Adams addresses supreme court

[vmedirata]

l.o.v.e. this.. super.awesome.

[assilembrandywine]

5 people want their liver eaten with fava beans and a nice chiante.

[fatboy123123123]

I remember watching this movie in my junior year of high school. and the second i got home i looked this video up and saved it in my favorites.. its been years now but i still find myself coming back to watch it once or tice a year

[13ickCheese]

watched this in history class, my friend put it on a loop so adams just kept on saying "This man is Black" over and over again.... everyone in class was crying of laughter even the teacher

[TheBalrukt]

@13ickCheese Lol

[emingjiang]

if it mean Civil War , let it come ! Great man !

[Exaybachay007]

Great writing, great directing and quite possibly the finest 10 minutes of acting I have ever seen.

[Dodec84]

Did Adams really say this? And if not: what did he say in court?

[notdeadjustlazy]

Can any american viewers please tell me what regional accent Hopkins is doing or attempting to do?

[kingasaurus]

@notdeadjustlazy A Boston/New England accent of the period..

[linkandme7172]

on the part when hes reading the artical did he mess up the word segment on purpose or was it accident?

[sgrdpdrsn]

Dos buenos amigos disfrutando de otro tipo de aventura:

DIVING IN BISHOP HARBOR

(Buceo en Puerto Obispo)

[ddd62291]

Anthony Hopkins: number 1 in my top 10 greatest actors of all time.

My top 5 favorites of his films: Silence of the Lambs, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Amistad, Mask of Zorro and the Grinch

[Putaspellonyou]

lets keep in mind that 27 million people are still enslaved in the world today. the southern united states had 4 million at the time of emancipation. the struggle isn't over yet...

[babak64]

@Putaspellonyou But we have a black president in USA, that is a great achievement for Americans. They should be proud of what their ancestors did to rich to this point. We must together fight a better world for ourselves and our children. Now days we are closer than ever with each other throwout internet we see, hear and hopefully resolves unsolved problems much sooner.

[sfafasfasfsa]

sadly today he wouldnt have a chance. issues have become ideals, soundbites are used and most of the people who govern dont even understand the complex ideas behind him. he was a rare breed. the battle today is between angry jacksonian populist vs woodrow wilson type men. he would have no place today in political arena and it is sad to admit that... .. Great men like him are gone. and we can only blame ourselves.

[davidroethel17]

How this country needs someone like John Q Adams once again. What has happened to us as a people?

[tpajason]

@davidroethel17 Public Education mandates from the left wing.

[HappyNotGrumpy]

@divisioneight: beautifully said :-)))

[divisioneight]

No teleprompters then, just pure ideas, from pure hearts, not meddled with by pollsters, pundits and special interests. Just pure, loyal, hearts driving pure, simple and truthful words. Let's see how the President and his teleprompter will do against his competition in 2012.

[jayers2]

@divisioneight Considering that it's probable that most if not all of them don't t write their own speeches, what's your point? I can look at the majority of people in the presidential race today and see nothing but "wolves in sheep's clothing"!

[kwgrid]

@jayers2 During those times, there were no speechwriters. There were statesmen...like John Quincy Adams.

[desertstorm1965]

Beautiful. beautiful, sublime



[skearling]

Damn...

[Doug19752533]

quite sad that John Q Adams suffered a stroke on the floor of congress because he became so enraged while trying to deliver a similar speech, he was shouted down to be silent because a gag rule had been put in effect regarding the topic of slavery

[mrmuch]

A proud, brilliant moment in American History, brought to the Supreme Court by the proud, brilliant John Quincy Adams, brought to life by the world's greatest living actor Sir Anthony Hopkins. Thank you for making this clip,

[mesofius]

What a family the Adams' were. Father and son, both among the greatest of Americans.

[zazithorne]

Goosebumps!

[Dragblacker]

Ironically what this movie doesn't tell you is that Cinque eventually becomes a slave trader himself.

[Kousaburo]

@Dragblacker Really!? Why?

[Dragblacker]

@Kousaburo Why they omitted it? Proably because Spielberg and co. wanted you to love the poor Africans and hate the evil white Westerners rather than tell the full story.

Or why Cinque became a slave trader? Who knows.

