planktonrules Review of John Paul Jones

John Paul Jones (1959)

Wow....you'd think that John Paul Jones needed meds if you watch this film!!

[5/10 · 16 August 2010]

First off, the review by theowinthrop is masterful--and so I don't have to go into great deal about all the ways that the film is historically inaccurate. Second, this film is enough to convince me that my uncle is correct--Robert Stack wasn't much of an actor or at least the writers writing his part were idiots! After all, almost every five minutes, his John Paul Jones is getting angry and flying off the handle--screaming and carrying on like he'd missed more than a few doses of medication! As a result, although the film is interesting, it is almost comical as well. As I watched this with my in-laws, we began laughing at all the times he blew his top--and we were shocked if a period longer than 5 minutes passed without his mood swinging like some sort of maniac! So if the film had a lot in accuracies, had a Captain with a severe mood disorder and was also too episodic, what DID I like about it? Well, the color cinematography was lovely and at least the film did not end with the American Revolution but at least mentioned his service for the Russians as well as his death in France. A woefully inadequate film about a fascinating man--it sure would be great if they did a REALISTIC biography of this complex man.