1998
Script in which the main characters
have real people's names (how Ban is then supposed to have a long
political career after being shot from his horse at Cowpens in that
version, I don't know! And Marion was an old bachelor - he married
late, post-war - not a paterfamilias). Harry started life as
Lee, not the fictional Burwell, and it was suggested that the kid his
wife was expecting was Robert... I suppose it was then pointed out to
Rodat that Robert E. would have been way too old to be doing stuff in
the 1860s had he been born so soon! And that Harry Lee was 2 yrs
younger than Ban Tarleton, not a veteran of the 7 Yrs
War!
1999
Script has Martin cold-bloodedly
shooting Will with about 3 bullets, very slowly - in the
shoulder, thigh, and chest - making him plead for his life and beg
for quarter between times - AFTER Cornwallis's surrender at
Yorktown...! Yes - the 'hero' is that much of a vengeful
psycho!!! I think wisely it was decided that this might be too hard
for the audience to acquiesce to... Nor can WE imagine Will begging
for mercy. He's more likely (as
Nikki
suggested) to say something like, "Meet you in Hell!" It did occur to
me that this scene might derive from the death of Turnus in the
Æneid,
but perhaps it's optimistic of me to suspect Mr Rodat of a Classical
education...
Patriot Review
Ban vs. Will: a comparison
Curious (and brave) readers may be interested in The Patriot: Official Site which includes a video trailer...