[1337bard]

@Dragblacker Why would it incite hatred for 'evil white westerners' when they were the protagonists? Full story? Five hour movie? No thanks.

Joseph Cinque didn't become a slave trader, that was a rumor. No historian of that time period documented that as fact.

[lureyes1]

@Dragblacker sound like a crock of bullshit to me!

[89josiah]

THIS SCENE AND SPEECH IS FLAWLESS!!! ANTHONY HOPKINS IS TRULY A GREAT ACTOR, THAT DOES NOT GET THE CRIDET HE DESERVES. TILL THIS DAY I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE HE DIDN'T WIN THE OSCAR FOR SUPPORTING ACTOR IN THIS FILM. I MEAN I LOVE ROBIN WILLIAMS, AND HE'S VERY DESERVING OF AN OSCAR, BUT THAT YEAR ANTHONY HOKINS SHOULD HAVE WON!!!! EXCELLENT MOVIE!!!!

[sacksn]

read this and weep

brilliant and just underscores the acting of Anthony Hopkins-wat a genius

dr Nigel

[techi9]

......... this address was flawless. NO RETORT POSSIBLE!!!!

[techi9]

......... this address was flawless

[Roarlover34]

pure poetry

[sacksn]

What a moving speech by a truly great actor-it still has lessons for today

Up there with Al Pacino in Scent of a woman and on any given sunday and McConaghy in a time to kill

Dr Nigel

[sacksn]

What a moving speech by a truly great actor-it still has lessons for today

Dr Nigel

[mavriksfan11]

After watching this movie, and seeing the part about the middle passage, i read into slavery and racism US History.

Now I cannot in good conscience oppose affirmative action. That is not a bad thing.

[HappyNotGrumpy]

"The very nature of man ... FREEDOM ..." beautiful

[buddyis12]

See...

iamthewitness.c o m

[IzzyJG99]

"The very nature of man." Something that John Adams made sure his son John Quincy knew well.

[hanscombe72]

I have heard that one angle was done in a single take.

By the way - Farewell Pete Postlethwaite - Well done sir.

[HaveLucidDreamz]

This is why Spielberg is a master story teller, the entire movie built up to this point with Adams deciding to stay out until the very end and then delivering this speech.... beautiful.

[RATHAHONNI]

Lucky for the Negros that there was no money or land involved in this case or all the common sense and fancy speeches would not have mattered,SADLY!

[RATHAHONNI]

Is this like the case where the Supreme court of the United States decided that the Cherokee Indians were entitled to inhabit their traditional lands but were over ruled by General Andrew Jackson a treasonous act,but Jackson was later elected President himself,perhaps they should have had a Lawyer like Adams to invoke some conscience of the leaders of the day.A proud day for Uncle Sam!

[Putaspellonyou]

@RATHAHONNI jackson was already president at the time when seminole, creek, chiksaw, and choctaw were forcibly removed from georgia and elsehwere in 1830-32, and did so wtih congressional authorization, and after two court rulings in his favor. cherokee, who were better organized and generally more sophisticated, found favor in the court around the same time, but eventually lost out. trail of tears did not happen until martin van buren was president in 1838.

[daehllaw]

I'm sure I've said it before, but what a speech and what a fine performance. British (I know he is Welsh), acting at its very very best.

[Stammon]

If we had heard this then, we would not have fought for Virginia.

[Stammon]

If we had heard this then, we would not have fought for Virginia.

[SILLYFROGFART]

" OUR INDIVIDUALITY IS NOT OUR OWN "

The separate self is ILLUSION !!!

There is only ONE

And YOU are IT !

[SILLYFROGFART]

A truly pivotal moment in history - incredible !

[TheSlothook]

hard to find a better performance from any actor in one scene...the real question is...better performance for Tony hopkins, quincy adams or hannibal lecter? For me, lecter was probably the most amazing role any actor has ever played.. so that gets the nod. 

[Cadywax]

One of the best courtroom speeches ever filmed. I think Hopkins' performance here is his best ever.

[KingsleyEnnis1]

Do any of you darkie bastards want a FREE ONE-WAY ticket to ASSFRICA ??

