April Morning

After disposing of the fact that this film was significantly under budgeted, and, in spots, more than a bit overacted, what remains is a realistically cold and existential account of the first day of the American Revolution. While the principal characters have decided to take a stand against British domination, most are a bit vague in their feelings and haven't judged exactly how far they are willing to go. Yet, the events of the Day assume a life of their own and sweep everyone along.

I was most impressed by the way the film depicts the confusion of war and the mostly improvised pattern of resistance against the redcoats. Firing is heard all around, though no one is exactly sure from where or by whom. Men move through the woods with their guns, forming ad hoc groups to ambush the roadbound British columns---whose primary mission was the confiscation of privately owned firearms. The tactics are historically accurate. They fire, and retreat to concealed positions to reload. Most of these men are reluctant warriors, resigned to an unpleasant task, yet resolved to carry it through. A fine illustration of the ultimate Check and Balance of an armed citizenry; a concept enshrined in our Constitution yet too readily dismissed by many who claim to believe in democratic principles.

Another interesting and rather rare touch is the fact that the scriptwriters made a real effort to have the characters speak as people of the time would have. I have found that in many "historical" films the actors use words, sentence structure and alliterative devices from modern times. In some instances, well intentioned editors concerned with realism overcompensate to the point where the dialogue is overly formalized, archaic, and stilted. Not so here. The actors really sound like what one would read in contemporary, primary sources describing the event. This by itself gives the film considerable educational value.

A good "war is hell" movie still suitable for younger viewers due to its lack of gratuitous gore, and a memorable portrayal of ordinary people facing up to the bold task of confronting tyranny.

This is a made-for-TV movie adaptation of Howard Fast's novel "April Morning," one of the few assigned novels I enjoyed reading in school - a story about Adam and Moses Cooper and their involvement in the battle that initiated the American war for independence.

From what I remembered in this film, the teleplay does follow the novel pretty well and it is a fascinating movie that I thought included some decent acting, interesting history overview of the American Revolution, some exciting action and suspenseful elements. Just the part where Adam Cooper (Chad Lowe) attempt to conquer his fear and fight alongside his fellow soldiers in battle is intriguing to watch.

The setting, make-up and costumes used in the film represented that period in time very well. Though a movie based on war, there is an absence of gore and graphic scenes, which makes it suitable for a larger audience including children. In addition, Director Delbert Mann took great care in making the movie interesting minus all the excessive gore and violence and, instead, relied on the substance, history, drama and character impact.

Overall, this is one of the few war movies I could remember that I've found suitable and enjoyable for the entire audience.

Grade B

I liked the movie. My wife's known family members that were involved in the event of 19 April 1775 at Lexington, to include Americans and British:

American's Captain John Parker 3rd cousin 6 times removed 1729-1775 Jonas Parker, Sr. 3rd cousin 6 times remove-killed 1722-1775 Isaac Preston Durant 3rd cousin 6 times removed 1757-1848 Nathaniel Parkhurst I 3rd cousin 7 times removed 1724-1780 Philip Russell 3rd cousin 9 times removed 1752-1821

Srgt. William Monroe III 4th cousin in law 5 times removed 1742-1827 Nathan Mu(o)nroe 4th cousin 5 times removed 1747- Deacon Ebenezer Parker 4th cousin 5 times removed 1750-1839 Jonas Parker, Jr. 4th cousin 5 times removed 1753-1783 Simeon Snow 4th cousin in law 5 times removed 1752-1827 John Tidd 4th cousin in law 6 times removed 1749-1812 Joseph Underwood 4th cousin in law 5 times removed 1749-1829 John Winship 4th cousin in law 5 times removed 1754-1822 ???Nathaniel Wyman 4th cousin in law 6 times removed-killed 1741-1775 John Buttrick 4th cousin 6 times removed 1760-1825

Edmund James Brown 5th cousin 9 times removed 1758-1821 Robert T Douglass 5th cousin in law 7 times removed 1759-1833 Samuel Hastings, Jr. 5th cousin in law 7 times removed 17 Joshua Reed, Sr. 5th cousin 7 times removed 1730-1798 Samuel Tidd 5th cousin in law 7 times removed 1736-1805 James Brown, Sr. 5th cousin 9 times removed 1758-1821

Micah Hager 6th cousin 6 times removed 1755-?

Caleb Harrington 6th cousin 7 times removed-killed 1751-1775 Daniel Harrington 6th cousin 7 times removed 1739-1813 John Harrington, Sr. 6th cousin 7 times removed 1758-1854 Jonathan Harrington 6th cousin in law 6 times removed-killed -1775 Moses Harrington 6th cousin 7 times removed 1733-1834 Samuel Hastings, Sr. 6th cousin 7 times removed 1721-1820 Joseph Reed, Jr. 6th cousin 6 times removed 1756-1820 Jonas Stone 6th cousin 6 times removed 1741-1814

