Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??

Highly Overrated But Still Good

Dreadfully Boring

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

"Sons of Liberty" is an American English-language short film from 1939, the first year of World War II, so this one is already over 75 years old and the patriotic sentiment is easy to find in these 20 minutes. The director is Michael Curtiz, mostly known today for "Casablanca" and his writer is Crane Wilbur. People with a great interest in old American movies will find several familiar names, like Claude Rains ("Casablanca"), Oscar winners Sondergaard and Crisp and there are more people in here who you will find on the Walk of Fame or the lists of Oscar nominees. Pretty impressive for such a brief movie. It is in Technicolor, but the version I saw looked almost black-and-white still. As for the plot, this is about the life of Haym Salomon during the American Revolution. I may be slightly biased here as this era in history never really interested me that much, but the plot in here also did not manage to sparkle my interest. Apparently, the Academy thought differently as they gave this one an Oscar, which is why I would not say it is unwatchable. However, I personally found it underwhelming and don't recommend checking it out.

. . . such as lead actor Claude Rains as Revolutionary War financier Haym Saloman and director Michael Curtiz, because Tinsel Town wished to show that American Jews not only were inventing the American Dream through what the then predominantly Jewish-run movie studios were throwing up on the Big Screen, but they also were responsible for financing the establishment of America itself, which surely would have capitulated to the Tory Fat Cats loyal to London, without the influx of cash raised by Mr. Saloman. The Baby Boomer generation became aware of Mr. Saloman's story when he was on the postage stamps in 1975. The "Greatest Generation" of WWII knew his history from this SONS OF LIBERTY short. However, today's Millenials have no idea that America was bought and paid for by Jewish funds, or that many of the donors (including Mr. Saloman himself, as shown in SONS OF LIBERTY's closing scene) died in poverty due to their war-time financial sacrifices. As always, the "Christian" Fat Cats had the last laugh, all the way to the formerly-Jewish run banks!

This fine short subject from Warner Brothers won an Academy Award as the Best Short Subject in 1939. An honor for its director Michael Curtiz who would win another Oscar for Best feature film four years later with Casablanca and one for himself as Best Director.This film should be put in the context of the times. One of the criticisms of the Jewish movie moguls is that they did not use their influence to combat anti-Semitism in the USA. IF that was the the case the Brothers Warner redeemed themselves in a small way bringing the story of Haym Solomon to the screen, the Jewish individual among America's founding fathers.Solomon had quite a career during the revolution as a spy and later helping to finance the American Revolution with Robert Morris. The expenses they personally signed for these two men dear in personal wealth and health. Claude Rains is a fine Haym Solomon, the part is almost a dress rehearsal for his later role in Mr. Skeffington.I've a feeling that this might have started out as a feature film project for Paul Muni. It would have certainly been a perfect fit for him. Around this time Muni and Jack Warner were coming to a parting of the ways.It's good short subject and kids you can actually use it as the basis of a book report.

CLAUDE RAINS gives an earnest performance as a rabbi Haym Salomon who finances Washington's troops during this historical short subject that appears on the Errol Flynn Signature Collection in collaboration with DODGE CITY.GALE SONDERGAARD is his faithful wife who stands by while he courageously leads the rebels against The Crown in the fight for freedom. All the usual slogans denouncing tyranny and oppression are here, but the short is directed in firm style by the capable Michael Curtiz, who keeps things moving briskly throughout the twenty minutes of running time.Seen briefly are JAMES STEPHENSON, DONALD CRISP, HENRY O'NEILL and, if you look closely, that's JOHN SUTTON as the horseback rider with a message for Rains. Photographed in Technicolor by Sol Polito, it's a fine example of the sort of shorts Warner Bros. made during the '30s and '40s to accompany feature films.