[homerrulezzzz]

his actual address to the supreme court was about 8 hours long. you can easily find it online

[Clearie552]

the speech from 6:10 about history is really awesome.

[Sinhro480]

You've proven that he is from Africa...congratulations....ea­rlier in the movie and for me the best line....

[KingsleyEnnis1]

End the unemployment crisis. Put millions of NIGGERS back to work. Vote to repeal the 13th Ammendment.

[OconByrd519]

@KingsleyEnnis1 Based on your incredibly idiotic and moronic comment I can only assume you're a supporter of the Tea Party.

[MikeTMerciless]

@OconByrd519 Based on your own equally idiotic statement, I'd only assume you to be a Democrat. Because only a Democrat would care to forget who it was that freed the slaves, and who it was that sought to make Americans free from government and make America prosperous. The last Democrat to ever have such sentiments was Grover Cleveland, who would be an ardent admirer of the Tea Party, as would all the Founding Fathers. You'd perhaps ought to rethink your sentiment.

[c0ldsteal19]

"That's all I have to say"... thats it? lol epic

[Jitpring]

The background music is most unfortunate. This didn't need to be sentimentalized.

[smo699]

Conservative judiciary philosophy at its best..

[DireWeevil]

@c0ldsteal19 A great way to close.

[starsheild7]

I remember reading a new testimate scripture that states- "it was for freedom that Jesus died for us" (in God's pardening of our sins, and breaking the burden of the result and punishment and fate of our sins).

8:42-9:35 catches my attention, it reminds me to acknowledge how intuitively real our conscience and morality ought to be acknowledged. A lesson against that pride that comes from our obsession with trying to gain individuality and having such a lack of humility in everything.

[arthurlandrycf]

John Q Adams is the most underrated person in American History- he is the only person who talked to both Washington and Lincoln. A dour and serious person but great.

[Jitpring]

@arthurlandrycf Fully agreed!

[edualym]

I just love when he asks, "What of its conceits? All men are created equal? Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? What are we to do with this? Well, I have a modest proposal." he rips the page, drops it on the table and pats the other lawyer...

EPIC WIN

[fatboy123123123]

this was my favorite part of the movie.. this speech was really amazing

[deaconrayne]

We look to men like this for guidance and honor their memory. Our leaders in recent past may have failed us, whether it be due to corruption or incompetence (or both). But the American people, have never failed each other. The people right now who labor to keep us safe from those who would do us harm have never failed us. And that is the rub, the knoweldge that we ultimately can win, MUST win against the forces arrayed against us, for as numerous as they appear, ultimately they are slaves.

[HobbitBabe]

*vast audience appears and claps for Anthony Hopkins and this piece of epic win*

[MrMancunianred]

One of the greatest movie speeches of all time, along with scent of a woman!

[CARDUELIS999]

Good speech. Who wrote the movie?

[Deader87]

Anthony Hopkins was actually perfect for this role.

[tpajason]

@Deader87 Anthony Hopkins is pretty much perfect for every role he's been in. Definitely one of my favorite actors LOL

[ninnymonger]

when i saw the Justices, i was looking for a woman...stupid me, they were barely allowed to go to college back then, much less serve as Justice to the highest court in the US

It's weird not seeing a girl as a Justice.

[IzzyJG99]

"....To get home." Poetic.

[kmcinern1]

That's why they called him "Old Man Eloquent."

[colliertng]

Hear! Hear! John Quincy Adams! You're Father Would've Been Proud Of You!

[mindspring57]

I seriously doubt that the Supreme Court, at that time, would have allowed blacks to sit up front like that. Even if they were parties, the Court hears legal arguments but does not take evidence, so there would be no need for their presence. I am not saying that is right, but considering that, in a few years, in the Dred Scott decision, the Court would hold that blacks had no rights which white men were bound to respect, it seems odd to see black people sitting up front and center in that era.

[JUKIO01]

is this a true story? amistad and everything?

[bassguy67]

@JUKIO01 It is Hollywood, but it is more or less true.

[RebelYank]

The case of the Amistad is a true story. But, as with most everything Hollywood picks up that is true, liberties were taking. In this particular scene, John Quincy Adams is shown speaking to the Supreme Court. In actuality, however, it was Baldwin that gave the closing arguments to the Supreme Court, not John Quincy Dams.

