Thomas Jefferson in Film (Featuring Monticello) / Reel History

[@robertshows5100]

I was at Monticello in 1966 when i was 14. I asked about a locked door in Jefferson s bedroom. No one knew what it was but it had been turned into a men's room. We now know that it was Sally's adjoining bedroom. History is amazing.

[@chaspfrank]

I've always wished that, after John Adams, a real historically accurate expose of Jefferson would be produced starring Stephen Dillane. I thought his representation of Jefferson as soft spoken and rather subdued intellectual most accurate when compared to descriptions of him in historical documents. I did not think either Sam Neil nor Nick Nolte were properly cast.

[@mikehoffler4097]

He was also my favorite. I like Stephen Dillane as an actor, there's an authenticity to his quirkiness, if you want to call it that; it brings life and gravitas to his portrayal.

[@davemac1197]

Good showing by British actors - Thandie Newton as Sally Hemmings (born Westminster in London, later moved to 'Westworld'), Sam Neill (Omagh in Northern Ireland, later moved to New Zealand and 'Jurassic Park') and Stephen Dillane (Kensington, London, lost track of him after a 1988 ITV mini-series called 'The One Game', remade into 1997 Hollywood movie 'The Game' starring Michael Douglas).

[@mr.l7471]

I have to admit as a history student Thomas Jefferson will always be a controversial figure in US history. On one hand he helped founded the United States besides George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and John Adam including becoming the first secretary of the state department and third president of the United States. On the other hand he was an unashamed slave owner who had an affair with Sally Hemmings. Love him or hate him, his place in US history cannot be altered or be forgotten

[@ethanpurita]

Stfu. He was not controversial, you just don't know what you're talking about.

[@matthewhedrichjr.5445]

I think Stephen Dillane, Ken Howard and Hans Conried are tied with my favorite actor playing Thomas Jefferson, whose legacy and ideas will never be forgotten

[@samhutchison9582]

I like Jefferson as a founding father. I think his complicated history and actions serve a reminder, when the Founding Fathers are venerated to almost godlike status, that the Founders were just men. Men who in addition to their ideas and idealism, had vices, made mistakes, and committed/participated in some objectively awful acts. In uplifting the Founders to such a high status, I think we do a disservice to our country in thinking that we are a perfect nation, with no faults and no need and room for improvement. Jefferson shows us that we are imperfect and therefore should seek to find and fix our problem to the better of all.

[@zxbc1]

Can't agree more! Same can be said about the constitution, which served as a strong but imperfect document on which the early USA was governed, but should never be treated as sacred text. Sadly the American society now is experiencing the full burden of just that kind of treatment, and people ought to reflect upon history and see that the reason the founding generation was successful and highly regarded was because of their ability to part with the old and embrace the new (of their time). Dogmatism has no place in modern society.

[@ReelHistory]

Good thoughts here!

[@gravitypronepart2201]

The problem is that so ofter, proposed improvements point us in the direction of authoritarianism.

[@gravitypronepart2201]

@@zxbc1 Its a good thing then that our Constitution provides a means to amend it.

[@zxbc1]

@@gravitypronepart2201 It is, but I was merely pointing out the ludicrous idea of "constitutional originalism" as a driving principle in some conservative corners of modern society. If Jefferson were alive today, he would be a progressive.

[@SSP_Joel]

Great video.. but what happened to the John Adams series?

[@ReelHistory]

Our schedule hasn't lined up with Emily's since we filmed last. Rest assured we will be finishing it.

[@Zarastro54]

Ironically, I’d argue that 1776 does a better job at depicting the hypocrisy of the founding fathers over slavery than Hamilton. Not only do we get the captivating song that outlines the _entire_ country’s complicity in perpetuating the institution, but has tense debate sections on it (though it doesn’t really dwell on Jefferson himself’s slaves). Hamilton on the other hand not only whitewashed Alexander Hamilton’s own slave holding history, but even makes him out to be some sort of abolitionist figure, and the slavery debate itself is pretty much relegated to “someday someone will end it” and a “sick burn” delivered by Hamilton to Jefferson in a rap battle.

[@ReelHistory]

So true.

[@robbwarren4794]

Ken Howard and Nick Nolte were the best representations of Jefferson. Waterson, whom I admire, sounds nothing like a man raised in the Blue Ridge of Virginia. Another has a weak British dialect and seems weak and wormy. That’s in Adams. Thank you for at least pronouncing Monticello correctly! BTW, I portray Thomas Jefferson on the History Channel and have portrayed him for over thirty years.

[@gothard5]

Sam Neill will always be Dr. Alan Grant to me

[@davemac1197]

He's never stopped working. Highlight for me was Dead Calm (1989) with Nicole Kidman and Billy Zane, he was also 'Reilly, Ace Of Spies' (1983 mini-series), Captain Borodin in 'Hunt For Red October' (1990), and Weir in sci-fi horror 'Event Horizon' (1997). He seems to do three or four films a year, so his resume page on IMDb takes a few seconds just to load (!), but I suppose being involved over many years in one film franchise associates him with dinosaurs more than anything.

[@jamesearly8518]

What happened to your series on John Adams? It has been three months since you released an episode on it.

[@ReelHistory]

Hi James. Persistent copyright claims with HBO sadly. The algorithms can't differentiate between pirating and promotional education.

[@gettysburgguy]

I'm here to help the algorithm!

[@billkallas1762]

Monticello wasn't a large house. I wonder where guests would stay when they traveled for a visit?

[@ReelHistory]

Jefferson didn't waste space on lavish hallways or stairs. Things are compartmentalized very effectively and he had a good bit of room for company.

[@94djanek]

Please watch German warmovie Das Boot (1982)

[@omalleycaboose5937]

after reading biographies of all the founders including Jeffersons I came away hating the man, I expected grossness in the space department Everyone knows that but I was also expecting good ideas he just didn't execute that I heard about him... but what got me to dislike him was how underhanded a snake he was. pretending to sympathize with Washingtons frustration at the media treating him poorly during his president while funding such papers really made me hate him

[@johnnylongfeather3086]

Twomas = Thomas

[@ReelHistory]

Cute!