Cast and Characters
Mel Gibson plays this protagonist, a French and Indian War veteran and widower with seven children.
Who is Benjamin Martin?
This is the specific item Benjamin Martin melts down to create lead bullets for his revenge.
What are Thomas’s toy soldiers?
Benjamin gives this four-word piece of marksmanship advice to his sons before their first ambush.
What is "Aim small, miss small"?
The film primarily takes place in this colony.
What is South Carolina?
This actor, who later played the Joker, portrayed Benjamin’s eldest son, Gabriel Martin.
Who is Heath Ledger?
Benjamin Martin uses many "scarecrow" decoys to trick Lord Cornwallis into a prisoner exchange.
What is 18 (or 19)?
Benjamin asks the assembly, " Why should I trade one tyrant 3,000 miles away for 3,000 tyrants " this far away?.
What is "one mile away"?
While portrayed as a "fop" in the movie, this real-life British General was actually a highly capable commander.
Who is Lord Charles Cornwallis?
He is the ruthless British Colonel of the Green Dragoons who serves as the film’s primary antagonist.
Who is Colonel William Tavington?
After their home is burned, Benjamin’s children are taken to stay with this relative at her plantation.
Who is Aunt Charlotte?
Tavington mockingly asks Benjamin this question during their final duel, referring to Benjamin's earlier threat.
What is "Tell me, Benjamin, what was that about my honor?" (or "Before this war is over, I'm going to kill you.")
The movie's final engagement is a fictionalized version of this 1781 battle.
What is the Battle of Cowpens (or Guildford Courthouse)?
This daughter of Benjamin Martin famously does not speak for most of the film until her father prepares to leave for the final battle.
Who is Susan Martin?
Gabriel marries this childhood friend, who later dies when Tavington burns down the town church.
Who is Anne Howard?
When Susan finally speaks, these are the first words she says to her father as he walks away.
What is "Papa! Don't go!"?
To ensure accuracy in costumes and settings, the production worked with this prestigious U.S. institution for the first time.
What is the Smithsonian Institution?
Benjamin Martin’s character is a composite of several real historical figures, most notably this "Swamp Fox".
Who is Francis Marion?
This is the name of the past battle where Benjamin Martin earned his gruesome reputation for his actions at "Fort Wilderness".
What is the Battle of Fort Wilderness?
Benjamin Martin utters this line about his past sins catching up to him
What is "I have long feared that my sins would return to visit me"?
In the film, Benjamin’s farm workers are depicted as this, though the real-life figures he was based on were slaveholders.
What are "freemen" (or free laborers)?