He’s Big Ben: Michael Douglas delivers as ‘Franklin’ in new series about trip that changed US history
nypost.com“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, arms) for America’s fight against the British in the Revolutionary War.
There are a lot of moving parts here, so viewers would be apprised to pay attention as Franklin navigates French high society — and politics — in an effort 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.As the series opens, Franklin — commissioned by Congress to undertake his clandestine journey across the Atlantic — has no diplomatic experience.
He’s joined on his journey by his grandson, Temple Franklin (Noah Jupe) as the US sits in a precarious position; it’s losing the war as the British gain ground with several routs, including Fort Washington, taking over New York and other territories.
Even George Washington concedes that “I think the game is pretty near up.”It’s Franklin’s job to talk France, led by King Louis, into siding with America against France’s hated rivals the British (who conquered a lot of territory in the US originally taken over by France).
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