Search - Sweet Liberty on DVD

If you want to see how Hollywood REALLY treats history...

Paul MacKenzie | High Point, NC USA | 09/03/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This movie made Alan Alda the patron saint of living historians and re-enactors of the American Revolution. It shows, quite clearly, how Hollywood distorts reality and factual information to create and sell what is simply a product like any other. The humor is subtle, the give-and-take in the dialog is quick and usually very witty. The bottom line of the film is that, to Hollywood, history means entertainment and if the facts have to be changed or embellished to make what they might consider to be a more entertaining product, then so be it. If you want to learn about history, watch the History Channel. If you want to be entertained by "history", watch "The Last of the Mohicans", "Braveheart", and "The Patriot". If you want to watch an entertaining, humorous version of how Hollywood treats history, watch and enjoy "Sweet Liberty"."

See this before you see "The Patriot"

Bruce Conner | Tewksbury, MA USA | 07/05/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I'm a Rev War reenactor, and this film hits the nail on the head when it comes to Hollywood vs History. In that sense it is very funny indeed, otherwise the story is a bit lame. However, having been around fanatics to whom every detail is of monumental importance as regards history, costuming etc., there are scenes in this film that make it all worth while.If you plan to see Mel Gibson in "The Patriot", see this film first. According to my reenactor friends who worked in The Patriot, the similarities in what went on (and the final product)are remarkable! Now repeat after me, "His hat is wrong!""

Pulling the leg of Hollywood movie making

sensodyne | 07/18/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Alan Alda plays Michael a history teacher and author of the book "Sweet Liberty" which is meant to bring American history to a broader audience. Holllywood is now making a movie based on the novel shooting on the original scene of an important battlefield of the Independance War next to Michael's home town. But Michael's material is turned into a comedy completely ignoring the historical details. He ist told that to make a movie sell at the box office you need to show three things: rebellion, destruction of property and people taking their clothes off. Michal tries to save his novel by trying to gain the confidence of the leading lady (Michelle Pfeiffer) and the leading man (Michael Caine) by a) making love to the former and b) practicing fencing with the latter. Embeded into the subplot of Michael's family affairs the story ends in a hillarious reenacting of the historical battle including Michael and the villagers acting as extras. And they give the Hollywood people what they asked for: rebellion, destruction of property and people taking their clothes off.This movie is a must for everybody who likes Alan Alda. Unfortunately he is not often the leading man - but here we can enjoy his acting to extend. The fencing scenes with Michael Caine are simply wonderful!"

Pleasure in academia

smorey | 08/21/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Among my favorite films, my worn VHS copy of _Sweet Liberty_ is pulled off the shelf several times per year. I watch it when I need a gentle laugh and a reminder that even the best relationships can be flawed. Lillian Gish, Alan Alda, Michael Caine, Michelle Pfeiffer, Bob Hoskins and Lise Hilboldt all give comfortable performances of real people - wacky, prideful, erudite, snobbish, emotionally retentive, self-absorbed, commitment-phobic, neurotic, philandering, Hollywood-esque, cruel, naive, loving and lovable. This is not an action film, but a pleasant 107 minutes of funny adult interaction. I hope a DVD version will be released."