The Adams Chronicles
GenreDrama
Written by
Directed by
Starring
Narrated byMichael Tolan[2]
Country of originUnited States
Original languages
  • English
  • French
  • Dutch
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13
Production
Running time50 minutes
Original release
NetworkWNET
ReleaseJanuary 20 (1976-01-20) –
April 13, 1976 (1976-04-13)

The Adams Chronicles is a thirteen-episode miniseries by PBS that aired in 1976 to commemorate the American Bicentennial.[3]

Synopsis

The series chronicles the story of the Adams political family over a 150-year span, including John Adams (drafter and signer of the Declaration, accomplished diplomat, and the 2nd President of the U.S.), his wife Abigail Adams, his son John Quincy Adams (acclaimed Secretary of State, the 6th President, and prominent abolitionist Congressman), grandson Charles Francis Adams, Congressman and Ambassador to Great Britain during the Civil War, and much-heralded members of the fourth generation Henry Brooks Adams, the historian and author of the novel Democracy, and Charles Francis Adams II, the industrialist.

The most prominent role in the series is John Adams, played by George Grizzard.[4] His views dominate the series even after his death on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the passage of the United States Declaration of Independence. As a result of his achievements during the Revolution and afterwards as vice president and president of the U.S., subsequent Adams generations have a hard time dealing with this legacy of public service and accomplishment and frequently wonder if they are measuring up to their distinguished ancestry. In the end, the members of the fourth generation come to believe that the time during which the Adams family could play a prominent role in the affairs of the nation has passed.

Episode list

Chapter I: John Adams, Lawyer

John Adams, as a young man, makes the decision to become a lawyer, which gets off to a rocky start, and he retreats back to the small town farm left him by his father, contrary to the advice of his cousin Samuel Adams. He meets Abigail Smith, a parson's daughter, who he courts and marries. Despite the death of one daughter, his family grows and he moves to Boston becoming a respected attorney, while also becoming more involved in politics as British policy becomes increasingly repressive. After the Boston Massacre he is engaged to represent the British soldiers who fired into a protesting mob.

Chapter II: John Adams, Revolutionary

Having gotten most of the soldiers acquitted, with only two suffering minor charges for manslaughter, John Adams finds himself the subject of insults by many in Boston, so he moves Abigail and the children back to the farm and commutes for business. He regains his reputation among those advocating against the crown's further actions by a newspaper article asserting the colonists rights. After the Boston Tea Party, the British blockade the harbor until the destroyed tea is paid for, and the colonies set up the Continental Congress to provide relief to Boston and negotiate with England. Adams is sent to Philadelphia as one of the representatives of Massachusetts. Meanwhile, Abigail has to confront an outbreak of dystentry that sweeps through their home. When colonial troops fire on the British at the Battles of Lexington and Concord, heralding the beginning of the American Revolution, Adams wants to join and fight, but is persuaded that he is needed in Congress. He disappoints friend John Hancock by passing over him to appoint George Washington as commander of the army. One of his letters to Abigail complaining about other congressmen is intercepted by the British and published. Deprivations of imported goods become worse. John Adams asks Thomas Jefferson to write the Declaration of Independence.

Chapter III: John Adams, Diplomat

John Adams and Benjamin Franklin refuse British terms offered by Lord Howe, as the United States want independence and will not return to being colonies in exchange for pardons. After Silas Deane, the American commissioner in Europe, is charged with embezzlement, Adams is asked by Congress to replace him. Initially he refuses, but Abigail persuades him to accept and take their son John Quincy Adams with him. Adams finds that his provincial manners, lack of languages, and temperament bring him little diplomatic success in France, where Franklin has become a celebrity. France, despite being America's ally, wants peace negotiations with Britain to conform to France's interests. However, Adams is able to negotiate a large loan in the Netherlands from the Dutch government to the nascent United States. John Quincy Adams is dispatched to Russia as a diplomat's secretary due to his great facility for languages. Adams concludes the Treaty of Paris.

Chapter IV: John Adams, Minister to Great Britain

Chapter V: John Adams, Vice President

With Gen. Washington as President, Adams becomes Vice-President and head of the Senate. When Jefferson's Republicans and Hamilton's Federalists have strongly conflicting views over the French Revolutionary war, Adams finds himself in the middle. Adams is elected second President of the United States.

Chapter VI: John Adams, President

Increasingly exasperating relations with France lead to the XYZ Affair, then the Quasi-War.

