Johnny Tremain

Plot synopsis:
Johnny Tremain is apprenticed to a silversmith, Mr. Lapham. One day, wealthy Jonathan Lyte asks Mr. Lapham to fix a broken silver tea cup. Lapham refuses because he believes he is too old for such jobs. Tremain believes he is skilled enough to do the job, and accepts. After trying several times but failing, he asks fellow silversmith, Paul Revere, for help designing a new handle. Revere tells him to make the handle deeper and larger. Eager to try the new design, Johnny breaks the Sabbath and accidentally burns his hand. The damage is so severe that he will never have full use of the hand again, and cannot continue as a silversmith apprentice. No one will hire him with only one usable hand. The Sons of Liberty recruit him as a messenger, to secretly inform members of the times and locations of meetings.
Johnny confides to Priscilla Lapham, Mr. Lapham's daughter, that he is secretly related to Mr. Lyte. He shows her a christening cup bearing the Lyte family crest as evidence. Desperate for money, he approaches Lyte and shows him the christening cup. Lyte assumes that Johnny stole the cup, and files charges against him. Josiah Quincy defends Johnny in court. Introducing Priscilla as a witness, Quincy proves Johnny's innocence.
Afterward, Tremain and the Sons of Liberty become active in several notable events leading to the American Revolution, including the Boston Tea Party, Paul Revere's Ride, and the Battles of Lexington and Concord. During the Boston Tea Party, Dr. Joseph Warren offers to restore Tremain's hand, allowing him to return to his profession.

Tags: violence, historical fiction

Review:
Being only an ankle biter at the time, the film I was looking forward to seeing was Bambi, I had never heard of Johnny Tremain and had no interest whatsoever in watching it, however, once the lights went down in the cinema and the film started, I found myself enchanted by what I was watching, being an English boy I knew little or nothing about the American War of Independence, I had never heard of the Boston Tea Party and had always presumed that Britain and America had always been on friendly terms, we were never taught about it at school, which is hardly surprising I guess, seeing as the Colonists took on the might of the British military and won!
The story of Johnny Tremain was told in such a simple and enjoyable way, in a way that only Disney could tell a story, that even a 7 year old English kid could understand the plot and historical background.
I would assume that to todays youngsters this film would prove to be dated and uninteresting, after all there is no sex,no bad language and the violence is sanitised, but it was made in a time when values were a lot different and Disney was the king of family movies.
Times have changed, but for all the digital special effects and hype, I for one, reckon you can't beat a good old fashioned movie telling its story in an uncomplicated way, standing or falling on plot, direction and good acting..
Disney makes another book-movie in 1957 with "Johnny Tremain," based on Esther Forbes' award-winning novel of the same name.
It is about a boy named Johnny Tremain, who worked as an apprentice until his hand touched hot molten silver.
This had taken place in Boston back during such wonderful events in history like the Boston Tea Party and the invasion of the British (One if by land, Two if by sea).I have read this book in Calvert School back in 7th grade, I believe.
Our library had a classroom version of this movie on DVD (although a regular version can also be purchased), and we had just checked that movie out and we enjoyed it so."Johnny Tremain" is real good Disney, indeed: a great book made into a great movie portraying terrific American history.Ten stars..
Johnny Tremain took a reverse process in attaining success as one of the best films about the American Revolution.
You can plainly see the seams, but that really doesn't matter.The fictional character of Johnny Tremain who is an apprentice silversmith and his struggle to establish his birthright to the satisfaction of his loyalist uncle Sebastian Cabot is set against the background of Boston in the 1770s.
As Johnny Tremain started as a juvenile novel the issues of the American Revolution are quite simply laid out so that even the lay historian can follow the issues and the events of the Boston Tea Party and later the Battles of Lexington and Concord pretty much as they actually occurred.And the personalities of the Sons Of Liberty come wonderfully alive in this film.
Luana Patten plays the daughter of Will Wright and Virginia Christine the silversmiths that Stalmaster is apprenticed to and Richard Beymer plays Stalmaster's original tutor in radical Sons Of Liberty politics.If grade school teachers are not using Johnny Tremain as a teaching tool when the kids are learning the American Revolution, shame on them..
The Walt Disney film directed by Robert Stevenson, which used her book is called " Johnny Tremain.
" The story follows the exploits of young silversmith apprentice Johnny Tremain (Hal Stalmaster) as he does his best to stay out of the approaching conflict, seek his mother's brother and keep to his trade.
Key events like The Battle of Lexington, Concord Bridge and the "Shot Heard round the world" are added to coincide with American history.
As he joins the Sons of Liberty, a group of colonists who get together secretly and scheme their strategies against the tyrannical British rule.The picture is a good adaptation upon the notorious historic events, being colorfully shot with great cinematograpy by Charles Boyle and rousing musical score by George Bruns .
I saw this movie originally on the "Wonderful world of Disney",long before I read the book for an education class in college.
