Based on a True Story Remembering the American Revolution through Film

Film has become an important genre for depicting history—often to the chagrin of academic historians. Yet, in the case of the American movement for independence, the films that have captured the public’s attention are few and far between. This article explores some of the films that have been made about the revolution, and in the process, it answers the following questions: What character types from the revolutionary era are most popular? How do these films tell the story of the revolution? How has that interpretation changed over time and how has it stayed the same? What can this teach us about how we wish to remember the event? Finally, has television done any better in its treatment of the revolution? To gain a broad understanding of the American Revolution on film, this article examines movies that cover an extensive time frame. How was the revolution depicted in 1940 versus the year 2000? Do films from different periods have anything in common? Many of the same themes emerge, but each film is unique in its treatment of the independence movement. Moreover, filmmakers have incorporated contemporary issues and ideology into their works. While it is difficult to gauge audience reaction to these films, examining the choices made by Hollywood can contribute to the discussion of how the American Revolution is remembered in popular culture. Examining them and placing them into the context of their own times add nuance to remembering revolution.