[alejhombre]

@RebelYank No offence meant but you are incorrect. Baldwin only began the oral arguments. He spoke for about 4 hours. John Quincy Adams then took over and argued before the court for 8 and 1/2 hours more. You’re right about the Hollywoodization. Brevity was not, obviously, the soul of JQA’s wit during his successful arguing of the case. Also, he did not mention the possibility of future civil war.

[SPQR62]

@JUKIO01 yes

[Shuzcan61]

ALL American!  Who we are today, whom we were in the past!

[v7nf]

@Shuzcan61 yea slaves

[BattleM012]

No Man Shall Be A Slave To Another Man, As Long As We Have Our Freedom!

[Speegs23]

@BattleM012 with the exception of abortion, in that case we have caste system.

[faalkon5]

Do WE(Americans) blame the BUSH's? No. We only blame ourselves. We voted them to govern us. We had the choice to get rid of them. We the people own the USA not the people we vote in. We need to stop blaming goverment and blame ourselves. Wake up and look in the mirror. The populas voted.

[oehieze]

one of our greatest father/son combo's... the adams'... unlike our WORST, the BUSH'S :(

[jbond5150]

indeed... though the alien and sedition acts were questionable.

[Agan1pp3]

Oh look! A movie from when Mathew McConaughey was a good actor in meaningful movies! Don't get me wrong, I have no problem watching him goof off without a shirt on. But all the time? When he has this potential in him? We know it's there! Use it!

But that speech is amazing. And exactly what Pres. John Quincy Adams said. The whole speech was transcribed in the courtroom. Kind of makes you proud that we had such brilliant forefathers. Wish that IQ was an option when Bush was running.

[SPQR62]

@Agan1pp3 probably the work of his manager-lol!

[frederick77777]

hes proved his point

[Hakkun9872]

6:35-7:07 Adams shows true gusto.

I loved this scene the best from the movie. His speech was a burst of American inspiration.

[noobazo]

best speech ever

[daprmcen]

brilliant speech and performance.

[Albukhshi]

If only his father could have seen him. he would have indeed been proud-very proud. he deserves my respect.

[murraydonald62]

@Albukhshi A true American Patriot.He live through Building a NEW NATION THAT HOLY SPIRIT ESTABLISH.Were All Man is Created Equal and Justice and not SOCIAL JUSTICE.And as for his father HE SEES THE FATHER SEES THE SON.I guaranteed Quincy Father Seen and Was With Him in that Court Room.He quotes Thomas,Adams,Washington.Great leaders HOPE,FAITH,CHARITY and HONOR.CIVIL WAR is WAS THE LAST REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

[kraigthorne]

@Albukhshi Watch the HBO's John Adams and you will see how John Adams felt about his son John Quincy Adams.

[Albukhshi]

@kraigthorne

I am aware of the show and his opinion.

[DarkMonkArt]

Back then the Court was not really empowered.

The Government really didn't take them as true action taking Law. more of a convenience.

Just like today, exp.IRS, Torture, Illegal Immigration.

[nibus9]

wow hopkins awsome nobody like him he is the best !!

[naruhinaaddict1000]

"And if it means civil war...then let it come." And so it came. John Q was a genius, not to mention his father, John Adams was called by Jefferson The Colossus of Independence.

[leoricoftristram]

If nobody thinks John Quincy Adams was not a brilliant man then you need to be hung from the nearest apple tree by your toenails.

[reborntheglassbatch]

I enjoy how at the end he says "That's all I have to say". I also enjoy when he is going along the statue's head, how he pauses at his father's, and hesitates. Powerful moment

Brilliant man, John Quincy Adams, Brilliant man.

[reborntheglassbatch]

8:34 for his father's statue.

10:16 for "That's all I have to say".

[dcn8933]

Thanks. That was a great moment he just stares at his dad.

[Ljuvytube]

this is a 5 star movie :) great actors, good story.. I So love the ending :)

[piousone]

This is my favorte part of the movie. My thanks to whoever posted this. Sir Anthony Hopkins's portrayal of John Quincy Adams was very inspiring. However, I wonder exactly how much of his statement to the Supreme Court was taken from the actual record. In any regard, I think he's right: we've long avoided asking our Founding Fathers for guidance. I'm sure that someday soon, we will.

