The Crossing (2000) (TV)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Robert Harmon

Writers (WGA):

Howard Fast (novel)
Howard Fast (teleplay)

Release Date:

10 January 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History | War

Plot:

A dramatization of George Washington's perilous gamble of crossing the Delaware River and attacking the British forces at Trenton.

Plot Keywords:

George Washington | Patriot | American Revolution | Rebel | Military

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 2 wins

Cast

Jeff Daniels	...	Gen. George Washington
Roger Rees	...	Gen. Hugh Mercer
Sebastian Roché	...	Col. John Glover
Steven McCarthy	...	Alexander Hamilton
John Henry Canavan	...	Gen. Henry Knox
Ned Vukovic	...	Gen. William 'Lord' Stirling
David Ferry	...	Gen. Nathaniel Greene
Nigel Bennett	...	Gen. Horatio Gates
Karl Pruner	...	Gen. Sullivan
Duncan McLeod	...	Williams
Andrew Kraulis	...	Billy
Kelly Harms	...	Tommy
Jonathan Watton	...	Cadman
Kristen Holden-Ried	...	Capt. Heineman
Chris Williamson	...	Officer

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Germany:12 | Singapore:NC-16

Filming Locations:

Alberta, Canada

Company:

A&E Television Networks

Trivia:

Though he cast his lot with the Patriot cause, Major General William Alexander claimed to be the Earl of Stirling, a Lord in the Peerage of Scotland. The claim, however, was never fully substantiated. Officers (including Washington) and men alike often referred to him as Lord Stirling.

Goofs:

Factual errors: On December 20, 1776, outside Trenton, General Stirling tells General Washington that General Gates's army "will be with you by nightfall". This conversation is in full daylight, yet Washington then checks his watch and the time is 5:00 - by which time the sun would already have set. (And indeed, in a later scene we see it fully dark at 5:10 pm on December 25).

Quotes:

Col. John Glover: The boats are ready, sir. The men are ready as they're going to be, provided we can cross that damn river at all.
Gen. George Washington: What was that?
Col. John Glover: About the men sir?
Gen. George Washington: No, something about not crossing the river? Glover, you have been a pain in my ass and a thorn in my side since the day I first met you. You'd have been a general by now, if not for your pithy bitching.

Did you know that Washington crossed the Delaware three times.

I didn't either. This and many other interesting facts are revealed in this exciting and dramatic portrayal of General George Washington. It is basically a war drama played out with high realism. The temptation to reduce this piece of history to some kind of patriotic passion play is studiously resisted. Washington himself is played with real aplomb by Jeff Daniels. There are many excellent and gripping scenes of combat. I was surprised to learn that this was made for television. All in all it is a high quality movie good for casual entertainment and only spiced by the guarantee of some education too.

For some reason or another commenting on this movie requires at least ten lines. As much as I enjoyed it, there was nothing about it that suggest a comment with ten lines or more. Seven or less was plenty.