| Johnny Tremain | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Robert Stevenson |
| Screenplay by | Tom Blackburn |
| Based on | Johnny Tremain byEsther Forbes |
| Produced by | Walt Disney |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Charles P. Boyle |
| Edited by | Stanley E. Johnson |
| Music by | George Bruns |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Buena Vista Distribution |
Release date |
|
Running time | 80 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $700,000[1] |
Johnny Tremain is a 1957 Americanadventurewar film made byWalt Disney Productions, released byBuena Vista Distribution,[2] and based on the 1944Newbery Medal-winning children'snovel of the same name byEsther Forbes, retelling the story of the years inBoston, Massachusetts prior to the outbreak of theAmerican Revolution.Johnny Tremain was the first Disney live-action film to be directed byRobert Stevenson. It was made for television but was first released in theatres.Walt Disney understood the new technology ofcolor television and filmed hisWalt Disney anthology television series in color, but the show, known asDisneyland at that time, was broadcast in black and white. After its theater run in 1957, the film was shown in its entirety on television in two episodes (subsequently known asWalt Disney Presents), rather than as a complete film on a single evening, on November 21 and December 5, 1958.
The film starsHal Stalmaster,Luana Patten,Jeff York,Sebastian Cabot (in his second film role for Disney),Richard Beymer,Walter Coy andRalph Clanton.
In 1770sBoston, Johnny Tremain is apprenticed to asilversmith, Mr. Lapham. One day, wealthy Jonathan Lyte asks Mr. Lapham to make a sugar basin to match his grand silverware set. Lapham refuses because he believes he is too old for such jobs. Tremain believes he is skilled enough to do the job, and accepts. After trying several times but failing, he asks fellow silversmith,Paul Revere, for help designing a new handle. Revere tells him to make the handle deeper and larger. Eager to try the new design, Johnny breaks theSabbath and accidentally burns his hand. The damage is so severe that he will never have full use of the hand again, and cannot continue as a silversmith apprentice. No one will hire him with only one usable hand. TheSons of Liberty recruited him as a messenger, to secretly inform members of the times and locations of meetings.
Johnny tells Priscilla Lapham, Mr. Lapham's granddaughter, that he is secretly related to Mr. Lyte. He shows her achristening cup bearing the Lytefamily crest as evidence. Desperate for money, he approaches Lyte and shows him the christening cup. Lyte assumes that Johnny stole the cup, and files charges against him.Josiah Quincy defends Johnny in court. Introducing Priscilla as a witness, Quincy proves Johnny's innocence.
Afterward, Tremain and the Sons of Liberty became active in several notable events leading to theAmerican Revolution, including theBoston Tea Party,Paul Revere's Ride, and theBattles of Lexington and Concord. During the Boston Tea Party, Dr.Joseph Warren offers to restore Tremain's hand, allowing him to return to his profession.
Walt Disney's daughterSharon Mae Disney also had a small uncredited role as Dorcas, a young friend of Johnny and Priscilla (who in the novel was one of Priscilla's sisters).
Themusical score forJohnny Tremain was composed byGeorge Bruns with lyrics byTom Blackburn. The film is notable for the song "Liberty Tree", which was later included on the 1964 Disneyland Records album entitledHappy Birthday and Songs for Every Holiday.
The film's theatrical release was accompanied by two Disney short subjects: the live-action nature storyThe Wetback Hound, and the cartoon specialThe Story of Anyburg U.S.A..
Louis Marx and Company released an American War of Independenceplayset featuring character figures of the actors in the show as a filmtie-in.[3]
The film opened inLondon but was not successful and Disney initially decided not to release the film in Europe.[4]
Portions ofJohnny Tremain were released individually in 1968 for educational purposes. Two distinct sequences of the film were re-issued under the titlesThe Boston Tea Party andThe Shot Heard 'Round the World.[5] Both were originally combined and shown on Disney's anthology TV series in 1958 as part of the episodeThe Liberty Story.[6]
Around the time of the film's production, Walt Disney intended to build Liberty Street inDisneyland as an annex toMain Street USA. The project never materialized. After Walt's death, the concept was revived and turned into the much more expansiveLiberty Square inWalt Disney World, which opened as a part of the park's grand opening on October 1, 1971.[7] ASouthern live oak tree found growing on the Walt Disney World property (originally six miles from the Magic Kingdom) was transplanted by Disney engineers and now serves as the square's Liberty Tree. Adorning it are 13 lanterns, representing the original 13 American colonies.[8]
