"John Adams" Don't Tread on Me (2008)

Director:

Tom Hooper

Writers (WGA):

Kirk Ellis (written by)
David McCullough (book)

TV Series:

"John Adams" (2008)

Original Air Date:

23 March 2008 (Season 1, Episode 3)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History

Plot:

Over the emotional objections of Abigail, John Adam and his son endure turbulent seas and an encounter...

Plot Keywords:

Paris France | Philosophy Of Diplomacy | Frustration | Illness | Sailing Ship

Cast

Paul Giamatti	...	John Adams
Laura Linney	...	Abigail Adams
Danny Huston	...	Samuel Adams
John Dossett	...	Benjamin Rush
Jean-Hugues Anglade	...	Comte de Vergennes
Judith Magre	...	Madame Helvétius
Steven Hinkle	...	Young John Quincy Adams
Madeline Taylor	...	Young Nabby Adams
Neal Huff	...	Captain John Tucker
Tom Wilkinson	...	Benjamin Franklin
Jerome Aarts	...	Dutch Doctor
Jean Brassard	...	Admiral D'Estaing
Pip Carter	...	Francis Dana
Jules Croiset	...	Second Dutch Banker
Michael Hall D'Addario	...	Young Charles Adams (as Michael D'Addario)

Jose L. Penaranda	...	Congressman / Sailor / Townsman
Aaron Angus	...	Sailor / British Sailor / Dead Hero / Militia
Josh Archer	...	Sailor / Frenchman in Mob / Senator
Adrian Black	...	Senator (as Brian Ross Huse)
Mitch Bordeaux	...	Juror
Christopher Clawson	...	Senator (uncredited)
Rhett Coates	...	Wharfman (uncredited)
Matt Cockburn	...	Colonial Militia Man
Tim Colmus	...	Senator
Michael L. Colosimo	...	Artillery Soldier (uncredited)
Thomas Joe Craig	...	Redcoat / bostonian
John E. Daniel	...	British Sailor
Daniel Michael DeLuca	...	Boston Citizen / British Sailor
Kurtis Dement	...	Citizen
Sam Edens	...	Sailor
David Foster	...	Boston aristocrat (uncredited)
Bill Gentry	...	Sons of Liberty (uncredited)
Mariano Gowland	...	Mohawk Indian
Matt Gulbranson	...	Militia Leader (uncredited)
Chris Gulluscio	...	Redcoat
Sean Haggerty	...	Congressman
Alec Stephens III	...	House Servant
Lucky Judd	...	Maryland Delegate
Landon Kerric	...	William Stephens
Sean Kraemer	...	Son of Liberty / Boston Citizen
Kirk Lambert	...	Delegate
Todd A. Langenfeld	...	Red Coat Officer Brown, Bostonian Fireman, Ship Helmsman
Kerry Meushaw	...	New Jersey Delegate
Frank Moran	...	New York Delegate
Jared Morrison	...	Sons of Liberty horseman
Austin Murray	...	Continental Artillery NCO
Sandor Istvan Nagy	...	French Guest
Sam Navarro	...	British Soldier
Fred Ortiz	...	Eastern Indian
Tim Paterson	...	Virginia Delegate
Gavin Peretti	...	Redcoat / Bostonian
Chaz Petteway	...	Young french naval officer
Phillip A. Ranallo	...	Redcoat (uncredited)
Jordan Rozum	...	Citizen / Redcoat
Mark Ruggiero	...	Senator
Tom Patrick Stephens	...	New Jersey Senator (as Tom Stephens)
Patrick Michael Strange	...	British Sailor / Boston Townsman / Upperclass Philadelphian (uncredited)
Stephen Szibler	...	British Sailor / Militia with smallpox (uncredited)
Tom Townsend	...	Redcoat (uncredited)
Robert Tucker Jr.	...	Drunk Citizen
Terry Ward	...	Tavernkeeper (uncredited)
Justin Weiss	...	Apprentice, Militia (uncredited)
John D. Wilkinson	...	Goya Man
Bruce Williamson	...	William Billings
Kyle Windley	...	Minute Man
Nora Bauer	...	Bostonian Townsperson (uncredited)
Tarnee Kendell Hudson	...	George Washington Servant (uncredited)
Sara Jerez	...	French Aristocrate
Aisha Renée Moore	...	President's House Slave Worker (uncredited)
Amanda O'Connor	...	Pro-French supporter (uncredited)
H. Lynn Smith	...	Traveller
Zanny Wade	...	Crying Woman

Language:

French | Dutch

Certification:

Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Budapest, Hungary

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In Episode 3, a camera is reflected in the carriage window glass during a close-up of young John Quincy Adams just before his departure for Russia. Even the lettering (reversed in the reflection but readable) of the camera's make and model are clearly visible: ARRIFLEX 35.

An American in Paris, (in Amsterdam too!)

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Abigail and John Adams are united at the beginning of this chapter. Alas, happiness is short lived, when he informs his wife about his impending trip to Paris, where he, at the request of Benjamin Franklin, has been tapped to ask for money to help the new nation Adams helped create. Abigail's objections to the voyage was something that her husband was not counting on. As a sort of compromise, John decides to bring along his oldest son, to be with him.

The sea passage is a rough one. John was not a good traveler, as we see him get sick repeatedly. To make matters worse, the vessel where he is traveling, meets an English ship in the vicinity. Fire is exchanged, after John starts shooting at the enemy. The result is damage to the American ship with some casualties, among them, a man that loses a leg in a grueling operation.

When John Adams arrives in France, he is not quite ready for what he encounters. First of all, there is Benjamin Franklin, who is involved with an older noble woman, who he believes is the entry into king Louis' court. John, is appalled at the extravagant display of riches that was the norm among the higher classes. Being a practical man, he must adapt, but his heart is not in it. Meeting the king, leaves John disappointed. Since he cannot speak French he is at sea most of the time.

When the time comes to move on to Holland, John Adams, encounters a less refined audience. The Dutch were somber in comparison to the vanity he found in France. His pleads for credit from the government of that country is met with reluctance because John Adams cannot promise what the lenders want. Besides, his request for ten million is much more than what the money men can offer; after all, the United States had no credit at the moment. John Adams becomes seriously sick and he decides to send his son back to America.

Although not as effective as the previous two episodes, this one presents a slice of what life in France was like during the period John was there. Director Tom Hooper does not spare anything in showing the excesses of a society that was doomed to face a new reality. That would be come later during the French Revolution. Kirk Ellis, is the thing that glues everything. Tak Fujimoto shares the credit for the splendid photography with Danny Cohen. Joseph Vitarelli's music adds texture to this installment. The team behind the art direction did a splendid job in recreating the spectacle that was Versailles during those years.

All the principals do an excellent job to recreate their continuing roles. Tom Wilkinson surprises as Benjamin Franklin. Jean-Hugh Anglades and Judith Magre make excellent contributions as the French aristocrats that come to help John and Benjamin in their cause.