"Run as adventure's greatest hour explodes with glory and excitement," read the poster for Johnny Tremain (1957), the Walt Disney film based on the novel by Esther Forbes, which won the 1944 Newbery Medal. Set in the days of the American Revolution, Hal Stalmaster stars as Johnny Tremain, a young silversmith apprentice and friend of Paul Revere. Johnny's life changes forever when he nearly loses the use of his hand after accidentally burning it with melted silver, which would end his days as a silversmith. Left without the full use of his hand and a job, Johnny becomes a secret messenger for The Sons of Liberty, eventually becoming mixed up in several well-known events of the war, including The Boston Tea Party, Paul Revere's Ride, and the battles of Lexington and Concord.

Directed by Robert Stevenson, from a screenplay by Tom Blackburn, the film also starred Sebastian Cabot, Luana Patten, Richard Beymer, Whit Bissell, Virginia Christine, and Jeff York. Disney's young daughter, Sharon had a bit part as Johnny's friend Dorcas. Principal shooting was done at the Disney Studios in Burbank, but exteriors were shot at the Rowland V. Lee Ranch near Chatsworth, about an hour from Los Angeles. It was the same ranch where Gary Cooper had just finished filming Friendly Persuasion (1956). Hal Stalmaster was 16 when he made Johnny Tremain. He had not intended to become an actor, but was discovered working in his brother's casting director office. Johnny Tremain was his first feature film. Stalmaster particularly liked the casual atmosphere at the studio, where everyone, including Walt Disney himself, was called by their first name. As with any Disney production, the crew paid great attention to detail to make the film as historically accurate as possible.

Johnny Tremain garnered positive reviews when it was released on July 4, 1957. The unnamed reviewer from The New York Times, knowing that the film was based on a well-loved book, wrote, "Relax, kids. As a movie, Johnny Tremain is pretty good. Treasure Island [1950] was better, though. More action. [...] While most of the adult machinations and the bloodshed are relegated to the sidelines, Mr. Disney's early Revolution seems lacking in powder-keg urgency. The kids probably will be the first to spot this, especially with young Stalmaster mooning over pretty young Luana Patten." The Dodge County Independent called it, "Exciting entertainment that relives the adventure, the danger, the romance of the 1770s."

Johnny Tremain was originally planned as a television movie made by Walt Disney Productions, but it was later released in theaters. The following year, it aired on Disney's television anthology series in two parts, The Boston Tea Party, which aired on November 21, 1958, and The Shot Heard 'Round the World on December 5, 1958. Ten years later, an edited version of the film was distributed to schools.

Walt Disney planned to recreate Liberty Street at his Disneyland theme park, just off of Main Street, USA. After Disney's death, the designers for Orlando's Disney World built the large Liberty Square in time for the park's opening in 1971. Hal Stalmaster eventually left acting to following in his brother's footsteps as a casting director, but he still receives fan mail for his work in Johnny Tremain.

SOURCES:

http://allthingsliberty.com/2014/02/10-questions-with-hal-stalmaster-johnny-tremain/
http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Johnny_Tremain

"Johnny Tremain" Dodge County Independent 19 Sep 57
"Johnny Tremain at Neighborhood Houses" The New York Times 11Jul 57
The Internet Movie Database
"Spirit of Youth in 'Johnny Tremain'" Times Daily 16 Aug 57

By Lorraine LoBianco