Benedict Arnold: A Question of Honor (2003) (TV)

Director:

Mikael Salomon

Writer (WGA):

William Mastrosimone (written by)

Release Date:

13 January 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History

Tagline:

The greatest general of the Revolution, he became its most dangerous enemy.

Plot:

On the glorious battlefields of the American Revolution, two great generals distinguished themselves; George Washington and Benedict Arnold...

Plot Keywords:

Traitor | American Revolution | Treason | Congressman | Independence

Cast

Aidan Quinn	...	Gen. Benedict Arnold
Kelsey Grammer	...	George Washington
Flora Montgomery	...	Peggy Shippen
John Light	...	John Andre
John Kavanagh	...	Judge Shippen
Tom Murphy	...	Major Franks
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jane Brennan	...	Hannah Arnold
Anthony Brophy	...	Lord Lauderdale
Frank Coughlan	...	Mr. Sewell
Ingrid Craigie	...	Margaret Shippen
Donncha Crowley	...	Von Steuben
Ned Dennehy	...	Paulding
Nick Dunning	...	Sir Henry Clinton
James Flynn	...	French Surgeon
Michael Ford	...	Colonel Jameson
Adam Goodwin	...	Andre's Sergeant
Stephen Hogan	...	Joseph Reed
Rory Keenan	...	Militiaman
Mark Lambert	...	Joshua Smith
Allen Leech	...	British Officer (as Alan Leech)
Demien McAdam	...	Benjamin (as Demian McAdam)
Cal Mulcahy	...	Richard Arnold
Finn Mulcahy	...	Henry Arnold
Lochlainn O'Mearain	...	Militia Captain (as Loughlann O'Mearain)
Eamonn Owens	...	Sergeant Smithson
Ben Palmer	...	Courier
Robert Price	...	Captain Hamilton
Dylan Quinn	...	Benedict Arnold VI

Also Known As:

Dark Eagle: Benedict Arnold (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

100 min | Netherlands:90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | Singapore:NC-16

Filming Locations:

Ballyknockan, Valleymount, County Wicklow, Ireland

Company:

A&E Television Networks

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the opening segment, Arnold leads the assault on Quebec. In reality, the battle took place at night during a snowstorm. The battle also occurred within the city, not the outskirts.

Quotes:

George Washington: We shall be hard pressed to find another Benedict Arnold.

The Curse of Treason

Benedict Arnold the tragic patriot made all that followed possible but never was to share in any of it. A hero in battle, admired by the troops, Benedict Arnold is the one patriot we are allowed to see the human side of. The rest now ensconced in stone it remembered were equally also human.

The traditional tragic story line is well staged in this movie. The gold leaf of the CiC well rests on Kelsey Grammer's shoulders who caught the charm and duplicity, the joy and pain, the courage and the ambition of the father of his country.

Aiden Quinn captured the anguish of Arnold trapped between love of country and of his shallow self-centered immature wife facing financial ruin and suffering egregious physical and psychological scars. Not shown in the movie was the usual "cure" of the pre-pencillin days. Arnold was probably drunk most the time all the plotting was done around him.

If there are bitter tears to be shed, it is for Arnold, the person who was simply over-reached and over-played.

Comparable films include John Ford's classic: The Informer and Scarlet Coat.