Give Me Liberty (1936)

Patrick Henry's rousing speech before the Virginia legislature argues for colonial independence.

Director:

B. Reeves Eason

Writer:

Forrest Barnes (story)

Stars:

John Litel, Nedda Harrigan, Carlyle Moore Jr.

Won 1 Oscar.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
John Litel	...	Patrick Henry
Nedda Harrigan	...	Doxie Henry
Carlyle Moore Jr.	...	Capt. Milton
Robert Warwick	...	George Washington
George Irving	...	Thomas Jefferson
Boyd Irwin	...	British Commissioner
Gordon Hart	...	Anti-Rebel Delegate Speaker
Myrtle Stedman	...	Martha Washington
Shirley Lloyd	...	Party Guest Giving Patrick a Violin
Ted Osborne	...	Randolph Peyton (as Theodore Osborne)

Storyline

George Washington tries to encourage gifted orator Patrick Henry to use his considerable powers to argue the case for colonial independence before the Virginia House of Burgesses, but the lawmaker's promise to his wife initially deters him. When the political climate changes, she eventually gives her consent, and Henry delivers his rousing "Give Me Liberty" speech to an enthusiastic legislature.

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Plot Keywords:

patrick henry | virginia | speech | george washington | promise | 

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Genres:

Short | Biography | Drama | History

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 December 1936 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Vitaphone Corporation, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

22 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Vitaphone production reels #7766-7767.

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Goofs

The guests at General Washington's house are shown dancing to Beethoven's "Minuet in G," which was not composed until 1796. In fact, Beethoven was only born in 1770, i.e. five years after the events shown at the beginning of the film.

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Quotes

Patrick Henry: If this be treason, make the most of it!

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Connections

Edited into March On, America! (1942)

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Soundtracks

"Liberty Rules Our Land"
(uncredited)
Music by M.K. Jerome
Lyrics by Jack Scholl
Sung by Bancroft Owen at Patrick Henry's house
Played as background music often

User Reviews

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.