There's a definite chill going through my body in watching the scene of Washington crossing the Delaware with his troops, followed by a truly frigid winter that shows grumbling soldiers still determined to go on, all for the fight for freedom. For those who have visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan and seen the paintings of this portion of American history, it is like history coming to life, especially as various situations involving ailing soldiers are shown, including an amputation of a key character's foot. Having just been reunited with her husband, Martha Washington (Patty Duke) is there to witness it, and her words of comfort and encouragement to Barry Bostwick is a truly unforgettable moment.
This episode is less starry than the first two, focusing on the historical details quite admirably, although the scene of Philip Casnoff as French nobleman Lafayette showing affection towards GW is amusing and the presence of a bombastic Prussian baron. It's a far cry from Casnoff's despicable villain from the later civil war era mini-series "North and South" and its follow-ups. This was a lengthy war and a brutal one, not portrayed on-screen as much as the civil war and World War II, so that adds to the majestic importance of this part of the series. This does have an open ended conclusion, choosing the perfect point in history to finish and give the viewer a break to anticipate the obvious sequel.
This episode is less starry than the first two, focusing on the historical details quite admirably, although the scene of Philip Casnoff as French nobleman Lafayette showing affection towards GW is amusing and the presence of a bombastic Prussian baron. It's a far cry from Casnoff's despicable villain from the later civil war era mini-series "North and South" and its follow-ups. This was a lengthy war and a brutal one, not portrayed on-screen as much as the civil war and World War II, so that adds to the majestic importance of this part of the series. This does have an open ended conclusion, choosing the perfect point in history to finish and give the viewer a break to anticipate the obvious sequel.