An Empire of Reason
An Empire of Reason
Release: 1988-07-03
·Runtime: 58m
Documentary
Drama
History
Docudrama about the debate surrounding New York State's ratification of the United States Constitution. Historical figures wear modern dress and use familiar language to help today's audience understand firsthand the forces that shaped this country two hundred years ago. The argument, characters, passions and debating points are historically accurate, but the language and the medium of the debate is modern in form. Present day newscasters and commentators play themselves, reporting on the events of the 1780s as though they were occurring now.
Production Countries
United States of America
Production Companies
Middlemarch Films
Trailers & Videos
Cast
William F. Buckley Jr.
as Self
Walter Cronkite
as Self
James Rebhorn
as Jesse Woodhull
Christopher Curry
as John Lansing, Jr.
Drew Snyder
as Demonstrator
Roberts Blossom
as Melancton Smith
Al Roker
as Self
John C. Vennema
as Robert R. Livingston
William Duell
as Donahue Audience Member
Jamey Sheridan
as Daniel Shays
Richard Bright
as Donahue Audience Member
MacIntyre Dixon
as Donahue Audience Member
Jonathan Bolt
as Anti-Federalist Delegate
Phil Donahue
as Self
Forrest Sawyer
as Self
François Giroday
as Alexander Hamilton
E.G. Marshall
as Federalist Spokesman
Cokie Roberts
as Self - Host
John Chancellor
as Self
Ed Koch
as Mayor of New York City, 1788
Patrick Clear
as Donahue Audience Member
Andrea Mitchell
as Self
Mario Cuomo
as Self
Nesbitt Blaisdell
as Gov. George Clinton
Eli Wallach
as Anti-Federalist Spokesman
