Michael Douglas on “Franklin” and “Endangered” Democracies | Amanpour and Company

[@BeTheLight624]

I have always loved the persona of Benjamin Franklin, such a fascinating and brilliant mind. We owe so much to him as a country. I look forward to this series. I’ve not so much enjoyed Michael Douglas as a person, however, he has become more mature and interesting in his later years. I look forward to his interpretation of Ben Franklin, it looks to be a good one. These two books intrigue me, as well, looking forward to delving into them. Wonderful interview, thank you very much.

[@BeTheLight624]

Kirk Douglas is also one of my favorite actors. He did a masterful job of portraying Vincent van Gogh in Lust for Life. He and Anthony Quinn very much physically resemble van Gogh and Cezanne respectively. One of my favorite movies.

[@Danimal1577]

As a native Santa Barbaran and resident, we're proud to call Michael Douglas one of our own 😌 Still remember when I saw the premiere of Falling Down at the Arlington Theater as a kid, and Mr. Douglas was there

[@denisecornell-e5z]

Michael Douglas, you sure have surprised me with this , I cant wait to see this series. I expect to learn a lot about the beginning of our democracy and I am sure other Americans will also , Thank you for doing this.

[@chrisnam1603]

and other people in other countries, we love him too

[@distractionb]

If you want to learn more about our nascent democracy there are also these things called books.

[@denisecornell-e5z]

@@distractionb That reply sounded snarky Yes I can read quite well thank you . I was just expressing my surprise that this project was happening . I have always thought that Ben Franklin was never given enough credit for his actions helping the Colonies to achieve their freedom from England. I love history and genealogy I have thoroughly researched branches of my family I know the early history of Pennsylvania , Maryland and Virginia quite well. I know that this series will be a high quality project with Michael involved , He is a great actor

[@distractionb]

@@denisecornell-e5z read his own autobiography before you speak again

[@distractionb]

@@denisecornell-e5z you need snark

[@YITV]

Michael Douglas is a great storyteller and a great guy. What a great interview

[@juniper150]

A great guy… really? Good Lord. Have you heard his views, or seen who his friends are? You need to up to reality and stop worshipping false idols

[@angelapellino885]

Great actor! Thanks for this interview, eager to watch this series 😊

[@NordinAhmad-e8x]

😒

[@BenSussmanpro]

It’s a shame this series is on a subscription streaming service. Rather, it should be on a network or PBS, where anyone with a tv can watch. Now, more than ever people need to know the story of Franklin’s & Adams’ commitment to democracy.

[@kevincrowley6991]

From the UK great to see you Michael what a legacy you have and a wonderful family, thank you so much for continuing to provide pleasure for the world

[@TriAngles3D]

Hope they get this right... Ben Franklin is an all time favorite and important historical figure. His contributions to science, politics and society are profound. Then and in particular now his story provides a sense of direction.

[@Lynn-i2w]

I love Ben Franklin. I will skip this series. Don’t want to have the image ruined.

[@DouglasRichardson-er4ky]

... early to bed, early to rise, makes a PERSON healthy, wealthy and wise 😎🫵🏻🦉

[@analaraya]

What a wonderful interview ! Thank you !

[@mrdog66]

I recently watched Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr., and it turns out that Michael Douglas's 4th grandfather on his mothers side, John Neilson, was a colonel in the Continental army in the American Revolution. Not only that, he was the third person to read the Declaration of Independence in public in 1776.

[@LivinginCentralNewJersey-ep4bq]

The Douglas family was also related to the Johnson and Johnson family as Michael was born in New Brunswick, NJ and when his Dad was acting in NYC they stayed in Highland Park at one of the Johnson family estate. The Olde Queen Tavern (hosted many notables back in the day including Frankline, Washington, Adams) and the Tavern is still in existence at the East Jersey Olde town in Piscataway, NJ across the river from New Brunswick

[@jazminratzlaff5357]

Great interview, love Michael Douglas as Benjamin Franklin. Great storyteller and a talented actor. A very important American figure in world history.

