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This forum is to debate the historical accuracy of the Film. So far, based on the trailers, do you think this will be a historical accurate representation of the time?
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265
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1/17/08
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(198 of 198)
Re: The DVD really points out inaccuracies.
Jun 20, 2008 3:10 PM
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Hi BulldogBruce! Welcome to the HBO forums! I hear ya. I have come to expect inaccuracies in any historical drama and actually have begun to enjoy them. I always like to know the factual background and then see how it plays out on screen as someone's interpretation. I've found that most of the time you end up at the same spot but the roads that got you there were a little different. LOL
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Tim
HBO Forums Host
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Posts:
1
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6/20/08
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(197 of 198)
The DVD really points out inaccuracies.
Jun 20, 2008 2:59 PM
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The opening is in 1770 for the Boston Massacre, which is in March. Charles is born in May. Somehow he is a 5 - 7 year old boy in the film. It might be a little thing, but you can then never tell where liberties were taken. This is just the first of many and unfortunately it set the tenor of the film to be mostly inaccurate.
The DVD even has little pop-up extras and it even has the birth years of the children. So as you are watching you are reminded of these errors. Proves to be more than annoying to me because you have to basically throw the whole portrayal away in any meaningful discussion.
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Posts:
536
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1/17/08
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(196 of 198)
Jun 20, 2008 11:57 AM
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> Why did HBO feel the need to change these things
> after spending so much time and effort trying to make
> everything else historically accurate? Thoughts?
I think it's much like Rome or the Tudors, they sacrifice accuracy to tell a better story.
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Posts:
1
Registered:
6/19/08
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(195 of 198)
Jun 19, 2008 9:10 PM
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The two historical inaccuracies that I noticed was:
1) John Adams does not cast the deciding vote on the Jay treaty which was supposedly tied 15-15. The Jay treaty passed 20-10 with a 2/3 majority which is needed to pass. I believe this was mentioned in a earlier post.
2) Edmond Charles Genet was not received by Washington. In fact, Genet landed in Charleston and not Philadelphia, which was not what he was supposed to do.
Why did HBO feel the need to change these things after spending so much time and effort trying to make everything else historically accurate? Thoughts?
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Posts:
1,732
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10/23/05
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(194 of 198)
Apr 28, 2008 11:34 AM
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did T jefferson's slaves cry at his death bed?
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I came
I saw
and I conquered
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Posts:
1,732
Registered:
10/23/05
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(193 of 198)
Apr 27, 2008 6:00 PM
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> What a powerful conclusion, and an ironic one given
> this particular thread, with Adams snapping at the
> artist that comment about "American mythology" and
> questioning the accuracy of the painting.  Hmmm.
> Do we suppose the filmmakers anticipated this thread
> and our equally disgruntled feelings about the
> accuracy in their "painting"? That they, like the
> painter, can only say, "Won't you let us take a few
> liberties to make it pretty and dramatic?"
>
> 
>
> I wish they could have been more accurate, and I
> wish, most of all, that they'd given viewers a
> constant reminder of how many years had passed (were
> passing), including, in early episodes, with the
> children growing up rather than staying the same age
> for something like 10 years. That said, I understand
> that as lavish and expensive as this series was, it
> did have a budget, it did have limitations, and it
> did have to squeeze a very long life with a great
> deal of history into only seven episodes. And,
> finally, that it was about Adams rather than anyone
> else (per se), and so couldn't give us as much as we
> might have liked of other events, people and such.
>
> I think it did itself most proud in presenting the
> powerful relationship between John and Abby, in
> making them our friends as well as giving us an
> understanding of what motivated them, of giving us a
> feeling of why people fought to create this nation
> and how very hard it was to do every step of the
> way...and how very easy it would have been, if any
> had been less dedicated, to have failed.
>
> The final line was well chosen. If this show does
> anything, it really should make us value what we
> have, and work harder to make sure it's upheld.
> Because people like Adams sacrificed a lot for us.
>
> --
> You are the proud owner of 150 pieces of paper!
excellent point.
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I came
I saw
and I conquered
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Posts:
536
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1/17/08
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(192 of 198)
Apr 27, 2008 3:22 PM
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> I have built whole
> weekend events for friends around Rome!!
With that in mind, did you see that HBO2 has been replaying Rome late saturday nights/early saturday mornings?
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Posts:
5
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2/12/07
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(191 of 198)
Apr 27, 2008 12:57 PM
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Fantastic series from acting to sets to costumes. For the duration of the series I felt closer to what it must have been like to live in those times than I ever had before. As for additional series........excellent idea and how about one based on John Paul Jones? I also like the idea of Hamilton as well. I am proud to be a history geek, so hopefully HBO will continue to reinforce my geekiness with additional wonderful series. I have built whole weekend events for friends around Rome!!
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Posts:
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4/26/08
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(190 of 198)
Apr 26, 2008 5:18 AM
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Since I am not an expert on history, in fact, I am just beginning to learn things I should have learned 25 years ago; I cannot answer the question as to whether John Adams was historically accurate. I have the opinion that it was in most instances, and if the teachers used these types of films in history or government classes when I was in school along with some dialogue in class instead of just having us read those heavy, boring history books and memorize dates, I may have shown up to class more often; and when there, may have actually paid attention. I thought the final two episodes were sad, but John and Abigail had such a unique relationship. She was his rock, but I think she needed him too. They just fit.
