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Join us in the beautiful and air conditioned Gothic Chamber at Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site for a viewing of the 1997 film "Amistad," shown in anticipation of the arrival of the replica ship Amistad, which will be in Yonkers on Wednesday, July 31, 2024 as part of her 2024 Voyage for Freedom Tour.
"Amistad" (1997, R, 155 mins) is based on a true story and follows the lives of Africans from Sierra Leone as they, led by Cinque, overthrow the crew of the Spanish slave ship carrying them to the Spanish colony of Cuba, and try to get back to Africa. Tricked by the surviving crew into sailing into U.S. waters and landing on the coast of Long Island, La Amistad is captured by the U.S. revenue cutter Washington and a legal battle ensues as the Spanish crew tries to claim them as property, the crew of the cutter Washington try to claim them as salvage, and abolitionists try to free them. Set in 1839, it features historical characters President Martin Van Buren, former president and legal expert John Quincy Adams, and South Carolina Senator John C. Calhoun.
Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site Manager Michael Lord will give historian commentary on this compelling and poignant film, explaining the accuracy of the film, the real history of the Amistad, the illegal slave trade, and the tensions in the U.S. over slavery in the decades leading up to the American Civil War.
This program is free and open to the public. Seating is first come, first served. Registration is recommended but not required. This film is rated R and is not recommended for children or sensitive viewers.
To register, call 914-965-4027 or email philipsemanorhall@parks.ny.gov. Directions and parking information available here.
The “Historian & A Movie” series invites historians to Philipse Manor Hall to explore the real history behind some of Hollywood’s most famous films. Historians offer commentary on history, accuracy, film trivia, and more.
