Season 4 of "Daniel Boone" continues an upward arc in its storytelling with an origin-of-the-Revolution hour. A British garrison occupies Boonesborough, raises the Union Jack over the fort, and seizes Patriot activist David Hubbard; Hubbard's family captures a Redcoat in retaliation. Dan searches for a resolution short of bloodshed.
As explained below the history falls short, but for an around-the-fort episode the period drama is well executed. Inevitably, Peter Brimilow's British Colonel Holland will draw instant comparisons with Hugh Laurie's parts in the BBC's "Blackadder" history comedies. The redcoats are apparently recruited from a British Invasion 1960's band assembly area, with mod hairstyles to match. Balancing this out is a chance to see Emmy and Golden Globe recipient Barbara Hershey in an early stage of her career; she provides the requisite romance with the captured redcoat. Dan is somewhat subsumed in the Boonesborough tableaux, but constructively.
The episode is firmly dated as a month after the Boston Massacre, putting it in 1770 and five years before the real Boonesborough was founded. Reference is made to Lexington, Ky., also nonexistent in 1770. No British forces on duty in Kentucky as of that date, and at best minimal contingents accompanying and advising tribal raiding parties during the war years. The redcoat contingent is also said to be based out of Salem, NC, and also no historical basis for that.
Redcoat report: about 15, a rather substantial mini-army for the series. Again uniformed as the Royal American Regiment, which was stationed in the West Indies as of 1770.
In a nod to research in the most abbreviated form, there was a real David Hubbard in the region. He was a War of 1812 veteran, Alabama pioneer, and later Confederate congressman. But, he was Virginia-born in 1792, and definitely not a Son of Liberty in 1770.
This hour was directed by Humphrey Bogart costar Ida Lupino, and she makes good use of the assigned materials to keep the main drama and substories balanced and on track. The story tenor is compatible with the confrontation-standoff-deescalation cycle of many Revolutionary period incidents prior to the outbreak of hostilities at Lexington, Mass. In April 1775. For an hour in which flintlocks are brandished but never fired, a satisfying dose of 1770's drama is delivered.
As explained below the history falls short, but for an around-the-fort episode the period drama is well executed. Inevitably, Peter Brimilow's British Colonel Holland will draw instant comparisons with Hugh Laurie's parts in the BBC's "Blackadder" history comedies. The redcoats are apparently recruited from a British Invasion 1960's band assembly area, with mod hairstyles to match. Balancing this out is a chance to see Emmy and Golden Globe recipient Barbara Hershey in an early stage of her career; she provides the requisite romance with the captured redcoat. Dan is somewhat subsumed in the Boonesborough tableaux, but constructively.
The episode is firmly dated as a month after the Boston Massacre, putting it in 1770 and five years before the real Boonesborough was founded. Reference is made to Lexington, Ky., also nonexistent in 1770. No British forces on duty in Kentucky as of that date, and at best minimal contingents accompanying and advising tribal raiding parties during the war years. The redcoat contingent is also said to be based out of Salem, NC, and also no historical basis for that.
Redcoat report: about 15, a rather substantial mini-army for the series. Again uniformed as the Royal American Regiment, which was stationed in the West Indies as of 1770.
In a nod to research in the most abbreviated form, there was a real David Hubbard in the region. He was a War of 1812 veteran, Alabama pioneer, and later Confederate congressman. But, he was Virginia-born in 1792, and definitely not a Son of Liberty in 1770.
This hour was directed by Humphrey Bogart costar Ida Lupino, and she makes good use of the assigned materials to keep the main drama and substories balanced and on track. The story tenor is compatible with the confrontation-standoff-deescalation cycle of many Revolutionary period incidents prior to the outbreak of hostilities at Lexington, Mass. In April 1775. For an hour in which flintlocks are brandished but never fired, a satisfying dose of 1770's drama is delivered.
