The Tree of Liberty
(1940)
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The Tree of Liberty
(1940)
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Cary Grant | ... |
Matt Howard
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| Martha Scott | ... |
Jane Peyton-Howard
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| Cedric Hardwicke | ... |
Fleetwood Peyton
(as Sir Cedric Hardwicke)
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Alan Marshal | ... |
Roger Peyton
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| Richard Carlson | ... | ||
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Paul Kelly | ... |
Capt. Jabez Allen
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Irving Bacon | ... |
Tom Norton
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Elisabeth Risdon | ... |
Aunt Clarissa
(as Elizabeth Risdon)
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Anne Revere | ... |
Mrs. Betsy Norton
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Tom Drake | ... |
James Howard at 16
(as Richard Alden)
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Phil Taylor | ... |
Peyton Howard at 18
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Rita Quigley | ... |
Mary Howard at 17
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Libby Taylor | ... |
Dicey
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Richard Gaines | ... | |
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George Houston | ... | |
The film is set in colonial Virginia between the 1750s and 1781. Matt Howard (Cary Grant), orphaned son of a backwoods Virginia farmer... See full synopsis »
What a disappointment! I had never heard of this movie, but I love movies from the 30s-40s, enjoy watching Cary Grant, and find American Revolutionary history fascinating.
I give the producer credit for shooting exteriors on location -- but Cedric Hardwicke provided the only other pleasant surprise.(An over-the-top performance should be expected from a character named Fleetwood.)
Cary Grant was just horrible; as others have noted, he adopted a goofy accent and seemed to be on amphetamines; and he never should have been made to wear buckskins and a ponytail, for goodness sake. And poor, dull Martha Scott -- who could believe that she inspired such love and devotion after one meeting. Personally, I could have done without quite so much "Tom" Jefferson.
The plot was simplistic; the dialog mundane. I couldn't take it for the entire two hours.