I applaud HBO, and the entire cast and crew and wish that more films were made like this. I would like to see one done for each of the founding fathers. They were flawed in many ways, but they were passionate and willing to give whatever they had to for the cause; something that I feel a lot of us lack today.
I also read a comment that John Adams' daughter's breast didn't need to be shown. I don't get what the big deal is about that, but whatever..
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Posts:
10
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3/26/08
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(189 of 198)
Apr 25, 2008 3:58 PM
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I only had a problem with what I considered to
> be gratuitous nudity. HBO does this just because they
> can I guess. They did it in Band Of Brothers also. We
> didn't need to see her breast. Suffice is to say that
> she had breast cancer. It should have been left to
> your imagination as was the actual surgery. Why
> demean a great series? Because it was brief it is
> easy to overlook, but still unnecessary.
I guess different strokes for different folks. I guess I don't understand why the human body is so offensive to some people, no matter the context. I might be able to buy that the tarring and feathering scene was gratuitous, although I personally can see why the director chose to use nudity in that scene, as I mentioned earlier. However, I can't see it in the case of the mastectomy. It was a completely natural setting within the context of the story. I didn't see it as gratuitious at all. Why does someone see a woman's breast, and immediately think sex? Especially in that context?
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Posts:
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3/18/08
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(188 of 198)
Apr 25, 2008 1:26 PM
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Comments to date on the final episode are right on. Very moving, and sad at some points. I feel that the true essence of the man was shown through out. A very hard driving, and often uncompromising man. I found most of the series to be historically accurate, constantly checking other sources in addition to "THE BOOK." I only had a problem with what I considered to be gratuitous nudity. HBO does this just because they can I guess. They did it in Band Of Brothers also. We didn't need to see her breast. Suffice is to say that she had breast cancer. It should have been left to your imagination as was the actual surgery. Why demean a great series? Because it was brief it is easy to overlook, but still unnecessary. I can't wait for the series to be released on DVD.
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Posts:
22
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4/21/08
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(187 of 198)
Apr 25, 2008 12:39 AM
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In a word... Bravo!
Yes, the final episode of Peacefield was sad, indeed. Very heartwarming, and very sad. Why? Well, in this entire miniseries of just seven episodes, the characters of the people that most Americans admire and are thankful for their sacrifice for us all were truly brought back to life by the truly talented and phenomenal acting of the Cast. Judging by the numerous complimentary comments of Giamatti, Linney, Dillane, Morse, Wilkinson and the numerous others (all well deserved of course), it became all too apparent how much most of us have truly come to identify those particular actor or actress with their respective character. Especially at the end as Abigail, Jefferson and Adams all pass... as though we were personally losing them our very selves and wishing they could stay with us for a while longer. I, personally, felt the same with Band of Brothers and I feel even stronger with this miniseries.
Bravo, indeed, to the Cast and Crew of "John Adams" and Bravo to David McCullough for his book that started this effort. I have always been an American History aficionado, but the emotion mostly seemed to be missing. In this miniseries, one begins to feel as though they are a part of it and both the history and emotion most assuredly arrive...
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Posts:
559
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1/17/08
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(186 of 198)
Apr 24, 2008 5:22 PM
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I can't remember when I watched something so moving. I too was touched and brought to tears. This is one series that will stick with me for a long time to come.
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Posts:
1
Registered:
4/23/08
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(185 of 198)
Apr 23, 2008 6:39 PM
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To answer the topic I would say "yes" this film is about as historically accurate as a movie can be. David McCullough is a historian of the first rate.
There are 3 movies/mini-series that I consider as historically accurate as they can possibly be and still be entertaining as well as being an effective vehicle for transmitting the story itself, they are:
1. John Adams mini-series
2. Band of Brothers mini-series
3. Blackhawk Down movie
Finally, I would like to convey the thought on my mind as "Peacefield," the final episode's credits began to roll: "Masterpiece!" I honestly don't believe I've personally ever attributed that word to anything in particular in my life, but that is literally what I thought.
I would like to congratulate and express my gratitude to all involved in this production.
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Posts:
2
Registered:
4/4/08
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(184 of 198)
Apr 23, 2008 3:27 PM
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Kudos to everyone involved in the making of John Adams.
As for the historical accuracy, who knows if it was so. I certainly would hope that it was. But because of this wonderful series I have a better understanding of the man, John Adams and his wife, Abigail. She was the rock that he leaned upon and I loved her honesty and directness.
Someone from the previous thread mentioned weeping at this last episode. So it was with me. When their daughter, played by Sarah Polley, had the breast surgery, I wept. She was so couragous and humble, and as the doctor stated, had never met anyone with such fortitude. I wept when Abigail mourned over her daughter's death. I wept when John Adams renounced his son Charles. Just when I thought I'd gone dry, the floodgates opened once again when John Adams and Thomas Jefferson corresponded to one another. And I felt such an emptiness upon their passing.
To be quite honest, I had thought I would never be affected by any series or movie as I was with Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ, but this entire series moved me beyond measure. Each cast member was excellent. Outstanding job to all concerned!
Parting is such sweet sorrow!
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