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 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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