History buffs, I urge you to rent the engrossing miniseries George Washington from 1984. Barry Bostwick plays the pre-presidential title character, and he shows great and hidden acting talents. Starting from his youth as he idolizes his half-brother and works on the family farm to support his disapproving mother, he ages decades and lives through love, death, wars, and a crisis of conscience until the end of the Revolutionary War. There was a sequel made two years later, so if you want to see his later years, you can find a copy of that one, too.
Barry was fantastic! He couldn't have been any better, and he managed to fill the great legend's shoes with an incredible presence and a full character. He didn't turn Washington into a caricature, and as the hours rolled by, we felt like we were really watching the general instead of an actor. I couldn't believe he wasn't nominated for an Emmy or Golden Globe - and yet Patty Duke was. Through the years, he grew in strength and character, and he carried his emotional experiences with him, rather than just living from scene to scene.
There's a huge supporting cast in this miniseries. Patty Duke plays the petite Martha Washington, Jaclyn Smith plays his one true love, David Dukes is Washington's dear friend and the obstacle to his heart's desire, and Hal Holbrook portrays John Adams. Lloyd Bridges gets to let his (long and wiggy) hair down as a pioneer and guide, and Philip Casnoff shows off his French as the Marquis de Lafayette. You'll see José Ferrer, James Mason, Kelsey Grammar, Anthony Zerbe, Jeremy Kempt, and Robert Stack on the battlefield; and Trevor Howard, Richard Kiley, Stephen Macht (as Benedict Arnold), and Rosemary Murphy, influence more of the personal scenes. Also, you'll see him in the cast list, but you probably won't recognize this young face unless you're really looking for him in his first role: Viggo Mortensen.
Every bit of the production was well crafted. The gorgeous, authentically designed costumes clothed on dozens of extras were a joy to look at, as were the beautiful countrysides and real historic landmarks used for filming locations. The age makeup was extremely realistic and detailed, from the crow's feet to soft jawlines. While Jaclyn Smith wore more makeup than respectable women in that time period, we can all excuse it because an unadorned face wouldn't convince audiences that George Washington fell in love with someone he shouldn't have.
Even coming from a political science background, there were tons of tidbits included that I didn't know about our first president. If you're in the mood to learn, you'll love this very informative teleplay. If you're knowledgeable on all things Washington, you'll be impressed by writers Jon Boothe and Richard Fielder. This isn't a silly biopic that shows him chopping down a cherry tree; this is a serious historical piece that deserves respect and attention.
