Benedict Arnold: A Question of Honor

First when i checked out this DVD, i thought that this was a documentary. I do like documentaries which are well made. But i was extremely delighted to find that this was a movie. It is actually one of the best "made for TV" movies i have seen in recent times. The acting is so real. And the dialogues so eloquent. Each word is as if it were chosen to convey exactly the feeling of the characters at each point in the movie. It was also delightful to learn a bit more about someone whom i have just heard as being the "worst traitor in the history" of the USA. All in all, the acting of Kelsey Grammer and Aidan Quinn, itself is a treat to watch. I would highly recommended movie to anybody interested in a history lesson on the formation of the USA. ****.

"Benedict Arnold" is a typical made-for-tv historical melodrama about a small portion of the life of the American Revolutionary War General whose name has become synonymous with "traitor". This A&E production takes a squinty look at the man's life, showing only the most historically significant portions which flank his defection to the British loyalists. The film shows spit and polish costuming where no such luxury was available while portraying Arnold as a man of poetic eloquence when he was more well known to be profane if not drunk or both. Etc. Etc. Melodramatic for entertainment value while taking liberties with history and providing only a piecemeal bio of the man, this film is marginal at best. Better entertainment is easy to find and there's plenty of solid historical info on B.A. right here on the Internet. (C+)

I learned a lot about one of history's most notorious people and enjoyed the experience. Aidan Quinn as Benedict and Kelsey Grammer as George Washington were great in their roles and the production values (photography, sets, script, direction and so forth) were very good. Many TV movies are more enjoyable to watch than current theatrical movies and this was certainly one of them. Applause should go to A&E for this work.

The name Benedict Arnold is synonomous with "traitor" today. Being this the case, it is hard to believe that during the early part of the Revelution, General Arnold was looked upon as a true patriot and hero. General Washington compares him to Hannibal in the beginning. We see him leading his troops heroically on the battlefield and saying "God Bless America". Arnold was actually horribly wounded in the leg by a huge musket ball and the opening of this film shows the horrifying conditions of Revelutionary War hospitals where amputation without anesthetic was the only solution. Aiden Quinn is probably best known for his role in An Early Frost, the first tv movie ever to talk about AIDS. He does a fine job here portraying Arnold. Was he a hero who just went the wrong way? What made this seemingly honorable man turn into the most infamous traitor in history? Was it greed, ego or his wife's ambition that did it. I don't know if the real Arnold ever really regretted his treason, but this film suggests that he did. As a soldier in the Army, it appalled me in the end when they showed Arnold dressed in a British uniform! Kelsey Grammar does his level best as George Washington. However, he will always be that guy on Cheers to me. He does a fine hammy job though. I think my favorite part was in the end when he found out about Arnold's treason, he says "From the tallest tree....LETS HANG THE SON OF A BITCH!!!!" I figure that is exactly how the real General Washington acted.

Though I myself am I woman, if I were Arnold I would have bitch smacked Peggy for shoving the idea of being a traitor into mind. This A & E special about the question of Honor of Benedict Arnold still makes us ponder that very thought. The acting was so-so, but the dialogue was great. 7 out of 10.