Michael Douglas fits the bill as Ben Franklin in “Franklin,” an eight-part series premiering April 12 on Apple TV+.
“Franklin” tells the story of 70-year-old Ben Franklin’s secret diplomatic mission to France in 1776 to gain French support (money, weapons) for the American fight against the British during the Revolutionary War. There are a lot of moving parts here, so viewers would be asked to pay attention as Franklin navigates French high society – and politics – in an attempt to achieve his goal.
The series is based on the book “A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America” by Pulitzer Prize winner Stacy Schiff.
At the start of the series, Franklin – charged by Congress to undertake his clandestine journey across the Atlantic – has no diplomatic experience. He is accompanied on his journey by his grandson, Temple Franklin (Noah Jupe), as the United States finds itself in a precarious position; it is losing the war as the British gain ground with several routs, including Fort Washington, seizing New York and other territories. Even George Washington conceded that “I think the game is almost over.”
It is Franklin’s job to convince France, led by King Louis, to side with America against France’s hated rivals, the British (who have conquered much of the United States’ territory initially taken over by France). Franklin arrived in France in December 1776 and headed to Paris with this monumental task awaiting him. He quickly gains celebrity status (his likeness on coins, oil paintings of his face, the public copying the fur hat he wears) and sets out to make history… which will take a some time (two years to be exact).
“You are what the role requires you to be,” Franklin says, and that might apply to Douglas, who approaches a daunting role with earnestness, good humor, and an elan comparable to that of Franklin’s French peers, most of whom are fascinated by this role. Multidimensional and extremely intelligent American – author, inventor, storyteller and, now, statesman, all rolled into one.
The series isn’t afraid of Franklin’s peccadilloes; A widower for three years, he flirts relentlessly with the wives of the French nobility and intelligentsia and raves, after a dinner, about “the passage of the wind” (which he does, audibly) to straighten its constitution.
The first few episodes of “Franklin” set the stage for the task at hand. King Louis wants nothing to do with Franklin, nor does his right-hand man, French Foreign Minister Vergennes (Thibault de Montalembert). Franklin, who knows him must obtain French financing for the war – if it fails, he says, “the United States will finish before it begins” – devises clever methods to circumvent the king and his cronies, while fighting against the saboteurs, spies and other infamous French parties. to destroy the United States and Franklin’s mission to save his country.
Franklin approaches Leray de Chaumont (Olivier Claverie), a wealthy arms dealer, to help him in the fight against the British; Chaumont invites him to stay (with Temple) on his domain, and it is from there that Franklin develops his often foiled strategy – and at the same time rejects a condescending peace overture from the British.
As previously mentioned, there are many narrative strands in “Franklin” to keep track of and it is sometimes difficult to keep track of the smallest details and all the characters involved. There are a few distracting subplots, one involving Temple and his romantic activities and friendship with the Marquis de Lafayette (Théodore Pellerin), but I suppose that’s to cater to younger viewers.
Douglas is excellent as Ben Franklin in his first role in a period piece and even looks the part (which helps) and seems to be getting better with age (he’s 80), exuding a authority worthy of Franklin’s status. The production, which lasted seven months, was filmed entirely in France (another plus) and Douglas is in good hands with director Tim Van Patten (“The Sopranos”, “Boardwalk Empire”, “The Wire” and much others).
My advice is to sit back and enjoy Douglas as he admirably chews the scenery and transforms a man of many facets into a determined hero of American history – with a few obstacles along the way.
New York Post
