Tom Hanks talks with the media before going inside the theater to view the segment of the miniseries. CHRISTOPHER WEHLING/THE FREE LANCE-STAR

Gov. Tim Kaine speaks to the audience at The Byrd Theatre in Richmond yesterday before the showing of one segment of the HBO miniseries, 'John Adams.' CHRISTOPHER WEHLING/THE FREE LANCE-STAR

Movie on John Adams premieres in Richmond

Date published: 3/10/2008

BY AMY FLOWERS UMBLE

RICHMOND

"I don't want Virginians to get big heads," he said at the Byrd Theatre. "I don't want you to become the Hollywood of the South."

After hearing that a Mechanicsville set used for the seven-part miniseries about the nation's second president would be used for another movie, the Academy Award-winning movie star wondered if Virginians would soon become like southern Californians, wearing sunglasses and making more movie deals.

It would only be natural, as Virginia proved an ideal location for his HBO production, based on histori- an David McCullough's Pulitzer Prize-winning biography.

The moviemakers turned parts of Colonial Williamsburg into Boston for the movie.

Hanks said Virginia and Massachusetts were "a wash" in terms of tax incentives used to lure the production, but that Williamsburg's cooperation gave the production greater flexibility. Throw in Virginia's scenery, the actor said, and the state proved ideal.

Last night, Hanks, McCullough, Paul Giamatti (who played Adams in the film) and others held the fifth premiere for the film. Fans lined Cary Street to catch sight of Hanks before he went inside the Byrd Theatre for opening remarks and a sneak peek at the second segment in the miniseries. McCullough said last night's premiere seemed to be the biggest in terms of the excitement level.

"People are just excited," McCullough said. "This film was made almost entirely here."

Hanks thought of the project about six years ago. When taking a break from his acting, directing and producing career, he likes to pick up a "beach read."

And Hanks' preferred vacation lit? Usually nonfiction, like "John Adams."

In the early chapters, he learned something new about the Boston Massacre, a historic event he'd heard about since elementary school. He discovered the British soldiers who shot the rebel colonists were tried and acquitted. Their lawyer? The future second president of the future United States of America--John Adams. "It changed my view of American history," Hanks said.

This film will do just that, McCullough said. It will change views and make people think. He said too many Americans today are "historically illiterate."

McCullough meets some college students who can't say who led the Continental Army, and those who don't know all 13 original colonies were on the East Coast.

This grandfather of 18 didn't blame the uninformed but called on parents to supplement their children's history education. He asked them to take them to Williamsburg and other historic sites and to watch films like "John Adams."

"The problem with education in America today is us," he said.

Amy Flowers Umble: 540/735-1973
Email: aumble@freelancestar.com

Begins Sunday, March 16, at 8 p.m. on HBO. Will air on Sundays through April 20 at 9 p.m. March 7, 1770 the day of the Boston Massacre, and the opening shot of the film July 4, 1826 the day both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died, and the last shot of the film $80 million estimated amount pumped into Virginia's economy through filming of "John Adams" 200 speaking parts 4,200 extras on location in Virginia 108 days of shooting 1,500 wigs used

Date published: 3/10/2008