Feature Story

Sneak peek at BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

After finishing production on a six-hour mini-series on the American Revolution, most people would be ready to close their 18th-century history books. But Catherine Allan, executive producer of 1997’s LIBERTY! found herself invigorated. Especially by the man she found most fascinating.

“In the course of making ‘LIBERTY!’ Benjamin Franklin definitely stood out as a really interesting human being,” Allan says.

The more she learned about Franklin, the more fascinating he seemed, she says. And there was something else: “Though there have been many biographies of Franklin, there has never been an in-depth television portrayal revealing the many sides of this classic over-achiever,” Allan says. “Think of a combination of Thomas Edison, Dave Barry, Rupert Murdoch and Norman Vincent Peale and you begin to have some idea of who Franklin was and how many typical American types he embodied. He is a truly epic character and his is an epic story that is sure to delight—and surprise—audiences.”

On Nov. 19, the three-part documentary “BENJAMIN FRANKLIN,” for which Allan is the executive producer, will premiere. A production of TPT/Twin Cities Public Television, in association with Middlemarch Films, Inc., “BENJAMIN FRANKLIN” is produced and directed by Ellen Hovde and Muffie Meyer.

Allan reassembled much of the “LIBERTY!” team to put together what she calls a kind of “prequel,” bringing the story of Benjamin Franklin to life. With a cast of leading Broadway actors and a script developed from letters, essays and other original source material, the three-part documentary is not only historically accurate—it’s a great drama.

The three part series vividly recreates Franklin’s mind and his world. Tony award-winning actor Richard Easton speaks directly and intimately with the viewer in Franklin’s own words. Gerry Richman, executive in charge of production for the series, says, “Richard Easton’s performance does for Benjamin Franklin what Hal Holbrook did for Mark Twain. He captures the wit, humanity, joi de vivre, brilliance and foibles of this remarkable American.”