Posted on 10/29/2013 5:44:13 PM PDT by Perseverando
This is simply a gem of a movie based on Howard Fast's excellent 1962 novel,( which I still have), of the first day of hostilities between colonists and Britain.
There may have been bigger blockbusters made about the American Revolution (The Patriot, Revolution etc) but to me this under- rated 1988 film is a true classic, capturing the quintessential decency of American colonial village life in Lexington and the developing tensions and conflict on that fateful day of 19th April 1775.
I agree with the 2 previous reviewers that this film is a great teaching tool. It shows many things: the tensions and love in family life, particularly between Moses Cooper ( Tommy Lee Jones) and his son Adam ( Chad Lowe),who is no longer a boy yet not quite a man; romance between Adam and Ruth Simmons ( played by the lovely Susan Blakely); different generations and how they relate to each other; the underlying strong Christian faith of the era,( which still prevails in American life today); the need to perform civic duties; and culture and costumes far removed from our own period etc.
"April Morning" is also effective because it does not glamourise war or demonise the redcoats. In fact both Adam and a young redcoat are both seen, at various stages, to be scared witless by the whiff of 'grapeshot' and of battle. Yet overall, in what is truly a momentous day for Adam personally, (as well as the villagers of Lexington and Concord), we see how the events mature him and this is brilliantly illustrated at the end of the film when he leads his family in prayer for their food and life. This very subtle approach makes it evident that the boy, like colonial America, has gone for ever and has been replaced by a decent man who would,with humility, be worthy of his emerging new leadership role-as would America.
As a non-American I conclude by saying that any American who fails to appreciate this film simply lacks a soul and an understanding of the greatness of American history - a fact which was demonstrated on that dusty Lexington-Concord road 226 years ago- and by the makers of this film who have created another very special "April Morning".
Like many of us, I've seen Mel Gibson's, "The Patriot" multiple times. Personally, I would rank this equally as good.
There is some very thoughtful dialogue in the movie on the fact that the British Army was advancing and what should/could be done about it by the local militia. The characters did a good job in discussing the price of liberty and the consequences of taking a stand against tyranny. (It really made me think about our current situation in America as tyranny seems to be enveloping us from every side.)
According to one reviewer it was a made for TV movie by Hallmark. The movie was made in 1988.
I just did a quick check online and my county library system has Fast's book, but not the DVD. That's a shame.
Added it to my Netflix queue. Thanks!
I also watched this on Netflix. Very good film.
bump
Forgot to mention that the movie starts a little slow, but give it about 10-15 minutes.
ping!
btt
Uh, wasn’t Howard Fast an extreme pinko=commie bastard? Are you certain of the political content?
bfl
I remember recording it and watching it about 12 times on the Betamax in 1988. Then my brother recorded something else over it.
Check with your librarian. You may be able to get the DVD through an ILL (interlibrary loan) if it’s available somewhere in the state. Possibly even out of the state.
There is a movie with Tommy Lee Jones, I believe it is called “An April Morning”. I think it is on Netflix instant play at the moment. A very good movie about the patriots and the British on the first day of battle. The only thing about it I didn’t like was they showed a patriot firing the first shot(no one knows who did fire it). Other than that I think it probably captures a very realistic look at what went down.
Duh, that is what this post is about. Please forgive my stupid post #12. I agree with how good this movie is.
I'm not personally familiar with Howard Fast, but I have seen mention of him being a commie. I guess he can't be wrong all the time.
Yes, I'm pretty certain of the content. The "RED"-coats get their butts handed to them in the movie.
Thanks for a ‘Freeper’ review of the movie.
Going to order it.
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