When the Forest Ran Red: Washington, Braddock & a Doomed Army Review

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(More customer reviews)This is an one of the best French and Indian War Videos on the Market Today. It combines historical accuracy, period costumes and settings, action-packed battle scenes and a great story line that holds the interest of military buffs, and anyone interested in the history of pre-revolutionary America. Robert Matzen brings together a great cast of re-enactors, writers and historians to make this documentary an unequaled success. This film is NOT your run of the mill off the shelf documentary. It reveals facts about Braddock, Washington and the other major players that were even new to me after studying this topic for over 20 years. I give this film the highest rating of 5 stars because it is a great film and reveals an important part of our history at a time in our own history when every American should be learning about our heritage.

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'When the Forest Ran Red' chronicles the quest of the British, French, and Native American Empires to possess the American wilderness 20 years prior to the Revolutionary War.Conflict ignites as 22-year-old George Washington steps onto the world stage as the murderer of a French emissary.In the subsequent battle of Fort Necessity, the emissary's brother leads a French army that defeats Washington.These events lead to the 1755 campaign of British General Edward Braddock and George Washington against the French in the heart of the wilderness.The French and their Native American allies watch Braddock's powerful army move ever closer.With the British a day away, a charismatic French officer leads his French/Indian guerrilla force in a desperate attack on Braddock's column.The resulting battle will change the course of American history.Set in the times of 'The Last of the Mohicans,' the film documentary 'When the Forest Ran Red' tells a haunting and tragic story of men and women caught in a desperate situation.This co-production of Paladin Communications and the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania was shot with the cooperation of the National Park Service, Colonial Williamsburg, and Mount Vernon.Fred Anderson, recipient of the 2001 Francis Parkman Prize for his book 'Crucible of War,' provides commentary as does R. David Edmunds, Native American scholar and author of the Pulitzer Prize-nominated 'The Shawnee Prophet.'More than 25 units of living historians also appear, as does the work of Eastern Frontier artist Robert Griffing.Award-winning Hollywood actor Michael Rothhaar (Ally McBeal, Family Law, Space Jam) provides narration and dramatic interpretationOriginal period music recreations were provided by the Philadelphia folk band Broadside Electric and by The Colonial Williamsburg Fifes & ! Drums.'When the Forest Ran Red' earned a 2001 Silver AXIEM AWARD for Excellence in Educational Media. 2001, 59 minutes, Film and DV CAM, Color.

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Devil's Disciple (1959) Review

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(More customer reviews)This classy film mixes fact and fiction. Bernard Shaw's take on the American Revolution has all the smart touches that we associate with his plays with some scant reference to history thrown in. What makes this movie a hit are the three great actors who are all in their prime here. Laurence Oliver's John Bourgoyne (Gentlemanly Johnny) is simply brilliant. His acid wit makes for a most stunning portrait of this famed general. Shaw was probably inspired to write a play on this subject because Bourgoyne was something of an ametuer playwright himself in the 1770s. The film losely depicts his 1777 campaign from Canada to divide the northern colonies. The plan envisioned Bourgoyne's 9,000 (British, Hessian and Loyalists, with a few Indians) to combine with a drive up from New York under general Sir William Howe's main army. Berry St.Leger was to come down from Oswego with a smaller force. All three were to meet in Albany to divide and conquer the colonies.
Bourgoyne's plan, while elegant on paper did not reflect the logistical reality as far as 18th century armies were concerned. The events were to show that great miscalculations were made. The movie is based losely on the campaign. The towns and locales shown, as well as the characters of Lancaster and Douglas are purely fictional. But the clever plot and role reversal, plus the way these characters evolve in response to events illustrates how the Revolution must have seemed to many not directly involved in it.
The British were fighting a war for the hearts and minds of the Americans (sounds familar in Iraq now). The movie shows this quite well. While a little slow in the beginning, this short film quickly gains speed while its trio of lengendary actors unfold their magic on screen. Its interesting that the production was B&W as the color of the period and the unifroms would have come out better in color. The production value of the movie is quite good with correct period detail, unifroms, military bands, and artillery. While the emphasis of the movie may not be on the Revolution per se, it provides excellent period details all the same.
This sophisticated look at the American Revolution may appear too wordy for some, but it runs circles around such films as the "The Patriot". Whether you are a fan of the great actors shown here, love wity dialogue, or are seeking an unusual period movie, "The Devil's Disciple" has it all.