[@laurakagan834]

Great interview. Looking forward to watching the series

[@dougmackenzie5976]

Looking forward to this! It's about time Michael Douglas bit into a juicy historical role, and to portray Franklin in his first period piece outing is quite an achievement all by itself. -One note: at 15:31 the interviewer states that John and Abigail Adams were in Paris together at this time. That is not so. They travelled Europe together from 1783-1788, after the Revolution, not in 1776, as it was raging. Abigail was in Quincy, MA, where she wrote many letters to John while he was in Paris. (It was John Adams, btw, who secured the major funds for the Revolution, through the Dutch. Franklin stayed in Paris, and after the American success at the Battles of Saratoga, Franklin was finally able to win over the French court, securing France as an ally.

[@emmahardesty4330]

Another fine interview, and great to see Douglas in any role. The Isaacson book on Franklin is great, and now I will certainly read the one by Schiff. American history is far out when it's real.

[@frankf.6639]

As a French watching the story of Franklin coming to France is a great pleasure. Our two countries have so much in common in their history. Americans have never to forget what France did to help this young country to became the USA, and the French we never have to forget the American soldiers who came in France on June 6 1944 to deliver us from the nazis…by the way the show on Apple TV played by Michael Douglas is an excellent show that reminds us how strong the French American friendship is and has to stay in the future.

[@theswede5402]

Haha and look at France turning into an islamic caliphate now with terror attacks and mass shootings thanks to America marching in and defeating those evil nazis, at least we dont speak german right!? ...right?

[@DouglasRichardson-er4ky]

Greetings from Buckeye Arizona 🤠🌵🐎🇺🇸, we also helped the French realize their own Revolution (the shot heard around the world), and WWI ... here in the USA in Louisiana in particular French cooking influences and love of food are very strong! American style we enjoy the best aspects of all the world's cultures and peoples our immigrants legal or illegal ALL MATTER and are welcome the poor huddled masses is why the USA is soooo RICH!!! 😎🫵🏻🇺🇸💘🇫🇷🗽

[@markgoicoechea7826]

Michael Douglas. Sharp as ever

[@carolbenson6524]

Can't wait to hear about the history of Franklin!

[@texasbluebonnet4303]

Michael Douglas ,Wow! You look and sound great ! I am one of your long time fans and am so thrilled to see you act this part! And I have to tell you that your dad was also one of my very favorite actors. I would have to say, like father like son in your life experiences .

[@distractionb]

He does look great!

[@Michelle-pn9xt]

He looks great?

[@SIERRATREES]

I cant wait to see this. Franklins dexterous handling of the French was key to the birth of America.

[@carolutley6523]

Great interview 🎉

[@sneakerset]

"Streets of San Francisco" I understand that his Dad (Kirk) was descended from Russian Jews. Very cool guy with a beautiful wife - life's good.

[@leslierfriedman973]

He's always one step ahead of everyone else. He's underappreciated

[@MyKingdomForAK9]

Love for his actors-art craft, runs decades-deep. He continues to be talked about by his fans, and peers. Personally, I don't think Michael has ever been underappreciated. We fell for his pop's achievements, too. Well-loved, was Kirk.

[@abbracia]

The scene with Temple Franklin convinced me to subscribe to Apple TV to watch this mini series. Douglas is a lovely man but his acting is stupendous! Love him all over again.

[@UoF818]

So nice to see Michael Douglas at top of his game. Can’t wait to watch the series.

[@L.h314]

What a great men he was. We need one like him now. Our father left us a democracy. Now we face anarchy, narcissism, corruption of justice.

[@TranNguyenVungLay]

I want the United States to expand the Second Enlightenment in the 21st century to educate Americans that democracy and human dignity are more important than gods.

[@CeeGeeZ]

🔥‼️✅️👌

[@DouglasRichardson-er4ky]

Lifelong Atheist ⚛️, present 🙋🏻‍♂️ separation of church and state under ATTACK by Republicans vote straight ticket DEMOCRAT please and thank you!! 💙🗽🇺🇸🦅

[@paulsardeson935]

Really enjoyed to hear Mr. Douglas's viewpoint on this character and time in our history.. Thank you

[@badpuppy09]

Michael Douglas never disappoints. Can't wait to watch this film!

[@maximilliancunningham6091]

My God, he looks and sounds the splitting image of his esteemed Dad.

[@Sisteryoda1440]

PBS had a documentary on Franklin - it was fascinating. If I’m not mistaken, France nearly went bankrupt supporting the Revolutionary War in the U.S.

[@adriannespring8598]

The money they wasted on that revolution literally caused the revolution. If they hadn't spent that money it likely wouldn't have happened.

[@pagano1905]

It did

[@artlover1477]

Pretty much speeded up their on revolution.