[JoeandClauds]

My favorite part is when he mentions the fact that we haven't asked our founding fathers for assistance. He then announces the name of his father. =(

[ultimatespider17]

best movie ever this movie shed light on my interest politics and goverment

[ETAndElliot]

My favorite part of the movie is just after this scene when Cinque asks Adams what words he used to persuade the court, and he responds "Yours".

[spazquestt]

Obama getting elected president was the "last battle of the American revolution".

[Damon50]

Just wanted to comment on an earlier post: I didn't even vote for Obama, but I am still kinda proud for our country electing him. I checked, and there has never been an candidate of African decent elected to an executive position in any European country in history. So it's cool that we did, and it makes the U.S. unique. Especially in a country where only 12-16% of the population (depending on what source you use) is of African decent, it's a pretty impressive feat.

[themillenia]

I had to right an essay on his speech. Basically a 5 page essay on his attitude toward the facts of the case, his assumptions of human nature, and the actions he made to the supreme court to validate the case. Yep, all in 30 min. and I've been wanting to see this movie since middle school, and I had to make it into work. That's AP US history for ya.But like they told me a long time ago, it's awesome.

[cjbatesii]

If you had really been in AP US History, you would have noticed that you misspelled 'write' and that the Supreme Court (of the United States) is capitalized.

[xiphas7]

Yes, but if YOU had noticed, THIS is the Internet.

[cjbatesii]

'write' vs. 'right' from someone who aspires to a college education, or, worse yet, is obtaining one in spite of such oversight...quit depending on the spell checker...social promotion at its finest!!!

[xiphas7]

However, I never even went near the topic of the spell-checker, I only pointed out that THIS is the Internet. Normal vocabulary and language have no reign here. The main language spoken on the internet is '1337 Speak' (Leet speak).

For example:

I r Ub@r 1337 h4x0rz FTW. I pwn n00bs, I r d40pp!n m@h F-B0mb 0n teh n00bz.

[dragonchr15]

I love how they have a picture of John Adams Sr in the background when he is talking about "ancestors."

[reborntheglassbatch]

Aye.

[DPKFOUR7]

We dont need Obama, but we do need Adams.

[elbethere]

We need more americans like John Quincy Adams.

[brisco42]

@elbethere YES WE DO!!!

[senatorbrett]

Thank you for this post. I love this movie because of so many great lines, but none more than those found in this speech.

[OnGuard4Liberty]

If you want your liberty back, check out FreeStateProject(dot)org

[Damon50]

That scene is one of my favorite of all time. It's kind of Ironic though to have a great American moment performed by an Englishman... But Hopkins does a fantastic job.

[StandTogetherForever]

Last time i checked a Welshman wasnt an Englishman, i would know i am English, ye but great acting non the less.

[cheye2]

Hopkins is Welsh not English.

[kz74]

Sends chills down my spine. Always makes me tear up. Brilliant!

[altruisticly]

" How to win an oscar in 8 easy minutes" Hopkins rollin ! Genius = easy !

[vepic]

whoa, I am impressed by the caliber of comments on this video. Bravo, there just yet might be hope for the minds of moral young men within these states. America!

[Charlie265]

"All men are created equal"....etc....civil war came, then 100 plus years more to comprehend the words in that noble document.

[Blade92776]

~~This country needs men like this to rise up once again~~

[ufuk99]

thanks for posting, fantastic secene

[ilovemylifesblog]

This is my favorite scene of the movie. Thank you for posting it. From Newport, Rhode Island, USA - where Amistad was filmed.

[harveyguy23]

Very good scene,

[bmcguire80]

Very moving scene, thanks for posting it.

[Charlie265]

Great speech by a great American! Slavery...America's original sin....was abolished 90 years after it should have been.

[Josh111485]

Well, you know how we Americans are...kind of slow on stuff like equality. It took us quite a while to have a black man and woman as candidates for president.

[ar223]

wat other non-African countries have had black candidates for as major candidates for head of state?

[megadriver23]

belize the father of rapper shyne is kind of ironic his dad is black and didn't want shyne cause he was to black and now he is the prime minister in belize