Johnny Tremain (film)
| Johnny Tremain | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster
|
|
| Directed by | Robert Stevenson |
| Produced by | Walt Disney |
| Written by |
Esther Forbes Tom Blackburn |
| Starring |
Hal Stalmaster Luana Patten Jeff York Sebastian Cabot |
| Music by |
George Bruns Tom Blackburn (lyrics) Song "Liberty Tree" by George Bruns and Tim Blackburn |
| Cinematography | Charles P. Boyle |
| Edited by | Stanley E. Johnson |
|
Production
company |
|
| Distributed by | Buena Vista Distribution |
|
Release date
|
June 19, 1957 |
|
Running time
|
80 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Johnny Tremain is a 1957 film made by Walt Disney Productions, based on the 1944 Newbery Medal-winning children's novel of the same name by Esther Forbes, retelling the story of the years in Boston, Massachusetts prior to the outbreak of the American Revolution. The movie was directed by Robert Stevenson. It was made for television, but first released to theatres. Walt Disney understood the new technology of color television and filmed his Walt Disney anthology television series in color. But the show, known as Disneyland at that time, was broadcast in black and white. After its theater run in 1957, the film was shown in its entirety on television in two episodes (in color, then known as The Wonderful World of Disney), rather than as a complete film on a single evening, on November 21 and 28, 1958.
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.
...
Wikipedia