John Adams (2008– )

The life of one of the USA's Founding Fathers, its second President, and his role in the nation's first 50 years.

Stars:

Paul Giamatti, Laura Linney, John Dossett

Won 4 Golden Globes. Another 34 wins & 24 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Paul Giamatti	...	John Adams (7 episodes, 2008)
Laura Linney	...	Abigail Adams (7 episodes, 2008)
John Dossett	...	Benjamin Rush (6 episodes, 2008)
Stephen Dillane	...	Thomas Jefferson (5 episodes, 2008)
Sarah Polley	...	Nabby Adams (4 episodes, 2008)
Samuel Barnett	...	Thomas Adams (4 episodes, 2008)
Danny Huston	...	Samuel Adams (3 episodes, 2008)
David Morse	...	George Washington (3 episodes, 2008)
Ebon Moss-Bachrach	...	John Quincy Adams (3 episodes, 2008)
Steven Hinkle	...	Young John Quincy Adams (3 episodes, 2008)
Madeline Taylor	...	Young Nabby Adams (3 episodes, 2008)
Mamie Gummer	...	Sally Smith Adams (3 episodes, 2008)
Kevin Trainor	...	Charles Adams (3 episodes, 2008)
Andrew Scott	...	Colonel William Smith (3 episodes, 2008)
Tom Wilkinson	...	Benjamin Franklin (3 episodes, 2008)
Michael Hall D'Addario	...	Young Charles Adams (3 episodes, 2008)
Rufus Sewell	...	Alexander Hamilton (2 episodes, 2008)
Justin Theroux	...	John Hancock (2 episodes, 2008)
Judith Magre	...	Madame Helvétius (2 episodes, 2008)
Brennan Brown	...	Robert Treat Paine (2 episodes, 2008)
Tom Beckett	...	Elbridge Gerry (2 episodes, 2008)
Jules Croiset	...	Second Dutch Banker (2 episodes, 2008)
Sieger Sloot	...	Dutch Man (2 episodes, 2008)
Lex van Delden	...	First Dutch Banker (2 episodes, 2008)
Tim Seip	...	Sons of Liberty (2 episodes, 2008)

Storyline

The life of one of the USA's Founding Fathers, its second President, and his role in the nation's first 50 years.

---

Plot Keywords:

john adams | colonial america | philadelphia pennsylvania | thomas jefferson | father son relationship | 

---

Taglines:

Join or Die

---

Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

---

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [us]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 March 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

Untitled John Adams Miniseries

Filming Locations:

Budapest, Hungary

Company Credits

Production Co:

HBO Films, High Noon Productions, Playtone

Technical Specs

Runtime:

501 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Lest any modern straight (and sometimes bleached) teeth appear on camera, every last extra in the cheering crowd at George Washington's inauguration got their teeth painted with special fast-drying saliva-proof "gunk" paint. Working-class characters were given proportionately worse-looking smiles than the merchants and aristocrats.

---

Goofs

When arriving at St. James's Palace in 1785, John Adams and the audience glance up to see the Union Flag (same as the Union Jack, but on land). As a royal palace, the Union Flag would not have flown there before 1997. As His Majesty was present, the Royal Standard would have flown; in his absence, the flagstaff would have been bare. Prompted by the controversy over the propriety of showing remorse over the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, British royal vexillological protocol was altered in 1997 such that the Union Flag now flies over royal residences when the monarch is absent; however, the Royal Standard still flies in place of the Union Flag when the sovereign is present.

---

Quotes

John Dickinson: One colony cannot be allowed to take its sister colonies headlong into the maelstrom of war. Parliament will be eager to call a halt to hostilities, as are we. They will seek conciliation. We must offer them an olive branch. I move this assembly consider a humble and dutiful petition be dispatched to his Majesty, one that includes a plain statement that the colony desires immediate negotiation and accommodation of these unhappy disputes, and that we are willing to enter into measures to achieve...
[...]

---

Connections

Featured in Shouting Fire: Stories from the Edge of Free Speech (2009)

---

Soundtracks

"Chester"
By William Billings

User Reviews

Worthy of Golden Globe, Emmy

The only t.v. dramas (historical or otherwise) that I would watch was Masterpiece Theatre because they were mostly British made and classy. Now we have something to rival anything that Masterpiece Theatre put out: John Adams. First, the theme music is first rate slowing building up to a quiet crescendo. Second, the photography is of a theatrical release quality. The set and production values are first rate: you feel as if you are in the scenery and living at that time of our history. The makeup and costumes are historically correct or close to it. Finally, what superb acting by Giamatti and the great Laura Linney and the supporting actors are fine. In fact, I can not find a fault with this mini-series so far.I look forward to watching every Sunday on HBO. I agree with others who say this will win Golden Globe and Emmy Awards. For anyone who says this is boring or lacking bloodshed and violence, I say: "Your ignorance is beneath my contempt" - John Adams, 1777( to Samuel Furlong who told Adams that the 'Declaration of Independency would be the death warrant of the colonies."