry at St. John's Church in Richmond.
The film errs in putting too much of a romantic twist into the plot, with Henry missing his wife so much that he can't get motivated to make his declaration until he sees her enter the church balcony unexpectedly. The real story is more interesting. Henry's first wife, Sarah Shelton, whom he married in 1754, had gone completely insane. Mental illness was not understood in the 18th Century and was considered somewhat shameful. It is indeed ironic that Patrick Henry, that great champion of human liberty & freedom, kept his mad wife confined in the cellar. It was not until after her death that he wed Dorothea Dandridge.
GIVE ME LIBERTY won the Academy Award for Best Color Short Subject for 1936.
Often overlooked or neglected today, the one and two-reel short subjects were useful to the Studios as important training grounds for new or burgeoning talents, both in front & behind the camera. The dynamics for creating a successful short subject was completely different from that of a feature length film, something akin to writing a topnotch short story rather than a novel. Economical to produce in terms of both budget & schedule and capable of portraying a wide range of material, short subjects were the perfect complement to the Studios' feature films.
John Henry's passionate `GIVE ME LIBERTY' speech in 1775 rouses the Virginia legislators into joining the American Revolution.
This fine little film focuses in on Patrick Henry (1736-1799) and what finally led him to declare his beliefs regarding political separation from Great Britain. Actor John Litel does a magnificent job in performing the great speech which was delivered by Henry at St. John's Church in Richmond.
The film errs in putting too much of a romantic twist into the plot, with Henry missing his wife so much that he can't get motivated to make his declaration until he sees her enter the church balcony unexpectedly. The real story is more interesting. Henry's first wife, Sarah Shelton, whom he married in 1754, had gone completely insane. Mental illness was not understood in the 18th Century and was considered somewhat shameful. It is indeed ironic that Patrick Henry, that great champion of human liberty & freedom, kept his mad wife confined in the cellar. It was not until after her death that he wed Dorothea Dandridge.
GIVE ME LIBERTY won the Academy Award for Best Color Short Subject for 1936.
Often overlooked or neglected today, the one and two-reel short subjects were useful to the Studios as important training grounds for new or burgeoning talents, both in front & behind the camera. The dynamics for creating a successful short subject was completely different from that of a feature length film, something akin to writing a topnotch short story rather than a novel. Economical to produce in terms of both budget & schedule and capable of portraying a wide range of material, short subjects were the perfect complement to the Studios' feature films.
helpful•73
- Ron Oliver
- Mar 14, 2003
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Broadway Brevities (1936-1937 season) #12: Give Me Liberty
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime22 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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