Several postcards produced by Colonial Williamsburg capture scenes from the 34-minute orientation film, Williamsburg – The Story of a Patriot. The film made Williamsburg come alive and made the historic figures more than just names in a textbook.
Williamsburg – The Story of a Patriot has been shown at the Colonial Williamsburg Visitors Center since March 31, 1957. Its sixty-eight-year run makes it the longest running movie in film history. A joint production of Colonial Williamsburg and Paramount Pictures, it was shot in Williamsburg and other Virginia locations in May 1956. Filmed in VistaVision, Paramount’s newly developed wide-screen 35-millimeter film format, it had a clear, high-resolution image twice the size of traditional 35-millimeter films. The movie starred a relatively unknown actor, Jack Lord. Later Lord became famous for his role as Steve McGarrett in the long running television series Hawaii- Five-O.
In the Williamsburg movie, Lord played John Fry, a fictional planter and member of the Virginia House of Burgesses. The Story of a Patriot portrays Virginia’s role in America’s march toward independence during the period 1769 through 1776 from Fry’s viewpoint. Like his late father, also a member of the House of Burgesses, Fry is wary of those advocating cutting ties with Great Britain. Fry interacts with George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, George Wythe, and William Byrd. Gradually his position on independence shifts.
Other actors in the cast were John McGiver, Leora Dana, Charles G. Martin, House Jameson, Francis Compton, and Margery Maude. They were known for their work on Broadway, New York based television shows, and Hollywood films. Local actors filled out the cast and residents of Williamsburg served as extras.
Noted Hollywood producer, director and writer, George Seaton, was behind the camera. Seaton directed numerous films during his career including Miracle on 34th Street with Maureen O’Hara and Edmund Gwen, The County Girl with William Holden, Bing Crosby, and Grace Kelly, and Airport with Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, Jacqueline Bisset, and Helen Hayes. Seaton won Academy Awards for Best Screenplay for Miracle on 34th Street and Best Adapted Screenplay for The County Girl. Under Seaton’s deft direction Edmund Gwenwon the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Miracle on 34th Street, Helen Hayes for Best Supporting Actress for Airport, and Grace Kelly for Best Actress for The County Girl.
The screenplay for Williamsburg – The Story of a Patriot was written by Emmett Lavery, who had been co-nominated for an Academy Award for the screenplay of the 1955 film, The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell. Lavery also wrote for television and Broadway.
Its score was composed by Bernard Herrmann, known for scoring several Alfred Hitchcock films including The Man Who Knew Too Much, Vertigo, North By Northwest, and Psycho as well as other films including Citizen Kaine and Taxi Driver. Herrmann won the Academy Award for Best Score for the 1941 movie, The Devil and Daniel Webster.
Williamsburg – The Story of a Patriot sets a high bar for orientation films at other historic sites and museums, few match its quality or its longevity. If you were not among the thirty million visitors to Williamsburg who have watched the film, you can catch it on YouTube.
Very poignant leading up to the 250th anniversary of American Independence. As a Brit I am sure we shall never hear the last of it!!!
I always showed this movie to my 5th grade students and loved it! I didn’t know there were oostcards from it. Thanks!
I’ve been to Williamsburg twice, but don’t recall seeing this film.
Another fine article by a greatly underrated author. I haven’t seen the movie in many years. Does anyone know whether the bus that found its way into the background of one of the outdoor scenes has been removed using modern editing techniques?