Johnny Tremain

A wonderful way to celebrate Independence Day any day!
In the city of Boston in the 1770's, Johnny Tremain is an apprentice silversmith who is a bit too confident for his own good. When his master is offered a job that is too difficult for his aged skills, Johnny jumps at the opportunity to prove himself to the important customer, Mr. Lyte. But with the job, a deadline is also given, and to do the work in time, Johnny finds himself, along with his master's wife and daughter, breaking the law by working on a Sunday. While pouring molten silver under panicked conditions, Johnny is pushed into it and his right hand is badly burned.
Time passes, and Johnny must unwrap his burned fingers and get back to the work he is bound to do, but upon discovering that his fingers have healed and grown together, making his hand somewhat useless, he is cast out into the street to find a new home. But no one will hire a boy with one good hand, when there are plenty to be had with two. Johnny soon finds himself desperate, and goes to the home of rich...

What happened to Forbes' story?
Esther Forbes' "Johnny Tremain" is one of the greatest books ever written for young readers. The story is about a young silversmith apprentice who is finds himself swept up in the events of the American Revolution. Johnny participates in the Boston Tea Party, spies on the British, and mingles with such patriots as Sam Adams, John Hancock, and Paul Revere.

Like most movie versions of famous books, Walt Disney's "Johnny Tremain" takes many liberties with the story. In the book Johnny takes no part in the fighting at Lexington or Concord; in the movie Johnny is in the thick of the action. This would be forgivable had the film version been faithful to the message of Forbes' book which is the ideal of the American Revolution- "that a man can stand up"- came with the sacrifice of blood and young lives. It is here that the movie completly misses the mark. The book shows that war could extinguish the young lives of the best and brightest; the...

An enjoyable Disney rendition of the cause of the Revolution
This is an enjoyable Disney rendition of the causes of the American Resolution. No, it may not be faithful to the novel, and some of the historical events may not ring true to how they actually happened, however I am sure Disney did not intend them to be. This movie was made in 1957, the same time frame that Davey Crockett played by Fess Parker was made, America was caught up in patriotic fever and Disney was more than happy to serve this up to the viewing public. I did enjoy this movie, and the overall theme it was trying to portray, such as freedom from tyranny, the rights of every man from the wealthy to the silversmiths apprentice. This may not be a movie to analyze the Revolutionary War with, however it is a great starting point to discuss the Revolution with young ones, and those who do not know very much about the American Revolution. An enjoyable film that is recommended to those who like Disney and "light history".

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