The Howards of Virginia (1940)
Most of the high points of the Revolution are herein recreated, including the Stamp Act riots, the Boston Tea Party, and Patrick Henry's "Give me Liberty" speech. Curiously, however, director Frank Lloyd stages these scenes in a flat, near-throwaway fashion; even the inflammatory Henry (Richard Gaines) is hampered by unimaginative camera angles. Other historical personages parading through the film include Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, played respectively by Richard Carlson and George Houston. Though it's rather rough sledding in its feature-length version, The Howards of Virginia plays quite well in the half-hour abridgement prepared by Columbia for schoolroom showings. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Cary Grant, Martha Scott, (more)
- Director(s):
- Frank Lloyd
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- NR
- Format(s):
- DVD
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Synopsis of The Howards of Virginia
Hollywood films about the Revolutionary War almost invariably lost money at the box office, and The Howards of Virginia was no exception, despite the presence of Cary Grant in the lead. Most of the story takes place in the colonial capital city of Williamsburg, Virginia, where Matt Howard (Cary Grant) dedicates himself to the causes of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. Remaining faithfully at Matt's side through his early years as a frontiersman and on into his life among the "landed gentry" is his wife Jane Peyton Howard (Martha Scott), the sister of unregenerate royalist Fleetwood Peyton (Cedric Hardwicke).
Most of the high points of the Revolution are herein recreated, including the Stamp Act riots, the Boston Tea Party, and Patrick Henry's "Give me Liberty" speech. Curiously, however, director Frank Lloyd stages these scenes in a flat, near-throwaway fashion; even the inflammatory Henry (Richard Gaines) is hampered by unimaginative camera angles. Other historical personages parading through the film include Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, played respectively by Richard Carlson and George Houston. Though it's rather rough sledding in its feature-length version, The Howards of Virginia plays quite well in the half-hour abridgement prepared by Columbia for schoolroom showings. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 115 mins
Complete Cast of The Howards of Virginia
- Cary Grant - Matt Howard
- Cedric Hardwicke - Fleetwood Peyton
- Richard Carlson - Thomas Jefferson
- Irving Bacon - Tom Norton
- Anne Revere - Mrs. Betsy Norton
- Phil Taylor - Peyton Howard at 18
- Libby Taylor - Dicey
- George Houston - George Washington
- Dick Jones - Matt Howard at Age 12
- Wade Boteler - Uncle Reuben
- Charles Francis - Mr. Douglas
- James Westerfield - Friend
- Virginia Sale - Neighbor
- Tom Drake - James Howard at Age 16
- Emmett Vogan - Representative
- Alan Ladd - Neighbor
- Martha Scott - Jan Peyton-Howard
- Alan Marshal - Roger Peyton
- Paul Kelly - Captain Jabez Allen
- Elizabeth Risdon - Aunt Clarissa
- Richard Alden - James Howard
- Rita Quigley - Mary Howard at 17
- Richard Gaines - Patrick Henry
- Ralph Byrd - James Howard
- Buster Phelps - Thomas Jefferson at Age 11
- Mary Field - Susan Howard
- Sam McDaniel - Uncle Robert, the Butler
- Olaf Hytten - Gentleman
- J. Anthony Hughes - Tidewater Representative
- Brandon Hurst - Wilton
- Lane Chandler - Major
- Director(s):
- Frank Lloyd
- Writer(s):
- Sidney Buchman
- Producer(s):
- Frank Lloyd
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- NR(Suitable for Children)
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