To take that imposing figure come down to us from Gilbert Stuart's famous portrait and turn George Washington into a flesh and blood human being was quite the achievement. I watched this and the succeeding mini-series about Washington and came away thinking I actually knew the man.I think the credit goes to two people. First the source of this mini- series is James Thomas Flexner's authoritative biography on Washington. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to know about our first president and what went into the shaping of his character. The book is eminently readable and Flexner writes so that even a non-historian can appreciate Washington.The second is Barry Bostwick's performance as Washington. It's not easy to make someone who's attained near mythological status into a flesh and blood human being, but Bostwick succeeds brilliantly. His life and loves are told from early manhood through to the end of the American Revolution. Martha Washington is ably played by Patty Duke.During our revolution at any number of given points the colonial army could have been snuffed out if British commanders had made different and better choices. Washington endured a few victories, some defeats, but he kept his army intact and in being until the advantage that made that final victory at Yorktown in 1781 presented themselves. He also had to endure a lot of criticism of his leadership from some elements of the Continental Congress.In fact one should see this together with 1776 and get an idea about the American Revolution from both the military and civilian leadership perspectives.In the supporting cast I enjoyed James Mason in one of his final roles as British General Braddock who Washington served under during the French and Indian War. It's there where Washington got his baptism of fire in the woods of western Pennsylvania. This is the 18th century equivalent of what the Indians did to General Custer. Washington was lucky to escape that day and Mason does in good job in portraying a very brave, but incredibly stupid general.I would also single out Jaclyn Smith as Washington's first love, Lady Fairfax and Jose Ferrer as Virginia colonial Lieutenant Governor Robert Dinwiddie who gave Washington his first military command in the French and Indian War.George Washington is good drama and good history. Anything you want to know about the first American president can be learned here.

The mini series "George Washington", was a good mini series. It exploited British arrogance and aristocracy of colonists during those times and it also displayed a colony divided by commerce. Thus setting the foundation for a future clash between fellow Americans. It also displayed our inept ability as a struggling new nation to be united as one even during the most treacherous of times. The series did lack "in truth" the real context of why the colonists decided to become independent. For the real historian this is a down side. However the life and times of our first President was shown as I believe never seen before. Without going into great detail it was very interesting to see how his trials and tribulations took him where he was destined to be. I would highly recommend this series because of its ability to display what George Washington went through to become our first President. The series does show a different take on how he would eventually become our first president. A side that our school books don't let us know about. That is how someone else, like Horatio Gates, may have become our Chief Commander if not for the the north trying to unite the south.

I was in this movie as an extra and it was a blast to be a part of it. I was stationed at the Yorktown Naval Weapons Station in 1983 as Marine Security and my entire platoon responded to an ad placed by MGM in the local paper. The CO of the barracks decided he wanted some of his Marines present to promote good public relations and we were the chosen!I played a British Officer the first day of filming (only because the wardrobe dept. accidentally gave me an officer uniform) and an American mounted officer the second day.I was Gen. Lafayette's (Phil Casnoff) flank officer and in one scene rode almost directly behind him and Barry Bostwick.We were paid $75.00 for the two days of filming and I had a terrific time being a part of it!

My husband and I saw this on cable years ago and fell in love with the history and life of George Washington. Barry Bostwick does a superb job as the main character and Patty Duke fits the role as his short wife, Martha. When we found it on VHS, we bought it and over time, our children have all watched it. When we found ourselves going to DC for vacation, we all watched it again to get a feel for the man and his life before visiting Mt. Vernon. Our children said the miniseries helped them understand what they saw and heard at Washington's home. Every history lover should have a copy of this classic miniseries.