Accuracy in The Patriot

Rating: 8/10 (16 October 2006)

To expect accuracy of Hollywood is a bit much. You object to the portrayal of Tarleton, but not to his being killed. You don't object to Tarleton's father being described as a wastrel when he was Lord Mayor of Liverpool and it was actually Tarleton who squandered his own inheritance, only saving enough to purchase a commission. You don't object to Cornwallis being described as a genius when he clearly wasn't. Do only some parts have to be accurate to satisfy you? If so, which parts? Honestly, I usually consider film an excellent jumping off point to begin research and discussion. What I do find ironic is that a Scot is defending an Englishman. But then the Scots have been doing a rather good job of fighting battles for the English for a long time. As to whether Tarleton was a nice guy was one of the only one of the officers of the British Army not to welcomed to dine with American officers after the surrender at Yorktown. He was that despised during the Revolution. Testimony of his unjustified cruelty at Waxhaw massacre came from members of the British Army, and that very cruelty may have led neutrals to rally to the American cause. But the main point is that The Patriot is a movie, not history. God help us if we are depending on Hollywood or Pinewood or Bollywood to teach us history. Last time I checked they just wanted us to buy tickets and rent DVD's.