Revolution (1985)

User Rating:

4.7/10   

Director:

Hugh Hudson

Writer:

Robert Dillon (writer)

Release Date:

25 December 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | History | War

Tagline:

A Nation Forged In Blood

Plot:

New York trapper Tom Dobb becomes an unwilling participant in the American Revolution after his son...

Plot Keywords:

American Revolution | Epic | 18th Century | 1770s | Historical

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Al Pacino	...	Tom Dobb
Donald Sutherland	...	Sgt. Maj. Peasy
Nastassja Kinski	...	Daisy McConnahay
Joan Plowright	...	Mrs. McConnahay
Dave King	...	Mr. McConnahay
Steven Berkoff	...	Sgt. Jones
John Wells	...	Corty
Annie Lennox	...	Liberty Woman
Dexter Fletcher	...	Ned Dobb
Sid Owen	...	Young Ned
Richard O'Brien	...	Lord Hampton
Paul Brooke	...	Lord Darling
Eric Milota	...	Merle
Felicity Dean	...	Betsy
Jo Anna Lee	...	Amy

Also Known As:

Revolution 1776 (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for war violence and related images. (2009 version)

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

UK | Norway

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Iceland:16 | USA:PG-13 (2009 version) | Australia:PG | Singapore:PG | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Burrator Reservoir, Dartmoor, Devon, England, UK

Company:

Goldcrest Films International

Trivia:

Frank Windsor is credited as Gen. Washington in the end titles but is not seen in the film.

Quotes:

Offscreen Slave: What about us? We want our freedom too!
Offscreen Revolutionary: Shut up, you negroes!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Lost Boys (1987)

Great Looking Film

"Revolution" is short on story and action, however, the set design, costumes and above all the cinematography is first rate. I can easily imagine that the way the film shows 18th Century life in North America is how it actually was. Unlike earlier (as well as later films) that favor a more "clean" depiction of the era "Revolution" shows the poverty, desperation and filth that was common in cities like New York without exploiting it. It is unfortunate that the plot and casting of the film didn't do justice to the outstanding work of the set designers. I can't bash the story too much because there have been far worse films that are now heralded as classics. If you like period films then give "Revolution" a chance, I think you will be pleasantly surprised.