Set during the American Revolution, this colorful 2 reel short tells the story of Haym Salomon, American patriot and financier of the American Revolution.Set during the American Revolution, this colorful 2 reel short tells the story of Haym Salomon, American patriot and financier of the American Revolution.Set during the American Revolution, this colorful 2 reel short tells the story of Haym Salomon, American patriot and financier of the American Revolution.
- Won 1 Oscar
- 1 win total
- Bookkeeper in Montage
- (uncredited)
- Rabbi
- (uncredited)
- Arresting British Trooper
- (uncredited)
- Angus
- (uncredited)
- Congressman
- (uncredited)
- British Inquiry Board Officer
- (uncredited)
- Narrator
- (uncredited)
- Physician
- (uncredited)
- Messenger
- (uncredited)
- Accusing British Officer
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis short is included as a bonus on the Warner DVD of Dodge City (1939).
- GoofsOn his deathbed, Haym Salomon recites part of the Declaration of Independence: "... all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights..." The final version of the Declaration used "unalienable rights". Though earlier drafts of the document used "inalienable rights", Salomon would have read (and memorized) the final, issued version.
- Quotes
Haym Salomon: I know that you've given, even beyond your means, but know we must give again. It isn't charity I ask, it's an offering to the cause of liberty, a cause sacred to us above all others, because centuries of bitter persecution have taught us the value of liberty. If we want to continue living as free men in a free land, if we want to bequeath this priceless treasure to our children, then we must give. It is not our duty to leave wealth to our children, but it is our duty to leave freedom.
- SoundtracksYankee Doodle
Traditional
Played during the opening credits
For its cast, Sons of Liberty does not utilize the front rank of Warner Brothers stars, but certainly picks from the cream of character players. The lead role is given great weight and dignity by Claude Rains, whose charisma stems not from forcefulness but from a calm, thoughtful composure. It's also nice to see this stock baddie in a heroic role for once. In this respect, it almost seems like a cheeky in-joke that perennial female villain Gale Sondergaard is cast as his wife, especially since her part is so small and doesn't really use her talents much. There are also brief appearances by Donald Crisp and Montagu Love, which like Sondergaard's are so short they seem to be more to add class than actual quality.
The director is Michael Curtiz, at the time one of the most highly regarded of Warner's team. Curtiz always packed a lot of information into the frame in order to quickly establish meaning and context, so in many ways he is ideal for the whistle-stop pace of the short subject. There's a bit of typical Curtiz arty symbolism going on here with the Claude Rains character being repeatedly associated with flames. A bit superfluous perhaps, but the linking motif at least allows for a bit of smooth flow as Curtiz works a candle or a lantern into the beginning or end of a shot, which is often the only bit of vibrant colour in the scene.
Ultimately however, Sons of Liberty cannot rise above its short subject roots. Its prime function is to inform rather than entertain, and so like all short subjects it crams in info rather than allowing scenes to play for drama or excitement. Just as one scene begins to build, we get a bit of voice-over narration skipping us on to something else. Pretty as it looks, and finely acted as it is, Sons of Liberty really looks a bit like a twenty-minute trailer for a full-length feature, which in no way makes it a substitute for the real thing.
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Technicolor Specials (1938-1939 season) #5: Sons of Liberty
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime20 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1