[@AuxaneST]

Not just nearly...

[@christophermorgan3261]

Haven't seen the film but as an American that lived many years in France I can say from personal experience that Puritan America and not so Puritan France remain the same. Je ne sais pas pourquoi mais c'est tres bon!

[@lindaswanson9328]

Look forward to watching. Great interview!

[@JJ-hx8eo]

What a great actor. I was so amazed as he played Liberace in Candelabra perfectly done.

[@andreasbyczkowski3435]

Wow! Kirk was such a “ramrod” of a macho character that it was borderline abrasive, but Michael balances being strong and sensitive in an amazing manner. Both of them are/were ferociously intelligent and charismatic actors “out the wazoo”. Yes, Franklin is a treasured “guidepost” in VEEERY numerous ways! 👍🏼🌩️ PS) And yes, we definitely could use his qualities replicated in at least ten-thousand of our leaders, scientists, businessmen, dandies, actors and normy’s!

[@janee166]

Fantastic conversation

[@Ludicanti]

This is so sweet, thank you for stepping up, my dear friend. Please, accept my most sincere gratitude. Rafa. ⭐️

[@TM-yn4iu]

This interview, Michael, was great, but he reminded me of Michael Fox. Just my thoughts, words and gestures...from Michael years ago.

[@thegracienetwork7847]

The Liberace movie was a 1970s and 80s period piece

[@shantishanti1949]

Looking and sounding great Michael 👍👍

[@Michelle-pn9xt]

Why are people saying he looks great? Nobody would say that if this was a woman!

[@julianparks8485]

Looking forward to this.

[@williamkelly1519]

Love anything Douglas does.

[@Joe44944]

I so appreciated this interview, thank you.

[@JCGible]

Thank you, Michael Douglas. Your a great actor. I can't wait to see this movie.

[@mariahenrich9602]

I so enjoyed Paul Giammatti's portrayal of John Adams. So interesting to bring these icons made of stone brought to life. Looking forward to this piece.

[@juleslaabs9808]

The Ken Burns documentary (PBS) is a great doc to see before seeing this portrayal of this specific time in Franklin's life.

[@charlessmyth]

500 pages a day. Impressive. The same speed as a dot-matrix printer :-)

[@SwatantraNandanwar]

Michael is a great actor. And a great guy. His best films Falling Down, Romancing the Stone and the Jewel of the Nile with Kathleen... I'd like him to be more of a social activist and go to the Senate and replace Bernie Sanders.

[@jameshutchins6077]

Benjamin Franklin a great American mason who supported common sense and independence.

[@distractionb]

Favorite part is when Mr. Douglass says he wouldn't have wanted to be married to Ben Franklin. I think I understand. Most folks would rather come home to Catherine Zeta doffing a raccoon skin cap than Franklin at his best. However, Michael and Benjamin would be a heck of a power couple.

[@rayrocher6887]

Thanks Mike Douglas for good jobs acting and Care about world, bless you guys

[@michaelcar4012]

Maybe the Stars need to play each of the Presidents, starting from George Washington. Because people stay home mostly ,watching tv.they need to remember what our countries history was based on. .And why we continue to fallow the laws passed down.to each President.our constitutional laws are being changed to Suite only a small amount of people who refuse to fallow our constitution.🗽🇺🇲.I think mini series would be a very much needed reminder to the people in our country.And keeping it as accurate as possible.This is thinking outside the box.❤

[@brynalan]

I listened to the audiobook version. Stellar. What a character.

[@noelhall945]

Interesting casting.

[@sebastiankinnunen5549]

❤The Legend❤ Iconic multitalented moviestar❤love from Finland

[@phil20_20]

Glad someone from Hollywood is finally weighing in somewhere besides barbs on TwitX.

[@phil20_20]

America's First Genius! I will make adjustments to watch!

[@Fiawordweaver]

Bravo🎉

[@DavidGatto]

Right on point, as usual❤

[@petersz98]

If it weren't for the French the War of Independence would have been lost and the USA would still be a British colony which would have only been allowed independence in the 20th century like Canada!

[@jbqu3142]

So the French provided enough assistance to help « the rebels » create the United States of America. What about USA help quebecers create the French country Quebec?

[@rosanna5515]

"...allowed independence in the twentieth century like Canada."?????????

[@faithallen1169]

I like this very much!!!

