Benedict Arnold: A Question of Honor

Benedict Arnold: A Question of Honor

Year: 2003

Runtime: 100 mins

Language: English

Director: Mikael Salomon

On the Revolutionary battlefields, George Washington emerges as the future founding father while Benedict Arnold, once the Continental Army’s trusted commander, wins key victories and earns Washington’s confidence. Torn between patriotism and love for the scheming Peggy Shippen, Arnold defects to Britain and plots his former mentor’s assassination.

Dark
Sad ending
Emotionally heavy
Medium intensity
Steady pacing
Moderate complexity

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Benedict Arnold: A Question of Honor (2003)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Benedict Arnold: A Question of Honor (2003). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Late 18th century (1770s–1780s)

The narrative is anchored in the years of the Revolutionary War, covering campaigns, battles, and political maneuvering from the mid 1770s through the early 1780s. It highlights key moments such as the invasion of Canada, the Battle of Valcour Island, the Saratoga victory, and the West Point plot, culminating in Arnold's exile and the war's aftermath.

Location

Maine wilderness, Canada, Saratoga (New York), Valley Forge (Pennsylvania), Philadelphia (Pennsylvania), West Point (New York), Mount Pleasant (Pennsylvania), United Kingdom

The film unfolds across the major theaters of the American Revolution, from the Maine wilderness and the invasion of Canada to Saratoga and Valley Forge, then moves to Philadelphia and the strategic stronghold at West Point. It also traces Arnold's home life at Mount Pleasant, his periods of recovery, and his eventual exile in the United Kingdom, painting a broad geographic backdrop for the war and its intrigues.

🗺️ Historical settings ⚔️ Revolutionary War theaters

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 10:26

Main Characters – Benedict Arnold: A Question of Honor (2003)

Meet the key characters of Benedict Arnold: A Question of Honor (2003), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Benedict Arnold (Aidan Quinn)

Ambitious and highly capable military officer whose early victories elevate him to fame and a coveted promotion. He grows increasingly wary of being undervalued by Congress and Washington, fueling a desire for greater authority. His arc moves from celebrated hero to orchestrator of a treasonous plan to seize West Point.

🧭 Ambition ⚔️ Military genius 🕰️ Complex morality

George Washington (Kelsey Grammer)

Strategic and imposing leader who recognizes Arnold's talents yet grows wary of his ambitions and personal loyalties. He navigates political pressures and rivalries while trying to preserve unity and the war effort. Washington's decisions frame Arnold's career and the Republic’s responses to crisis.

🗺️ Leadership 🏛️ Statesmanship 🧭 Strategic vision

Peggy Shippen (Flora Montgomery)

A charismatic figure drawn to power and influence, Peggy maneuvers through romance and politics to shape Arnold's choices. She influences the trajectory toward treason and tests the limits of loyalty and affection within the wartime environment. Her ambitions intersect with the personal and political stakes of the era.

💘 Romantic influence 🎯 Political maneuvering 🗣️ Persuasion

John André (John Light)

A British officer who becomes Arnold's key liaison in the West Point plot, embodying the clandestine side of the war. His actions and faltering fortunes culminate in his capture and execution, symbolizing the peril of espionage and the costs of treason.

🕵️ Espionage 🤝 Betrayal

Joshua Smith (Mark Lambert)

Pennsylvania governor who exerts political pressure and tries to intimidate Arnold, reflecting the fragile relationship between local governance and military command. He represents the contested authority that shapes Arnold's career and the war effort in the region.

🏛️ Governance 🗳️ Political pressure

Major Franks (Tom Murphy)

Aide and loyalist to Arnold, tasked with logistics, wagons, and protecting his family during mounting tensions. His role highlights the strain of wartime supply and family security amid political storms.

⚙️ Logistics 🛡️ Loyalty

Judge Shippen (John Kavanagh)

Peggy's father who is wary of Arnold's public image and pushes for formal scrutiny through a court-martial. He embodies the skeptical, conservative voice within the revolutionary era's disputes over character and justice.

⚖️ Judgment 🧭 Political influence

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 10:26

Major Themes – Benedict Arnold: A Question of Honor (2003)

Explore the central themes of Benedict Arnold: A Question of Honor (2003), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🗡️ Betrayal

Betrayal threads through Arnold's rise and fall as personal ambition collides with loyalty to the Republic. The push to seize West Point and the influence of Peggy Shippen propel a wavering sense of duty toward treason. The film probes whether prestige justifies treachery when the greater good seems at stake.

⚖️ Power and Loyalty

Ambition clashes with loyalty as leaders clash over commands, trust, and status. Washington and Gates vie for influence, shaping Arnold's choices and testing the boundaries between personal glory and national duty. The story questions whether loyalty to a cause can survive political gamesmanship.

🛡️ Leadership

The narrative centers on command under pressure, contrasting Arnold's bold leadership with political constraints and rivalries. It examines how strategic decisions in warrooms and on the field ripple outward to affect soldiers, civilians, and the fate of the nation. The film uses these dynamics to explore what makes a leader respected or reviled.

🕰️ Memory

The closing chapters reflect on how Arnold is remembered — heroic by some and traitorous by others. Exile in Britain and the sparse memorials at Saratoga frame a debate about legacy and the price of genius. The epilogue suggests history can sanitize or condemn a complex figure in equal measure.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 10:26

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