AMONG THE VARIOUS categories of motion picture, the biography or biopic is certainly one of the most interesting, popular and even educational; at least to a certain extent. While we certainly can learn a lot about a historical figure via the movie route, we must always remember that any dramatization is just that; being an artificial recreation of occurrences that had taken place, any or all of which are influenced by the beliefs and attitudes of the films producers, writers and director. In short, there is at least some degree of "slanting" or, as they say on THE O'REILLY FACTOR, "spin."
CONSEQUENTLY, ALTHOUGH WE may enjoy Errol Flynn's portrayal of the quite flamboyant George Armstrong Custer in THEY DIED WITH THEIR BOOTS ON (Warner Brothers, 1942); we mustn't let the story end with "THE END" of the picture. Consulting some historical sources would help to sort out just what is History and what's strictly Hollywood; would certainly seem to be a good suggestion at the very least.
SO, WE KNOW that there was at least some degree of fictionalizing and abridgment of actual occurrences. This shouldn't detract from our enjoyment and appreciation of the movies; for that is truly their main function, to entertain and provide a little escapism from the trials and tribulations of everyday life.
HOWEVER, WITHOUT LOSING sight of the story unfolding in front of the audience. We at once are obliged to take in all of the unfolding scenario and at the same time sort out what is obvious flight of fanciful fluff. (How's that for use of Alliteration, Schultz?)
IN COMPARISON TO many other historical figures, this is probably the only treatment of the life of Andrew Johnson, the man who was Abraham Lincoln's 2nd Vice President and the man who succeeded Abe; following his assassination in April of 1865. In contrast, how many actors have portrayed George Washington, Teddy Roosevelt, JFK, Wilson, FDR, Truman, Eisenhower and even Jefferson Davis?
THERE ARE SEVERAL facts that we definitely came away with after viewing the film. That is that Mr. Andrew Johnson, like Abe Lincoln himself, came from the most humble of environs. Through his hard work and persistence, he managed to climb the economic ladder working as a tailor in his adopted Tennessee town.
WE ALSO LEARN that he was a fugitive from justice in South Carplina. He was, you see, as an 'apprentice' tailor, he was an Indentured Servant to some established master tailor. What is an "Indentured Servant", you may well be asking; for it seems that the term has been assigned to etymological obscurity in today's Politically Correct America.
INDENTURED SERVITUDE WAS a form of slavery, in which the worker is bound to a master for a certain period of years; during which he will work for no compensation, other than room and board. Although we hear very little about it today, it was a common practice in those antebellum years; in both slave and free states and territories. In short, it was a sort of "Slavery with term limits."
WE ALSO LEARN that Andrew Johnson was a true democrat (small D)in the mold of an Andrew Jackson; being a firm believer in the right to vote for all. This during a time in the 1830's when one had to be a property owner, white and a male to exercise his franchise.
FROM THE NARRATIVE on screen, we also learn that was a Southerner, he was most definitely anti-slavery, a Union Loyalist and a fiercely loyal man to his constituents and benefactors, such as Mr. Lincoln. His was such a disposition as to lead to his resignation from the United States Senate and enlistment in the Union Army; leading to his a distinguishing record of service in the War Between the States.
DUE TO ALL of these fine qualities, President Lincoln chose Johnson as his running mate on the "National Union" (reallyRepublican) ticket in the Presidential Election in the Year of Our Lord, 1864. Johnson's complete and undivided loyalty to the Union, his championing of the "little guy" and his quite understandable hatred for the institution of slavery, in whatever form.
PERHAPS IN FOLLOWING in the trail blazed by Frank Capra in MR.SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (Columbia, 1939), the production team designed a most impressive and realistic replica of the Senate Chamber. They followed up that with a the staging of a most impressive Impeachment and Trial of President Andrew Johnson before the House of Representatives and the Senate; in which Johnson Prevailed by the slimmest of margins in one (1) vote.
ALTHOUGH THERE WERE certain liberties taken (such as the President's appearing before the Senate during the trial, which he did not do), the dialog contained some of the very best crafted exchanges; which were very much in keeping with Historical Fact. The production featured a huge number of actors; which also helped in recreating a the teaming minions of the Nation's Capital in that time immediately following the end of hostilities in the Civil War.
THE FILM ALSO gives Mr. Johnson's reputation as a drunkard with the offering the reason for his inebriation as being his medicinal use of brandy for a cold or flu on an empty stomach. Well, maybe so, maybe not.
THE STORY ALSO gives credit to Andrew Johnson as being the right guy to implement Abraham Lincoln's plan for universal amnesty toward all who participated in the war on the side of the secessionist states. But alas, Johnson wasn't in the strong enough political position th see all of this through to a satisfactory conclusion. The "Radical Republicans, headed up by Congressman Stevens (Lionel Barrymore), prevailed; making the approximately 20 years of Reconstruction a time of exacting a punishment toward the formed Southern Aristocracy.