[@yvankrzeslo6366]

Michael Douglas i need nothing more to watch the show

[@ajarnwordsmith628]

His dad, Kirk, spoke French but did so with a better accent. I believe Michael's mother is French. Malheursement, je parle Francais comme une vache Espagniole.

[@AuxaneST]

Anne Buydens, Kirk Douglas' second wife was originally Belgian. Francophone yes.

[@pierrelalonde3705]

He is so talented...

[@dalestaley5637]

We need this at point in America as we are endangered by fascists.

[@steveprudell9976]

Love Michael and Kurt hopefully son will get good rolls

[@maestoso47]

Ben Franklin was epic.

[@WayOfAges]

Correction: It was Thomas Jefferson, not Franklin, who wrote the Declaration of Independence. Franklin did review it and made a few spot edits, the most famous of which was to change “We hold these truths to be ordained by God” (or something like that) to “We hold these truths to be self-evident.” This inspired a change in Jefferson’s thinking from religious to rational, which led in turn to his Enlightenment principle of the separation of church and state - the principle and championship for which he most wanted to be remembered - more that for writing the DoI and more than for having served as President.

[@unvladsale2015]

Interesting.

[@mvjh2277]

16:36 “to kill each other”, and to kill democracy. Our elected officials in Congress test, “A republic, if you can keep it,” spoken by Benjamin Franklin.

[@brysimm404]

I’m definitely looking forward to this. I just wish Ben Franklin didn’t look so obviously like Michael Douglas. But if he plays it well it will work.

[@DreamCather147]

Poor Richard's sayings are still revealment today.

[@martinvanoene7192]

AWESOME!

[@niveusgaius]

Walter knows all about Franklin; wrote a great book about him.

[@johnishikawa2200]

This series looks like a winner .

[@rayrocher6887]

Like Moses and Jesus, people doubt if Ben Franklin ever existed, but the faith was there, and rebuild, fortune and God bless works, care

[@JojoJojo-hd3xp]

Love Mikey D. Brilliant as BF! Stage 4 cancer survivor, as am I.

[@Amarok-p6l]

Michael you are Gordon Gekko. “Greed is good.”

[@donaldscott3921]

The film looks interesting and will be worth watching. I was surprised, however, to hear no mention of Thomas Jefferson in the writing of the Declaration of Independence. Hopefully that will be in the film, in the interest of historical accuracy.

[@vandanerisgomes9009]

Amo esse ator

[@suebowman7258]

Great interview. The volume is low

[@mikemullinix5607]

Was Ben Franklin the first rock star

[@kevinjenner9502]

“Advice to a friend on choosing a mistress”…June 25, 1745

[@greendesertgoddess]

Democracy my L-foot!

[@tycobrahe7663]

16:50 *constitutional republic* not “democracy”. Ben’s oft quoted quip, “A republic if you can keep it,” when asked after the Constitutional Convention, “What have you wrought?” Looking forward to Michael Douglas’ Franklin!

[@lynetteray2146]

Diplomacy doesn't involve being diplomatic. It involves getting someone else to do what you want them to do as cleverly and calmly as possible.

[@lynetteray2146]

The parallel between Franklin and Zelensky is very strong to me.

[@morrisonreed1]

when asked what our government was he replied "A republic, if you can keep it." .He didn't say a democracy .Technically the Nation is a democratic republic .

[@owlreveal]

A constitutional federal republic, afaik

[@strezztechnoid]

Hopefully Franklin brings attention to the most disrespected and influential framer of the first non-monarchial form of self governance on the planet. Guess already? Yes, Thomas Paine, the most consequential person during the enlightenment, to my mind. But so radical, Paine was despised by Washington, Hamilton, and Jefferson to the degree they would let him die in prison in France but Franklin and Jefferson finally came to his aid.

[@Lynn-i2w]

He looks like an emaciated Ben Franklin.

[@normalizedaudio2481]

This is the greed is good guy?

[@distractionb]

Coming soon: Michael Douglas in Falling Down 2 (working title: Falling Down Again, Hip-Replacement). I apologize in advance for the joke. I'm a big fan of Ben Franklin and Mr. Douglass

[@rayrocher6887]

Thanks for caring about USA government and good history, there was faith in god and USA leader, rebuild and repent world, I apologies to PBS, for cynical criticize last Time, God bless your good work

[@gordonadams5891]

We now have the opportunity to act the part of France but to Ukraine. Can we meet the moment?

