Backdrop

An Empire of Reason

Docudrama about the debate surrounding New York State's ratification of the United States Constitution. Historical figures wear modern dress and use familiar language to help today's audience understand firsthand the forces that shaped this country two hundred years ago. The argument, characters, passions and debating points are historically accurate, but the language and the medium of the debate is modern in form. Present day newscasters and commentators play themselves, reporting on the events of the 1780s as though they were occurring now.

1988 |0h 58m |  Documentary, Drama, History

Cast

cast

Cokie Roberts

Self - Host

cast

William F. Buckley Jr.

Self

cast

Walter Cronkite

Self

cast

John Chancellor

Self

cast

Phil Donahue

Self

cast

Andrea Mitchell

Self

cast

Al Roker

Self

cast

Forrest Sawyer

Self

cast

Jamey Sheridan

Daniel Shays

cast

Ed Koch

Mayor of New York City, 1788

cast

James Rebhorn

Jesse Woodhull

cast

Mario Cuomo

Self

cast

Christopher Curry

John Lansing, Jr.

cast

Nesbitt Blaisdell

Gov. George Clinton

cast

Drew Snyder

Demonstrator

cast

John C. Vennema

Robert R. Livingston

cast

E.G. Marshall

Federalist Spokesman

cast

Richard Bright

Donahue Audience Member

cast

William Duell

Donahue Audience Member

cast

MacIntyre Dixon

Donahue Audience Member

cast

Patrick Clear

Donahue Audience Member

cast

Eli Wallach

Anti-Federalist Spokesman

cast

Roberts Blossom

Melancton Smith

cast

Jonathan Bolt

Anti-Federalist Delegate

More Details

Status

Released

Language

English

Budget

-

Revenue

-