CONSEQUENTLY, ALTHOUGH WE may enjoy Errol Flynn's portrayal of the quite flamboyant George Armstrong Custer in THEY DIED WITH THEIR BOOTS ON (Warner Brothers, 1942); we mustn't let the story end with "THE END" of the picture. Consulting some historical sources would help to sort out just what is History and what's strictly Hollywood; would certainly seem to be a good suggestion at the very least.
SO, WE KNOW that there was at least some degree of fictionalizing and abridgment of actual occurrences. This shouldn't detract from our enjoyment and appreciation of the movies; for that is truly their main function, to entertain and provide a little escapism from the trials and tribulations of everyday life.
HOWEVER, WITHOUT LOSING sight of the story unfolding in front of the audience. We at once are obliged to take in all of the unfolding scenario and at the same time sort out what is obvious flight of fanciful fluff. (How's that for use of Alliteration, Schultz?)
IN COMPARISON TO many other historical figures, this is probably the only treatment of the life of Andrew Johnson, the man who was Abraham Lincoln's 2nd Vice President and the man who succeeded Abe; following his assassination in April of 1865. In contrast, how many actors have portrayed George Washington, Teddy Roosevelt, JFK, Wilson, FDR, Truman, Eisenhower and even Jefferson Davis?
THERE ARE SEVERAL facts that we definitely came away with after viewing the film. That is that Mr. Andrew Johnson, like Abe Lincoln himself, came from the most humble of environs. Through his hard work and persistence, he managed to climb the economic ladder working as a tailor in his adopted Tennessee town.
WE ALSO LEARN that he was a fugitive from justice in South Carplina. He was, you see, as an 'apprentice' tailor, he was an Indentured Servant to some established master tailor. What is an "Indentured Servant", you may well be asking; for it seems that the term has been assigned to etymological obscurity in today's Politically Correct America.
INDENTURED SERVITUDE WAS a form of slavery, in which the worker is bound to a master for a certain period of years; during which he will work for no compensation, other than room and board. Although we hear very little about it today, it was a common practice in those antebellum years; in both slave and free states and territories. In short, it was a sort of "Slavery with term limits."
WE ALSO LEARN that Andrew Johnson was a true democrat (small D)in the mold of an Andrew Jackson; being a firm believer in the right to vote for all. This during a time in the 1830's when one had to be a property owner, white and a male to exercise his franchise.
FROM THE NARRATIVE on screen, we also learn that was a Southerner, he was most definitely anti-slavery, a Union Loyalist and a fiercely loyal man to his constituents and benefactors, such as Mr. Lincoln. His was such a disposition as to lead to his resignation from the United States Senate and enlistment in the Union Army; leading to his a distinguishing record of service in the War Between the States.
DUE TO ALL of these fine qualities, President Lincoln chose Johnson as his running mate on the "National Union" (reallyRepublican) ticket in the Presidential Election in the Year of Our Lord, 1864. Johnson's complete and undivided loyalty to the Union, his championing of the "little guy" and his quite understandable hatred for the institution of slavery, in whatever form.
PERHAPS IN FOLLOWING in the trail blazed by Frank Capra in MR.SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (Columbia, 1939), the production team designed a most impressive and realistic replica of the Senate Chamber. They followed up that with a the staging of a most impressive Impeachment and Trial of President Andrew Johnson before the House of Representatives and the Senate; in which Johnson Prevailed by the slimmest of margins in one (1) vote.
ALTHOUGH THERE WERE certain liberties taken (such as the President's appearing before the Senate during the trial, which he did not do), the dialog contained some of the very best crafted exchanges; which were very much in keeping with Historical Fact. The production featured a huge number of actors; which also helped in recreating a the teaming minions of the Nation's Capital in that time immediately following the end of hostilities in the Civil War.
THE FILM ALSO gives Mr. Johnson's reputation as a drunkard with the offering the reason for his inebriation as being his medicinal use of brandy for a cold or flu on an empty stomach. Well, maybe so, maybe not.
THE STORY ALSO gives credit to Andrew Johnson as being the right guy to implement Abraham Lincoln's plan for universal amnesty toward all who participated in the war on the side of the secessionist states. But alas, Johnson wasn't in the strong enough political position th see all of this through to a satisfactory conclusion. The "Radical Republicans, headed up by Congressman Stevens (Lionel Barrymore), prevailed; making the approximately 20 years of Reconstruction a time of exacting a punishment toward the formed Southern Aristocracy.