Based, in part, on actual events

Rating: 7/10 (23 April 2005)

The more often I saw this film the better I liked it. Obviously it is a work of fiction but it wasn't hard for me to see that two key features were based on actual events from the Revolutionary War--first, Mel Gibson's character was loosely (very loosely) based on the exploits of Francis Marion, an American revolutionary hero who conducted guerrilla warfare against the British in South Carolina, the same setting as in the movie. Interestingly, the real Francis Marion fought against British dragoons (cavalry) commanded by a Sir Banister Tarleton and Mel Gibson's antagonist was a dragoon commander named Tavington. Second, the climatic battle at the end of the film is clearly based on the Battle of Cowpens, and yes, the real Sir Banister Tarleton actually led the British forces at Cowpens, not General Cornwallis, but escaped the defeat. And the real American victory at Cowpens did, in fact, lead directly to the final British defeat at Yorktown. Actually I think the real history was more exciting than the movie. To my mind, the only real downside to the film was the characterization of the British officer, Tavington. I think the film went way overboard in making the character out to be a hateful and sadistic villain. The atrocities shown were so extreme for a British officer of that age as to be unbelievable. All in all, though, I enjoy watching the film.