FRANKLIN SECURES SUPPORT

FOUNDING FATHER SPUN INTO FILMOGRAPHY

By PETER THOMAS BUSCH

Michael Douglas adds to his Americana performances with a deep thoughtful portrayal of Benjamin Franklin in Paris during the American Revolutionary War.

Founding Father Benjamin Franklin and his grandson, William, arrive on the Brittany Coast in France on December 3, 1776, the first day of his 8 year petition of King Louis XVI of France for support in America’s War of Independence with England.

The Colonial Government in America sent Franklin to France as an Ambassador. Franklin had previously filled a similar role for five years in London, England when the American Colony and the British Empire were on better terms, unified against the French.

Franklin’s efforts in Paris initially led to incremental financial assistance from the French, and then ultimately to the more formal Franco-American Alliance of 1778.

Douglas portrays Franklin with the hubris of an international celebrity, Franklin having become a celebrity after stories of his experiments in electricity were told around the world. Franklin is also an intellectual and publisher, occupations he continues while in France.

Director Timothy Van Patten builds a certain intrigue in what this great American was doing in Paris, actually residing just outside of Paris, and to what extent he would succeed. The narrative also weaves in and out of relationships, but the director eventually creates Franklin’s predominant image as a loyalist determined to succeed in his mission.

Douglas has been cast well in this role with his stature as an American actor and international celebrity subtly rounding out the character he is portraying.

The Apple TV+ Original, 8-part streaming series is filmed in Paris, France, and Versailles and the Palace of Versailles, before the French Revolution began in 1789 and before the Palace became a tourist destination.

Noah Jupe plays Franklin’s grandson, William Temple Franklin, arriving in Paris as an attaché to his grandfather.

Jupe shows how William gradually builds a life in Paris for himself, apart from the work he does for his grandfather. This subplot provides an interesting sidebar to the main narrative of Franklin negotiating France’s participation in the Revolutionary War of Independence.

Daniel Mays plays Franklin’s Paris contact, Edward Bancroft.

Bancroft has the inside knowledge that makes Franklin’s efforts proceed a bit more efficiently at first. But the intrigue builds as the camera follows Bancroft around Paris, while his relationship with Franklin eventually gets turned upside down.

The little details that make up the Franklin character are gradually revealed. And just as the plot begins to fall a bit flat, the Colonial Government sends John Adams to Paris.

Adams takes an immediate dislike of Franklin, viewing his progress so far as self-serving and inefficient, and too little, too late in the day for excuses.

Eddie Marson as John Adams arrives to pick up the pace of the series, just as Adams does to the negotiations between Franklin and King Louis XVI.

The series is a bit of a talkie, with Douglas carrying many scenes with his sense or presence and ability to deliver dialogue in time. The opposition of Adams adds a bit of context and controversy to the dialogue.

The camera pans between characters as the conversations take place on location in and around Paris, while picking up in the rooms the little bits of details of the beauty created by the French culture.

This attention to detail in the natural dark light of the time, matched with the period costume pieces, lends tone and atmosphere to the series.

The script is captivating enough without a score driving the scenes, but a bit more music is sorely needed from time to time, as scenes fall flat, every now and then.

Love becomes an interesting minor narrative as the characters explore relationships, with varying degrees of success.

In the background, George Washington and the Continental Army have suffered many losses against the British. But America’s fate turns around simultaneously with the relationships between the characters becoming more serious and taking greater hold.

Franklin was well promoted by Douglas and Apple TV+, including Douglas making himself visible to the public in Paris during filming of the series on location.