Will Smith Movie:

Editorial Review:
Looking for a way to make the American Revolution come alive for your child? Based on Esther Forbes's book of the same name, Johnny Tremain takes place in Boston from July 1773 through April 1775, and tells the story of a young apprentice silversmith drawn into a fight for human rights. When an accident cripples Johnny Tremain's hand and ends his hopes of becoming a great silversmith, Tremain finds himself without work and accused of a crime he did not commit. Sons of Liberty members Paul Revere and Josiah Quincy are outraged by the circumstantial case against Tremain, agree to represent him free of charge, and win his acquittal in court. Through association with his new friends, Tremain begins to better understand the current political climate, and eventually joins them in the battle for freedom. Tremain's involvement in the emptying of British tea into Boston Harbor, the arrival of the Redcoats in Boston, and the beginnings of the American Revolution at Concord is powerful and moving. The costuming is splendid, the music patriotic, and the dialogue well crafted. The film stars Hal Stalmaster as Johnny Tremain, costars Luana Patten and Jeff York, and runs 80 minutes. This classic Disney film is wonderful entertainment and a fairly faithful representation of a crucial period in American history. (Ages 8 and older) --Tami Horiuchi

Johnny Tremain Reviews:
These Disney "young heroes" flicks should be relevant to any generation
2009-12-12 - They certainly were to mine. As we grew older, a leftist segment of our generation accused the Disney group (then led by Walt himself) of trying to brainwash us with "reactionary flag-waving values", completely missing the fact that the characters in this story were radicals themselves. If some of us could theorize that Jesus was, why not a fictional young proto-militia soldier like Johnny Tremain? Johnny comes by his membership in the Sons Of Liberty in a peculiar way--he's an apprentice silversmith who receives a crippling on-the-job injury at a time when there was no such thing as Workman's Compensation or Disability. So his career is over when it barely just started. Fortunately Johnny's boss was involved in the emerging American Revolution, so since Johnny is no longer capable of becoming an artisan, he becomes a fighting man. Most people drawing a pension nowadays can't conceive of such "safety nets" as "Comp" not always being there. People who call themselves "progressives" don't realize just how far we've come and how lucky we are that real-life Johnny Tremains helped start this peculiar oft-unappreciated by its own citizens country we live in. I still get a thrill from the scene immediately after the "Boston Tea Party", where Johnny and his comrades march to the Liberty Tree, singing possibly one of the best Disney songs ever.

Johnny Tremain
2009-09-13 - Disney Move, Return To The Days That Sparked The American Revolution. A Good History Lesson.

Just as I remembered
2009-07-08 - This movie was a part of my childhood and it was a favorite then. I enjoyed it again after all these years. I purchased it to share with my children as part of our July 4th celebration and it was a hit. I was delighted, too, to see and hear Walt Disney share his thoughts in the bonus feature. A grand addition to our patriotic jubilee.

Great for History Class
2009-06-09 - The video was perfect for my junior high history class. Something different than a normal history video. Would recommend to anyone looking for history around the Revolutionary War or Boston Tea Party.

Johnny Tremain
2009-05-12 - My students loved the movie. It was a great way to inforce all the concepts we learned about the beginning of the American Revolution.