I once had a father ask me if it was OK if his son,who did not want to read the book, watched the movie , I told him sure, if he wanted to fail the class....
the teacher would have known immediately that he had not read the book,because he would have no clue about "that a man can stand up".That said, the movie is well cast,especially the characters of Dr Warren, Paul Revere and James Otis.(Jeff York as always was wonderful).Hal Stalmaster, who never to my knowledge made another film is just fair as Johnny.Dick(Richard)Beymer is a little goofy as Rab and has fun with the part(unfortunately it doesn't go anywhere.)Luana Patten as Cilla was too old for the part.
They (7th and 8th graders) were totally insulted at how Disney gutted the story, way beyond the need for making it into a "family" movie.
For those poor souls who have said in other reviews how this movie teaches them about American history -- SAD, SAD!One of my students was able to point out, literally, two dozen MAJOR historical inaccuracies -- The Tea Party took place in Boston in December, yet people are dressed like they're in Orlando in August; the Battle of Lexington took place outside Boston in April, when there is usually snow on the ground, yet the movie shows beautiful New England fall foliage!
People who think this is a wonderful movie obviously live in a Disney-created bubble world where every day is sunny and no one ever dies.
They'd LOVE Disney's version of "The Civil War", played by Mickey and Donald, where North and South sing together happily while the bluebirds sing.If you want a good laugh then, READ the novel, then (if you can stand it), watch this movie!.
First off the book Johnny Tremain is both one of the greatest children stories and one of the greatest revolutionary war novels ever written.
The character of Johnny has been changed from arrogant and cocky to pure and innocent in the best tradition of Disney films which can hardly come as a surprise but to expect anything else out of a kid's movie is to be let down.
The filmmaker is telling the story of Johnny Tremain and how he helped with the Boston Tea Party.
His name is Johnny Tremain and, after injuring his hand, he becomes involved with the Sons of Liberty and finds himself at the heart of several historic moments of the American Revolution.Hal Stalmaster plays Johnny and does a fine job, considering this was his only film role.
It weaves fictional teenagers into events surrounding the founding of America.I am just now listening to the original story as a book on tape and really enjoy the fuller version also.Both the film & the book are recommended!I fell in love with this movie as a 12 year old.
I watched this movie to get my grade and because it was from Disney.I liked how they told the story of the years in Boston, Massachusetts , prior to the outbreak of the American Revolution.
On the other hand, the "Disnifying" of books like Johnny Tremain often takes the real heart and soul out of the work, substituting a kind of formulaic style that still manages to be heart-tugging and soul-stirring, but in a much more simplistic way.
But then, the movies were box office hits, so maybe it wasn't so hard.Anyhow, looking at the film, it's not bad, but it's also a little weak.
The adults in the audience might cringe when the patriots start singing "We are the sons of liberty" as if it were a Nelson Eddy musical..The acting is fine, with some talented character actors on hand (Sebastian Cabot, Virginia Christine, Walter Sande, Rusty Lane, Gavin Gordon, Whit Bissell, Will Wright).
I watched Johnny Tremain because I'm taking a history through film class.
The movie is about the Sons of Liberty, it contains the Boston Tea Party and Paul Revere's Ride.
It tells the story about Johnny, a boy who worked for a blacksmith until he had an accident and was unable to use one of his hands, and his journey joining the Sons of Liberty.
I feel like the film followed history as I know it pretty well.
I really liked this film because it had a good sense of friendship and community among the Sons of Liberty.
As a movie overall I think it was a good way to educate people on this history of those stories in an understandable and entertaining way.
We are watching it to see what they were trying to convey to Americans in 1957.The movie makes me question its historical accuracy a lot because the characters are very emotionless.
They are very small battles and they don't last very long.I liked that the movie was trying to make the viewers feel patriotic although they didn't do a very good job.They did a good job with the costume wardrobe and the setting.
I liked the old houses they had in the setting.The characters in the movie had little to no emotion.
From a film stand point, the sets are basic, the camera angles are the same and have no diversity, the wardrobe and costumes look new and not whethered to the time period, and the characters.
My History Through Film class watched this movie for a brief introduction of the American Revolution.
This movie follows the main character Johnny and his journey with the Sons of Liberty.
The movie displays historical events such as the Boston Tea Party and Paul Revere's Ride.
I will probably look up more movies about this part of history so I can see other ways filmmakers have told the story.
I enjoyed that it wasn't a serious movie and made the events leading up to the war for independence lighthearted even though in real life all those situations were serious matters.In ways this movie was historically correct but when it comes down to it the whole movie revolves around a fictional character.
Even then it is still more historically correct then the new world which is based off a story between two characters that most likely never happened and there is no record of.
I would imagine though that at the time of its release it wasn't even neccassarly about the movie quality but the over all message to Americans during the cold war for independence and fighting for your country..
I dont think Id watch another movie like this..
Hey peeps,I've Read the Book Johnny Tremain for my Reading class..and we had workbooks to go with it that we had to answer questions and do strategies for the chapters we read...then when we were done with the book we got to watch the movie.What i remember from the book is that: Johnny Tremain is an apprentice boy that lives at the Lapham's family and learns about silversmith.