[@RickWolfff]

Who got the oil paintings of Douglas as Franklin? There were three of them, in episode 1. How about the bas-relief?

[@pamthompson3316]

Michael you look great!!! I won't be able to see it, but I know it will be wonderful😊

[@Michelle-pn9xt]

How does he look great?

[@manp1039]

it is my understanding that Ben Franklin was not a small man. It is my impression that he may have been 6 feet tall or 5'11" tall and muscular in his 20s. I am also seeing some saying he was 5'9" tall.. I wonder where people are getting their information. I suppose any of these heights are plausible.

[@janejohnson8143]

We all watched as family The Streets of San Francisco! I also ❤ him in The China Syndrome, The Star Chamber, Basic Instinct, Fatal Attraction & of course Wall Street!

[@pagano1905]

France financed and supported the American colonies against England, as it had lost its dominant position in the world at the end of the 7 year’s war(1764) , notably Canada. The cost was one of the reasons for the nearly bankrupt French public finances, one of the causes of the French Revolution.

[@sene8675]

Yeah, that's the thing: How many Americans, like Michael, don't know the history of their country, let alone the world? It's shameful that he brags about not knowing.

[@ttacking_you]

I think that life saving lightning rod is what makes him a global celeb also? Pssh smh Every building in the world, to this very day. It's crazy!

[@nfpnone8248]

I can’t believe how we distort democracy to create our own crisis of dysfunctional government! Democracy is simple, and has nothing to do with voting for leaders and law makers, because the people are not governed, the collective decision making of the people is governed. “A Democracy” is a legislative assembly, “Democracy” is how that legislative assembly is formed and how it functions, and “Consensus Choice” is the legislative process which governs how the legislative assembly reaches a majority census of all that are assembled, not just those present! There are only two purposes for voting, either as a legislative assembly or to form a legislative assembly, when members are assembled directly as a legislative assembly, that constitutes a democracy, when the members form an exact representation of the members themselves, “The Members in their Collective Capacity”, as “The Most Numerous Legislative Branch”, that constitutes a Republican Form of Government. Note: I use the general term “Members” because you can form a democracy of any discreet group, like the States, or counties, or cities, and you can form a Republic of any group of members, as in a Confederation of Republics where the members must be either simple or compound republics themselves, i.e. the United States, which every State in the Union must be either a simple or compound republic to be a member of the Union which is a Confederates (compound) Republic which is assembled in a bicameral legislature where the popular branch is “The People of each State in their Collective Capacity” and is assembled proportionally with respect to the proportion of the aggregate population of the Union which resides within each State, and the equal branch is a discreet democracy of the States, “The States in their Collective Capacity”, for concurrence which provides legislative checks and balances to balance and protect the interest of the large and small States, where the large more populous and wealthy States control the majority consensus in the House, and the small more numerous States control concurrence on those measures by majority consensus in the Senate. Today the 9 largest States can form a majority consensus in the House of Representatives, however when measures are transmitted to the Senate for concurrence there are 41 States to reject those measures and return them to the House for reconsideration along with amendments to advise those 9 States in the House what the 41 States in the Senate would consider for their concurrence! This forms an iterative legislative process which requires the concurrence of all the people followed by the concurrence of all the States, however, the equal branch, the discrete democracy of the States as the Union, has the power of concurrence over all measures, making the Senate necessarily the predominant governing institution. If you don’t understand these concepts and principles of democratic and republican forms of government, then I would suggest that is the problem we face today, IGNORANCE!!!

[@denisecornell-e5z]

I agree there is a lot of ignorance of America's history and a lot of it is deliberate because many political players have tried to rewrite factual history of America to fit their own preferred narratives. The New World as we were called at the time, was unique because many European countries Portugal, France , Spain , and England had colonized parts of our country. England was exerting the most control over the thirteen colonies at the time of the writing of the Declaration of Independence, the sentiment for independence had been building over time because of acts of the King of England. These Colonies wanted their freedom from oppression of European countries , but there was also a divide between people living here at the time, there were Patriots fighting for independence and there were Tories fighting against the Patriots and supporting England. Our independence and freedom we have enjoyed for over 245 years should not be taken for granted by anyone.

[@ElizabethRichter-o6u]

Franklin was surrounded by spies the entire time and still managed to succeed.