Johnny Tremain (1957)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Robert Stevenson

Writers:

Thomas W. Blackburn (screenplay)
Esther Forbes (book)

Release Date:

19 June 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Family | History | War

Plot:

Johnny Tremain is drawn into the Revolutionary War, and becomes a patriot fighting to free the colonies from England. Along the way he learns about life and about himself.

Plot Keywords:

American Revolution | Historical | Kids And Family | Based On Novel | Character Name In Title

Cast

Hal Stalmaster	...	Johnny Tremain
Luana Patten	...	Priscilla Lapham
Jeff York	...	James Otis
Sebastian Cabot	...	Jonathan Lyte
Richard Beymer	...	Rab Silsbee (as Dick Beymer)
Rusty Lane	...	Samuel Adams
Walter Sande	...	Paul Revere
Whit Bissell	...	Josiah Quincy
Walter Coy	...	Dr. Joseph Warren
Will Wright	...	Ephraim Lapham
Virginia Christine	...	Mrs. Lapham
Ralph Clanton	...	Gen. Gage
Lumsden Hare	...	Adm. Montagu
Gavin Gordon	...	Col. Smith
Geoffrey Toone	...	Maj. Pitcairn

Also Known As:

Johnny Tremain and the Sons of Liberty

Runtime:

80 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Australia:G | USA:Approved (certificate #18446) | Canada:G (video rating) | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Rowland V. Lee Ranch - Fallbrook Avenue, Canoga Park, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Walt Disney Productions

Trivia:

In August 1957, this film was being shown on a double bill with Funny Face (1957) starring Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn.

Goofs:

Factual errors: While in court, Cilla swears to tell the whole truth, etc. "So help me God." The final "so help me God" phrase was only instituted after George Washington became president, as he added the phrase himself.

Quotes:

Samuel Adams: [speaking at the Old South church] This meeting can do nothing more, to save the country!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Once Upon a Dream: The Making of Walt Disney's 'Sleeping Beauty' (1997) (V)

Soundtrack:

Johnny Tremain

Modest Disney drama for young adults

Low-profile Walt Disney live-action drama/history lesson, based on Esther Forbes' book, about a young man in 1773 Boston who becomes involved in treacherous wartime activities. Pleasant, if unremarkable, film on a small-scale. Hal Stalmaster is fine (if uncharismatic) in the lead, but supporting players Luana Patten and Jeff York are very good. Sebastian Cabot steals the picture with a delightfully nasty portrayal of an upper-crust snob. The Disney studios would eventually get much more adventurous than this with their dramatic output, but there are some finely-wrought scenes here that engaged youngsters at the time. ** from ****