Tools for this page
Print

Johnny Tremain (1957)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

    (Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)

    Not age appropriate for kids under 8, age appropriate for kids over 11; suggested age 11.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Decent complement to the classic children's novel.

Themes in this movie include:   growing up

Why We Rated This on for Ages 11 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Early Revolutionary War lessons here include an oratory that this is to be the start of a long, hard campaign, not just a party throwing tea into Boston harbor, and that there are serious issues at stake in the uprising. One character is depicted as a strict Puritan type, whose stubborn religious streak leads to Johnny T's fateful wound. Unlike later Hollywood views of Christians, he's not hateful, and no comparison is made between his conservatism and the views of the rebel Boston patriots.

  • Role models:

    Johnny is a hardworking, proud youth who only wants to make his own way in the world, but he becomes a spirited fighter in the Revolution and understands the issues (at least the Disney interpretation of them). Females take a supportive but mostly background roles. One strongly religious head-of-household is inflexible in his Bible-based beliefs, but not at all unkind. One young black boy who may or may not be a slave represents the minority presence. It's clarified that the crude "Indian" disguises of the Boston Tea Party aren't suppose to degrade natives but just make the rebels harder to ID. Even some English are sympathetic to the colonists.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    War-conditions shooting, with dead/wounded bodies, but no blood or gore. Johnny famously sears his hand in molten silver, but it's not graphically depicted.

  • Sex:

    Not an issue.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Mention of pubs and some pewter mugs sitting around, probably not filled with milk, but nothing shown.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Johnny Tremain (1957)

Parents need to know that there's abundant gunplay (rifle fire) as the Colonial militias face the British Redcoats, with some extras falling dead in both direct confrontation and sniper-style fire. The young hero burns his hand in molten silver, a vivid trauma in the book for generations of young readers, handled more discreetly here (the crippled limb isn't even shown in closeup). An ultra-religious character comes across as stern and domineering, but not cruel. The Esther Forbes novel is still required reading in many schools; kids today might be tempted to watch the movie instead of doing the reading.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the role that firearms played in the revolt against England; certainly guns go a long away in helping the colonists rout the British.
  • Talk about the Boston Tea Party and its aftermath. What was the protest about?
  • Discuss the irony that a few years after the United States won independence from the British a "Whiskey Rebellion" along very similar lines to the Boston Tea Party brewed up among Americans -- directed against the US government and its tariffs on liquor.
Tools and tips that can help

Want more? Get Common Sense recommendations delivered to your inbox.

Our Members Say

Have you seen it? Review It!

  • What did you think about Johnny Tremain (1957)?

  •  I think this movie is

    for ages

  •  I also give it

  •  Any concerns?

  •  Any highlights?

  •  Love it? Hate it?

  • or to post a review

More Great Stuff For Your Kids

  • Now Playing

    Age 6+
    Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

    Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

    Age-apropriate 3-D food adventure doesn't fully satisfy.

  • Tech Tip

    Learn the basics with our latest video.How to Text

    Learn the basics with our latest video.

  • Book of the Week

    Age 15+
    Lips Touch Three Times

    Lips Touch Three Times

    Wildly inventive, wonderful fairy tales for mature teens.

  • Member Buzz

    Sending Mom a TXT

    Sending Mom a TXT

    Is it easier for parents to communicate with their kids via text?

  • Download This

    Age 3+
    "Wash Your Hands" (CD single)

    "Wash Your Hands" (CD single)

    "Acccchhhoooo!" A funny reminder to help kids fight the flu.

Give Us a Minute, Get a Lot of Common Sense!
  • Age-appropriate best bets for your kids
  • Weekly email alert with the latest picks, reviews & advice
  • Post your own reviews and share them with friends
This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.
A screen name protects your privacy
(It's free!)

Already a member? Log in
Your family's privacy is our highest priority.
See our privacy policy, community guidelines, and terms of use.
To post a review or comment you must become a Common Sense Member. It's easy!
Set-up your account
This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.
Choose a screen name
It will appear when you post your own reviews and recommendations.
A screen name protects your privacy
Tell us your children's ages
You'll see the movies, games, books, shows, music, and sites our editors select just for them. As your children get older, our picks will grow with them!Why we ask for this
We never display your children's names, (or nicknames) to anyone, but you. Providing your children's ages allows us to personalize information on our site, so you get better information, faster.
is
until
(optional)
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
Add another child

Already a member? Log in
Your family's privacy is our highest priority.
See our privacy policy, community guidelines, and terms of use.
We can make Common Sense just right for you. With a little info about you and your family, you'll get the most out of our site.
Set-up your account
This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.
Tell us your children's ages
You'll see the movies, games, books, shows, music, and sites our editors select just for them. As your children get older, our picks will grow with them!
Why we ask for this
We never display your children's names, (or nicknames) to anyone, but you. Providing your children's ages allows us to personalize information on our site, so you get better information, faster.
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
Add another child
Choose a screen name
It will appear when you post your own reviews and recommendations
A screen name protects your privacy
Already a member? Log in
Your family's privacy is our highest priority.
See our privacy policy, community guidelines, and terms of use.
Register to add this school to your profile. You'll be able to see and share reviews from parents, teachers, and kids at your child's school.
I'm already a Common Sense member.
Kids under 13 must use a screen name
Your family's privacy is our highest priority.
See our privacy policy, community guidelines, and terms of use.