History Publications
Patriots, Villains and the Quest for Liberty: American Film and the Depiction of the American Revolution
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2007
Volume
37
Issue
2
Journal
Canadian Review of American Studies
First Page
205
Last Page
238
URL with Digital Object Identifier
http://dx.doi.org/10.3138/cras.37.2.205
Abstract
This study of a dozen American films featuring the American Revolution (released 1939–2002) evaluates the major characters (patriots and loyalists), diverse plots, and various social/class themes. Cinematic and popular culture understandings of the revolution are compared with the interpretations of historians to reveal thematic consistencies, noteworthy variations, and conceptual gulfs between filmmakers and historians.
