An Empire of Reason
1988Docudrama about the debate surrounding New York State's ratification of the United States Constitution. Historical figures wear modern dress and use familiar language to help today's audience understand firsthand the forces that shaped this country two hundred years ago. The argument, characters, passions and debating points are historically accurate, but the language and the medium of the debate is modern in form. Present day newscasters and commentators play themselves, reporting on the events of the 1780s as though they were occurring now.
Acted in
Cokie Roberts
as Self - Host
William F. Buckley Jr.
as Self
Walter Cronkite
as Self
John Chancellor
as Self
Phil Donahue
as Self
Robert MacNeil
as Self
Andrea Mitchell
as Self
Al Roker
as Self
Forrest Sawyer
as Self
Jamey Sheridan
as Daniel Shays
Ed Koch
as Mayor of New York City, 1788
James Rebhorn
as Jesse Woodhull
Mario Cuomo
as Self
Charlayne Hunter-Gault
as Self
François Giroday
as Alexander Hamilton
Christopher Curry
as John Lansing, Jr.
Nesbitt Blaisdell
as Gov. George Clinton
Sol Wachtler
as John Jay
Drew Snyder
as Demonstrator
Joseph Warren
as Robert Yates
John C. Vennema
as Robert R. Livingston
E.G. Marshall
as Federalist Spokesman
Rex Robbins
as Isaac Roosevelt
Edwin McDonough
as Donahue Audience Member
Richard Bright
as Donahue Audience Member
Richard Seff
as Donahue Audience Member
William Duell
as Donahue Audience Member
MacIntyre Dixon
as Donahue Audience Member
Patrick Clear
as Donahue Audience Member
Eli Wallach
as Anti-Federalist Spokesman
Roberts Blossom
as Melancton Smith
Guy Paul
as Convention Secretary
Jonathan Bolt
as Anti-Federalist Delegate
Stu Daly
as Voice-over Announcer