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The History Channel Presents The Revolution (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)A great examination of the American Revolutionary War by the History Channel. Includes interviews with historians, battlefield maps and examinations of troop movements, letters from the battlefields, and actor portrayals of battles and historical figures.
The Revolution starts out with the examinations of the cause of the revolution, such as colonial resentment of taxes levied after the Seven Years' War without any representation. It follows this through the forging of the Declaration of Independence and the battles of the Revolutionary War. It finishes up with the problems facing the nation after the war.
I don't think I had a good enough realization in school with how hard times were for these soldiers as they waged war. This video goes into detail with the troubled supply lines that plagued Washington's army, the heavy desertion and mutiny (which Washington clamped down on with some extraordinary tactics), and the many failed battles that occured in the first few years of the Revolutionary War. It covers internal conflicts between such characters as Horatio Gates and George Washington.
Also discussed are Benjamin Franklin's efforts in France to recruit the French navy and John Paul Jone's foray into Britain and Ireland.
The first half of the series covers the battles in the north and the remaining few episodes discuss how the battles move south into Savannah, the back woods of the Carolinas, and finally Yorktown.
One problem with the series is that they tend to recycle the interviews and footage throughout.
US history books tend to lionize the founding fathers, but this series (and books such as the Founding Brothers) show how none of these people was perfect, and shows their faults as well as their strengths. I came away with this series (which I downloaded from iTunes, BTW) with a much better understanding of the Revolutionary War.

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The American Heritage Series (2007) Review

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(More customer reviews)David Barton has done his homework. How refreshing to learn the facts that are sadly omitted in today's public schools. All our kids should learn this to fully appreciate the heritage of this great county and what was in the hearts of our nations founders. Learn what you should have been taught and gain a new pride and love of our country and why these truths must be taught, lest we forget and become unrecognizable as America. If you have SkyAngel TV, you can watch these shows on The Golden Eagle Channel.

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Join historian David Barton and experience the untold story of our nation's history in the American Heritage Series.Discover the forgotten and astonishing story of our nation's foundation in the American Heritage Series.For centuries, Americans were taught a truthful view of history that recognized the Godly heroes and moral foundation our nation was founded upon. But in recent years, a new version of history has assaulted the moral and spiritual fiber of our nation, leaving the truth of our past eliminated and forgotten. Until today. From Separation of Church and State, to the Civil Rights Movement, the heroism of our founding Fathers to the building of our nation's monuments, this series will inspire every American to reclaim the Godly, true story of our nation.
This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.

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The Crossing (2000) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a wonderfully done made-for-cable movie about George Washington and his famous victory at the Battle of Trenton in the winter of 1776. Starring Jeff Daniels as General Washington, this film brings an important episode in American history vividly to life. We see the broken remnants of the Continental army as it races to avoid capture following their defeats in New York. The British, close on the heels of the retreating rebels, have written the Americans off as being on the verge of total surrender. Washington, tired and beaten, realizes that he must make one last attempt to achieve victory or all hope for the revolution will be lost. Against the judgement of his officers, Washington prepares to launch a desperate offensive against a large force of Hessian troops occupying the town of Trenton, just across the Delaware River in New Jersey. The future of the new United States hangs in the balance as the rag-tag army bets all or nothing on this dangerous gamble. Well written and with money well-spent, The Crossing is a dramatic telling of this important moment in American history, and one that I would recommend to teachers, students, and history enthusiasts alike.

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CROSSING - DVD Movie

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Felicity - An American Girl Adventure (2005) Review

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(More customer reviews)It's a rarity these days when an historical film is made that is directed mainly to children. It's even more rare when such a film is done well. "Felicity - An American Girl Adventure" is one of those extremely rare movies that shows, fairly accurately, life in the colonial era of our country's history. It also includes some of the discourse between family members concerning the outset of what would become the American Revolution, which, for whom this movie is geared towards, was really taking a gamble. But, I feel it paid off. This alone is reason to award this film five stars, as school children in today's day and age do not always get both sides of the story. Even I, who went to school in the 60's and 70's, was taught that the people who lived in the colonies - virtually ALL of the people - were against the King of England. It wasn't until I took it upon myself many years later to study that era that I found out that many, many folks were loyalists and took arms against family members and neighbors. "Felicity," for the first time that I can see in a movie geared toward children, shows that other side of our history.
As a Civil War re-enactor, I tend to look for farbiness (inaccuracies) in all period movies (not just Civil War era flicks) and I must say there was very little that I could see in "Felicity." Oh, a few minor things in this movie are inaccurate - "Hello" was not a greeting at that time as we know it to be today, and Christmas was slightly over-done for the colonial period - but, all in all, the over-all viewing seemed to be a window into the past.
One must also remember that this is a movie for the younger set and may not get into the extreme details - or may gloss over - certain facts. And, for story's sake, it might embellish on some truths such as little girls disobeying their parents without retribution (although I'm sure most of today's youngsters will not follow Felicity's lead in this).
But, that's okay. I feel films like this (as well as the Felicity books) may just entice kids to learn more about Felicity's time period on their own, and that would be a good thing, don't you think?


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