Chapter VII: John Quincy Adams, Diplomat

In Ghent, Adams and his delegation struggle to negotiate an end to the War of 1812.

Chapter VIII: John Quincy Adams, Secretary of State

During the Seminole War, the executions of Arbuthnot and Ambrister in Spanish Florida create a diplomatic incident. The United States and Britain consider whether to make a joint statement on the wars in South America, but this evolves into the Monroe Doctrine. In the presidential election, Henry Clay is the kingmaker. Adams becomes sixth President.

Chapter IX: John Quincy Adams, President

Chapter X: John Quincy Adams, Congressman

Chapter XI: Charles Francis Adams, Minister to Great Britain

Chapter XII: Henry Adams, Historian

Chapter XIII: Charles Francis Adams II, Industrialist

Cast

Adams family
U.S. politicians
British dignitaries, politicians, others
Foreign dignitaries, politicians, others
Other Americans

Soundtrack

Awards received

The Adams Chronicles won a number of Emmy Awards for television excellence. These included:

Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design for a Drama or Comedy Series – 1977

The Adams Chronicles – PBS – Alvin Colt, Costume Designer

Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Direction – 1977

The Adams Chronicles – PBS – William C. Knight, Lighting Director; George Riesenberger, Lighting Director

Outstanding Achievement in Tape Sound Mixing – 1977

The Adams Chronicles – PBS – Emil Neroda, Sound Mixer

Outstanding Art Direction or Scenic Design for a Drama Series – 1977

The Adams Chronicles – PBS – Ed Wittstein, Production Designer

Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series – 1977

The Adams Chronicles – PBS – Fred Coe, Director

Outstanding Limited Series – 1977

The Adams Chronicles – PBS – James Cellan-Jones, Producer; Fred Coe, Producer; Robert Costello, Coordinating Producer; Virginia Kassel, Series Producer; Jac Venza, Executive Producer

Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series – 1977

The Adams Chronicles – PBS – Tad Mosel, Writer The Adams Chronicles – PBS – Roger O. Hirson, Writer

Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction or Scenic Design – 1976

The Adams Chronicles – PBS – Ed Wittstein, Art Director

Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design for a Drama Series – 1976

The Adams Chronicles – PBS – Alvin Colt, Costume Designer

Outstanding Achievement in Graphic Design and Title – 1976

The Adams Chronicles – PBS – Girish Bhargava, Graphic Design; Bill Mandel, Graphic Design

Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Direction – 1976

The Adams Chronicles – PBS – Billy Knight, Lighting Director; Dick Weiss, Lighting Director

Outstanding Achievement in Technical Direction – 1976

The Adams Chronicles – PBS – Leonard Chumbley, Technical Director; Walter Edel, Cameraman; John Feher, Cameraman; Steve Zink, Cameraman

Outstanding Achievement in Video Tape Editing for a Series – 1976

The Adams Chronicles – PBS – Girish Bhargava, Editor; Manford Schorn, Editor

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series – 1976

The Adams Chronicles – PBS – George Grizzard

Outstanding Lead Actress for a Single Performance – 1976

The Adams Chronicles – PBS – Kathryn Walker The Adams Chronicles – PBS – Pamela Payton-Wright

Outstanding Limited Series – 1976

The Adams Chronicles – PBS – Paul Bogart, Producer; Fred Coe, Producer; Robert Costello, Producer; James Cellan Jones, Producer; Virginia Kassel, Series Producer; Jac Venza, Executive Producer

Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series – 1976

The Adams Chronicles – PBS – Sherman Yellen, Writer

Pronunciation note

The series uses the historically correct pronunciation /ˈkwɪnzi/ for Quincy, rather than the more common /ˈkwɪnsi/. (See relevant discussion here.)

DVD release

The Adams Chronicles series was released on DVD by Acorn Media on May 13, 2008.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Brown, Les (1977). The New York Times Encyclopedia of Television. Times Books pg. 6. ISBN 978-0-8129-0721-6.
  2. ↑ Ward, Jack (1993). Television Guest Stars: An Illustrated Career Chronicle for 678 Performers of the Sixties and Seventies. McFarland & Company pg. 515. ISBN 978-0-8995-0807-8.
  3. 1 2 Vance, James (September 21, 2008). "Adams PBS series released on DVD". Tulsa World. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  4. ↑ Podplesky, Azaria (February 3, 2021). "Presidential portrayals: The Oval Office commander in chief has ruled the big and small screen". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
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