The Crossing

Director: Robert Harmon Robert Harmon

Overview

"Jeff Daniels stars as George Washington in the historical drama The Crossing, which comes to DVD with a standard full-frame transfer that preserves the original broadcast aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Stereo. There are neither subtitles nor closed captions on this release. Supplemental materials include a behind-the-scenes featurette, historical quotes, and biographies and filmographies of the cast. This is a solid release from A&E."

Product Details

Release Date:	02/11/2003
UPC:	0733961706277
Original Release:	1999
Rating:	NR
Source:	A&E Home Video
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo]
Language:	English
Time:	1:40:00
Sales rank:	1,483

Special Features

Behind-the-scenes featurette; Jeff Daniels biography/filmography; Roger Rees biography/filmography; Historical quotes; Interactive menus; Scene selection

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Jeff Daniels	General Washington
Roger Rees	General Mercer
Steven McCarthy	Captain Alexander Hamilton
Sebastian Roche	Colonel Glover
John Henry Canavan	Knox
Ned Vukovic	Sterling
David Ferry	Greene
Karl Pruner	Sullivan
Nigel Bennett	Gates
Duncan McLeod	Williams
Andrew Kaulis	Billy
Kelly Harms	Tommy
Jonathan Watton	Cadman
Kristen Holdenried	Heinaman
James Kidnie	Rall
Cliff Saunders	Billy Perkins
Julian Richlings	McKenzie
Donald Ewer	McKonkey
Peter Crockett	Abe
Shaun Austin-Olsen	Mr. Barclay
Paulette Sinclair	Mrs. Barclay
Michael Proudfoot	Jacob
Tim Post	Ike

Technical Credits

Howard Fast

Robert Harmon	Director
Howard Fast	Screenwriter
Bob Christiansen	Executive Producer
David Coatsworth	Producer
Olivia Harris	Casting
Phyllis Huffman	Casting
Brock Joliffe	Special Effects
Branko Racki	Stunts
Rick Rosenberg	Executive Producer

Editorial Reviews

This low-cost production is high on historical accuracy and overall quality. Credit its success mainly to Howard Fast's intelligent script, Jeff Daniels' realistic portrayal of Gen. George Washington, and the cinematographer's rousing action sequences. Because of its length, its faithfulness to history, and its fast-moving plot, the production is ideal for showing to history students. In the film, Daniels is almost exactly the same weight, height, and age as Washington at the Battle of Trenton. But what really makes his performance convincing is his textbook depiction of Washington as a steady, conscientious, and sometimes irascible leader who refuses to yield in the face of battlefield losses, dwindling supplies, and a force of just 2,400 ragtag volunteers under his command. Though appearing only briefly, Sebastian Roche also performs brilliantly. He portrays Col. John Glover, the salty New Englander who finances his own army unit, the Marblehead Fishermen, and secures the boats to ferry Washington and his troops across the Delaware River in a heavy snowstorm on Christmas night, 1776. Throughout the production, Fast's script incorporates historical facts that educate the viewer about how perilously close the colonial army was to losing the war, and how important Washington was to turning the tide. One major disappointment in the production is the filming locale -- Ontario and Alberta, Canada, rather than eastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey. The scenery may look authentic, but just knowing that it isn't spoils the sense of realism the film achieves in other ways. Nevertheless, The Crossing is a good film, fully deserving its Peabody Award, its American Society of Cinematographers' Award, and its Emmy nomination.