Liberty! The American Revolution (1997– )

Six-hour documentary on the American Revolution, from the passage of the Stamp Act (1765) through the ratification of the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights (1789). In addition ... See full summary »

Stars:

Jane Adams, Peter Donaldson, Colm Feore

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Jane Adams	...	Sara Scott (6 episodes, 1997)
Peter Donaldson	...	John Adams (6 episodes, 1997)
Colm Feore	...	Alexander Hamilton (6 episodes, 1997)
Victor Garber	...	John Dickinson (6 episodes, 1997)
Anthony Heald	...	Philip Vickers Fithian (6 episodes, 1997)
Edward Herrmann	...	Narrator (6 episodes, 1997)
Alex Jennings	...	King George III (6 episodes, 1997)
Mel Johnson Jr.	...	Jehu Grant (6 episodes, 1997)
Stephen Lang	...	George Washington (6 episodes, 1997)
Terrence Mann	...	General John Burgoyne (6 episodes, 1997)
Jefferson Mays	...	James Madison (6 episodes, 1997)
Donna Murphy	...	Abigail Adams (6 episodes, 1997)
Remak Ramsay	...	Thomas Hutchinson (6 episodes, 1997)
Forrest Sawyer	...	Himself - Host (6 episodes, 1997)
Jake Weber	...	Virginia Officer (6 episodes, 1997)
Paxton Whitehead	...	Horace Walpole (6 episodes, 1997)
Isiah Whitlock Jr.	...	Luke-Slave (6 episodes, 1997)
Philip Bosco	...	Benjamin Franklin (5 episodes, 1997)
James Naughton	...	Patrick Henry (5 episodes, 1997)
Roger Rees	...	Thomas Paine (5 episodes, 1997)
Campbell Scott	...	Thomas Jefferson (5 episodes, 1997)
Jamison Selby	...	Southern Patriot (5 episodes, 1997)
Joris Stuyck	...	Johann Ewald (5 episodes, 1997)
JD Cullum	...	Nicholas Cresswell (4 episodes, 1997)
Daniel Gerroll	...	General Charles Cornwallis (4 episodes, 1997)
Philip Seymour Hoffman	...	Joseph Plumb Martin (4 episodes, 1997)
Byron Jennings	...	John Hancock (4 episodes, 1997)
Simon Jones	...	Ambrose Serle (4 episodes, 1997)
Neil Maffin	...	Anti-Federalist (4 episodes, 1997)
Roberta Maxwell	...	Mercy Otis Warren (4 episodes, 1997)
Francie Swift	...	Baroness von Riedesel (4 episodes, 1997)
Stephen Temperley	...	Hector de Crevecoeur (4 episodes, 1997)
Steve Zahn	...	American Sergeant (4 episodes, 1997)
Mark Letheren	...	British Soldier (3 episodes, 1997)
Kali Rocha	...	Eliza Wilkinson (3 episodes, 1997)
Douglas Weston	...	Sir George Collier (3 episodes, 1997)

Storyline

Six-hour documentary on the American Revolution, from the passage of the Stamp Act (1765) through the ratification of the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights (1789). In addition to narration and interviews with historians, the series uses re-enactments of military engagements and excerpts from letters, diaries and other documents of the period, spoken by actors.

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Plot Keywords:

bill of rights | american revolution | u.s. president | tv mini series | punctuation in title | 

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Genres:

History | War

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 November 1997 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Middlemarch Films, Twin Cities Public Television Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

360 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"Bunker Hill"
Music by Andrew Law
Produced and Arranged by Mark O'Connor
Performed by Mark O'Connor (violin), Jerry Douglas (dobro), John Jarvis (harpsichord), Russ Barenberg (guitar),
John Mock
(recorder) and Mark Schatz (bass)

User Reviews

A fantastic portrayal of the Enlightenment's climax

It is safe to say that the American Revolution was the pinnacle of the Enlightenment. There, all the ideas the philosophes had proposed were put to the test. They passed the test. I don't mean to sound nationalistic to non-Americans, but I do feel this way.

We live in a very cynical time period. We are cynical about our governments, cynical about our past, and cynical about humanity in general. Yes, cynicism is good, but we should also keep in mind how far we have come. I am a history buff, yet I am going to say this: History needs its heros, for without them, it has no meaning to our inner selves. The documentary reminds us of how far we have come.

Yes, "Liberty: The American Revolution" could have had more facts in it, but that is minor. What amazes me is how it was able to show the ultimate goodness in the revolution, yet did so without making anyone a villain. The British are not shown as evil, just as being on the wrong side of history.

Another thing I liked was how the documentary had no dialogue that wasn't historically spoken. Everything the characters said was taken from letters, interviews, and so forth.

Yet I must say, my favorite part.......was the soundtrack. I bet you thought I was going to try to say something deep :) Well, it is true.