James Wyman, Sr. 7th cousin 7 times removed 1741-1822 Thomas Hadley, Sr. 7th cousin in law 9 times removed 1712-1788 Jacob Bacon 7th cousin in law 7 times removed 1738-1785 Joshua Simonds 7th cousin in law 6 times removed 1735-1805 Timothy Blodgett 7th cousin in law 7 times removed 1740-1831 John Bridge, Jr. 7th cousin 7 times removed 1737-1806 Joseph Tidd 7th cousin 6 times removed 1749-1812 John Brown 7th cousin 7 times removed-killed 17 Ephraim Hartwell Sr. 7th cousin 7 times removed 17 Isaac Hastings 7th cousin 6 times removed 1755-1820 Samuel Hastings, Jr. 1757-1834 William Grimes 7th cousin 5 times removed 17 Robert Mu(o)nroe 7th cousin 6 times removed 1712-1775 John Parkhurst 7th cousin 6 times removed 1733-1812 Deacon Nathan Reed I 7th cousin in law 7 times removed 1743-1811/17 Joshua Simonds 7th cousin in law 6 times removed 1736-1805 Joshua Reed 7th cousin in law 9 times removed 1730-1798 Colonel James Barrett Sr. 7th cousin 8 times removed 1710-1779

Nathan Meriam 8th cousin in law 5 times removed 1720-1782 Samuel Hadley 8th cousin 8 times removed 1746-1775 Thomas Hadley 8th cousin 8 times removed 1754-1784 Moses Harrington 8th cousin 1733-1784 Moses Harrington 8th cousin 5 times removed 1709-1787 Jonathan Harrington, Sr. 8th cousin 5 times removed 1723-1809 Amos Locke 8th cousin 7 times removed 1742-1828 Benjamin Locke 8th cousin in law 6 times removed 1756-1842 Lt. Ebenezer Mu(o)nroe 8th cousin 5 times removed 1752-1825 Capt. Edmund Mu(o)nroe 8th cousin 5 times removed 1735-1778 Stephen Mu(o)nroe 8th cousin 5 times removed 1739-1826

John Chandler, 9th cousin 5 times removed 1731-1810 Reuben Locke 9th cousin in law 6 times removed 1749-1823 Clerk Daniel Harrington III 9th cousin 4 times removed 1739-1818 Jonathan Harrington, Jr. 9th cousin 4 times removed-killed 1745-1775 Captain Moses Harrington 9th cousin 4 times removed 1759-1818 Ephraim Hartwell Sr. 9th cousin 7 times removed 1707-1793 Samuel Hastings III 9th cousin in law 7 times removed 1721-1820 Benjamin Sampson 9th cousin 4 times removed 1756-1846 Phineas Stearns 9th cousin 4 times removed 1738-1792 Thaddeas Harrington 9th cousin 4 times removed 1736-1821 Thomas Harrington 9th cousin 4 times removed 1747-1811 Joel Viles 9th cousin 4 times removed 1743-1817 Timothy Wellington 9th cousin in law 6 times removed 1747-1809 Thomas Winship 9th cousin 4 times removed 1729-1796

Joshua Reed 10th cousin in law 5 times removed 1756-1826 John Chandler, Jr. 10th cousin 4 times removed 1758-1821 Ebenezer Locke 10th cousin 6 times removed 1735-1816 Samuel Hastings, Jr. 10th cousin 1757-1824 John Smith 10th cousin in law 5 times removed 1756-1822

Jedediah Mu(o)nroe 11th cousin in law 5 times removed 1721-1775

Jonas Stone 12th cousin 3 times removed 1741-1814

British: Major John Pitcairn 4th cousin 9 times removed 1722-1775 Captain Jeremy Lister 8th cousin eight times removed 1752-1836 General Hugh Percy 2nd Duke of Northumberland 5th cousin in law 7 times removed 1742-1817

Can you imagine being there in these men's shoes on this day!!!!

On April 18, 1775, along a Massachusetts road, Solomon Chandler is secretly delivering shot and gunpowder to colonists who want to stand up to the British. He is captured and beaten by Redcoats.

The people of Lexington are divided on how exactly to handle the situation, but if the British are coming, they want to be ready. 15-year-old Adam, whose father does not respect him, wants to join the militia. Amazingly, Adam's father does not try to stop him. His mother fears Adam will be killed if the circumstances lead to gunfire.

Eventually, the people are warned that, in fact, "The British are coming!" (This exact quote is not in the movie.) The men have to be ready for anything. Those who know history have some idea what will happen next.

Tommy Lee Jones did a great job as Moses, though he was somewhat more low-key than Agent K or Samuel Gerard. The fact that he came across so differently than those more outspoken characters proves he has acting skill.

Rip Torn gave the standout performance here as Solomon. Most of the other actors playing Americans also did a good job. I couldn't help but feel the British were portrayed as buffoons, but this was nothing like "Hogan's Heroes".

I thought a little too much time was devoted to the relationship between Adam and Ruth. I did like Ruth, though.

What is important here is that this movie makes the American Revolution personal. Regardless of how much a man wants to be free, can he actually shoot and kill another human being? What if that other human being wants to kill him? Was all the killing really necessary, or could the situation have been handled better? The face-off in Lexington that April morning was an impressive thing to watch. Perhaps no one had to die that day, but we all know that would have been unlikely. I won't say exactly what did happen there, but before the movie was over, at least one major character lay dead on the field of battle.

I would recommend this movie for high school or even junior high school history classes. The violence was not that explicit, and it was necessary to the story.

I really thought this might be good but it was an overdone, sappy, made for TV soap opera about the Lexington-Concord battle. While some large facts were accurate, it was a pretty, fictionalized, maudlin piece of crap. Molasses moves faster.....in January. Awful.