Ah, we Americans patriotically remember when we were in elementary school learning about how the people in the thirteen original colonies gallantly fought the British and founded the great nation that we know today.* And "Johnny Tremain" is supposed to represent this.
An apprentice silversmith is on hand for the Boston Tea Party, the Midnight Ride, and Lexington and Concord.These are the events at the beginning of the American Revolution so familiar to us from our Canadian history books.Of course, from a Canadian perspective, the whole revolution is an extreme overreaction to some fairly minor provocations.
The main character, Johnny Tremain, is a silversmith apprentice who hurts his hand and loses his job and home.
Yet Disney's film adaption of Esther Forbes 1943 novel for young and old, "Johnny Tremain," failed to stay true to the narrative of the book and the result is a thoroughly mediocre and bland movie.Set in Revolutionary era Boston, Forbes' novel is the story of a bright, talented, and cocky fourteen year old silversmith apprentice, Johnny Tremain, who because of an accident which cripples his hand finds himself without a profession.
That's understandable (film's need action), but what is not forgivable is the ridiculous joyousness of the battle scenes- Johnny and his friend, Rab, hide behind trees, shoot at redcoats, and seem to be having a grand time!
By having Rab walking around, alive and well, and singing that awful song at film's end, Disney succeeded in completely botching its film adaption of "Johnny Tremain." This is one book that is crying for a remake!.
Johnny joins the "Sons of Liberty," a grass roots political organization, and takes part in the Boston Tea Party and in the famous skirmish at Concord.The legendary events you read about as a school child come to life in a rousing, patriotic tale.
While Johnny is a fictional character, most of the others in the movie are real people such as Revere (with his famous ride), Samuel Adams, and Dr. Warren.
Walter Sande (Revere) and Rusty Lane (Adams) look like their namesakes and give powerful performances.This wholesome Disney family movie may be more appreciated by parents than their children (who no doubt have to read the source novel by Esther Forbes in school).
Johnny tremain was a very interesting Disney story that had a lot of American history involved.
At the time, I enjoyed it very much, and I felt like I learned a decent amount about American history.
In conclusion, Johnny Tremain is a movie that has yet failed to entertain me.
Second, this really only details the Boston Tea Party and the Battle of Lexington and Concord) then Johnny Tremain is the movie for you..
I am watching this movie for a history through film class.
I am watching this movie for a history through film class.
I am watching this movie for a history through film class.
I am watching this movie for a history through film class.
I am watching this movie for a history through film class.
The film maker is telling the story of the American revolution and the group known as the Sons of liberty.
The film maker is showing the perspective of a teenager from this time and his name is Johnny Tremain.
I think the film maker is making the point that everyone can help start something.The special effects for this time are good considering the year 1957.
'I liked the story 'I didn't care for the effects when there being shot Overall I thought the movie was good.
Johnny Tremain wasn't a bad movie considering the time period that it was made.
If I was watching this movie in 1957, when it came out, I would probably feel pretty good about America.
The movie follows the actions and live of a teen that who name is Johnny Tremain as he is a apprentice of a silversmith before he burns his hand on molten silver and how he becomes a patriotic over the revolution as he become a scout for the sons of liberty and how he become a major part of the revolution when having a small part in the revolution as the story is about how the people who assist in the revolution are nobody fighting for the right for our country,.
I watched the film Johnny Tremain for my class and i found it entertaining i liked how they made the main character a hero who isn't that big like George Washington or Paul Revere.
I think that that the movie was O.K but it got kind of cheesy at the end and if you watch the new world that movie was O.K but it was boring even thou this movie is old it is way better then the new world and the historical accuracy was almost close but not there like they did not yelling out the red cots were coming they could have gotten captured that way.
I liked how they put the violence in a Disney movie, because I feel that it teaches the students or whoever is watching an actual lesson, they also included the way that they handled things with work and how they lived.
The only reason i watched this movie is for my history through film class i really did enjoy this movie I liked this movie because it showed you a different side of the revolution even if it wasn't historically accurate i also liked that pacila still tried to help johnny even after he burnt his hand even her grandfather was nice to him un like her mom who tried to kick him out after he got burned trying to help them..
The reason why we watched this movie was for our history through film class.
The reason why we watched this movie was for our history through film class.
I'm reviewing this movie for my U.S. History through film class.
It's a history movie just like The New World was supposed to be.
Johnny Tremain states at the beginning of the film he doesn't want to be a troublemaker like the New England rebels but after many trials fights the British even without a gun.
This movie focuses on Johnny Tremain, an apprentice of a silversmith.
The music in this film is like any other Disney movie, but the Sons of Liberty song is pretty good and very catchy.
i haven't read 'Johnny Tremain' since i was in elementary school, and i barely remember it except for the whole hand thing, but i thought this was a reasonably faithful telling of the story.this film may not be great cinema, but it's solidly directed and acted and the screenplay shows more intelligence and reverence for history than most historical period films.
Disney historical films were usually made with a lot of intelligence and a good understanding of history.