The American Revolution

"Do we really need to be nun by this pipsqueak island off the continent?" That, says historian Thomas Fleming, was the question that our colonial forefathers (and foremothers) asked in Boston in 1773 when they angrily dumped a bunch of Dad's tea into the drink. Two years later, the answer was nicely symbolized, I think, when a band of colonial soldiers melted down a statue of Britain's monarch George III to make bullets. Just as the War of Independence launched a new nation, The American Revolution, a handsomely produced 5-Ilour historical costume drama, is the maiden production of the newly formed History Channel. Combining strong narrative, impressively filmed re-enactments of key events and battles, and the voice talents of Cliff Robertson, Michael Learned, and David Warner, among others, the stirring mini- series includes plenty of action footage for the Die Hard crowd, but also employs the insightful commentary of noted historians. Peppered with colorful characters such as Molly Pitcher, William Franklin (Ben's loyalist stepson), enigmatic turncoat Benedict Arnold, and Joseph Plum Martin (who fought the entire war), The American Revolution traces the historical causes of the division, and covers all of the major battles from the early engagements at Lexington and Concord in 1775 to the final surrender in 1781 at Yorktown. Ultimately, however, it's the ideas that shine forth most brightly: liberty, democracy, and the rights of individuals. And lest we think that this is ancient history with no relevance to today, we should recall George Washington's two biggest worries during the war: an indifferent citizenry and an ineffectual Congress. Very familiar concerns, indeed. Highly recommended. (R. Pitman)