The Crossing

The Crossing

Year: 2000

Runtime: 89 mins

Language: English

Director: Robert Harmon

HistoryWarDrama

A made-for-TV dramatization of George Washington’s perilous gamble of crossing the Delaware River and attacking the British forces at Trenton.

Tense
Happy ending
Emotionally heavy
High intensity
Steady pacing
Simple story

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Timeline & Setting – The Crossing (2000)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Crossing (2000). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1776

Set during the winter of 1776 in the American Revolutionary War, morale is low and supplies are scarce for the Continental Army. Washington plans a daring river crossing to restore momentum and seize the surprise attack on the Hessians at Trenton. The events unfold on Christmas night into the following morning, highlighting hardship and urgency.

Location

Delaware River, Trenton (New Jersey), Pennsylvania

The Delaware River marks the front line between Pennsylvania and New Jersey, serving as the key crossing point for the Continental Army. The operation centers on crossing at night in freezing conditions to surprise the Hessians guarding Trenton. The Trenton, New Jersey area becomes the focal point of a potential turning point in the war, with the river and surrounding towns shaping the mood and tactics of the campaign.

⚔️ War 🧭 History 🌊 River crossing 🗺️ Strategy

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 11:51

Main Characters – The Crossing (2000)

Meet the key characters of The Crossing (2000), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

George Washington (Jeff Daniels)

George Washington is the Continental Army's resolute commander, tasked with turning plummeting morale into a disciplined, high-stakes operation. He crafts the plan to cross the Delaware and leads with strategic calm, even when supplies are scarce and fatigue runs high. His decisions hinge on bold risk-taking and the ability to inspire loyalty in his troops.

⚔️ Leadership 🧭 Strategy

Col. John Glover (Sebastian Roché)

Col. John Glover is a seasoned mariner-turned-column commander who will ferry the troops across the Delaware. Though skeptical at first, he commits to the mission, leveraging his seamanship and experience to execute a nighttime crossing. His leadership is crucial to maintaining order and secrecy under pressure.

⚓ Leadership 🌊 Maritime

Horatio Gates (Nigel Bennett)

Horatio Gates challenges Washington's plan with caution and rivalry, reflecting the tensions within the staff. He is silenced by Washington to preserve unity and momentum, underscoring the high-stakes need for decisive leadership. His skepticism helps frame the gravity of the operation.

🧭 Strategy ⚔️ Rivalry

Alexander Hamilton (Steven McCarthy)

Alexander Hamilton serves as Washington's capable aide and enforcer, coordinating orders and keeping the camp in line. He is loyal, quick-thinking, and pragmatic, ensuring the operation stays on track even when plans are contested. His role highlights the importance of disciplined staff work in war.

⚔️ Strategy 🧠 Tactics

Gen. Hugh Mercer (Roger Rees)

General Hugh Mercer reminds Washington of critical supply shortages, injecting a sense of urgency into the planning. His warnings emphasize the logistical hurdles that threaten success and survival. He anchors the sense that victory depends as much on resources as on courage.

🧭 Logistics 🗺️ History

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 11:51

Major Themes – The Crossing (2000)

Explore the central themes of The Crossing (2000), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🧭 Strategy

Across the film, meticulous planning and calculated risk drive the crossing, with Washington and Glover weighing the odds. The plan hinges on secrecy, timing, and a willingness to defy the odds for a greater cause. The theme underscores how leadership and clever logistics can offset manpower shortages.

❄️ Winter Struggle

The harsh winter weather tests endurance, discipline, and morale as men march through ice and cold. Supplies dwindle while the team must stay focused on the objective. The freezing conditions amplify the stakes and highlight the soldiers' resolve.

🤝 Cohesion

The ensemble of commanders must bond under pressure, balancing skepticism and loyalty. Washington's authority is tested by internal doubts, which are quieted by shared purpose and discipline. The crossing becomes a testament to unity and collective resolve.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 11:51

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Movies with desperate strategic gambits like The Crossing

Stories of high-stakes strategic risks taken in the face of near-certain defeat.If you liked the high-stakes gamble in The Crossing, explore other movies where leaders face down overwhelming odds. These similar war stories and historical dramas feature bold plans, tense execution, and hopeful victories born from desperation.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a desperate faction or individual on the brink of failure. Faced with a seemingly insurmountable challenge, they devise a risky plan that becomes their only hope. The story builds methodically towards the execution of this plan, emphasizing the high stakes and immense pressure, culminating in a victory that feels earned and transformative.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on a singular, high-risk strategy as the central plot device. They create a tense, heavy atmosphere through a steady pacing that builds towards the crucial moment, blending grim realities with a resilient, hopeful spirit.

Gritty winter warfare survival movies like The Crossing

Gritty tales of soldiers battling both the enemy and the brutal, unforgiving cold.Fans of the harsh winter conditions in The Crossing will appreciate these similar movies. Discover other tense war films and survival dramas where soldiers must overcome freezing temperatures, dwindling supplies, and low morale alongside their human enemies.

grimharsh conditionssurvivaldesperatetenseresilientbleak landscapemorale

Narrative Summary

The narrative is as much about surviving the elements as it is about the conflict. Characters endure frostbite, starvation, and despair, with the harsh winter setting amplifying every hardship. The story often follows a grueling trek or a last stand, where resilience and camaraderie are forged in the crucible of ice and snow.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a powerful, atmospheric focus on winter as a key component of the conflict. They evoke a specific mood of grim desperation and gritty resilience through their depiction of survival against a frozen landscape, creating a consistent tone of tense, heavy drama.

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The Crossing Summary

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The Crossing Summary

The Crossing Timeline

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The Crossing Timeline

The Crossing Spoiler-Free Summary

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The Crossing Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Crossing

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