INDEPENDENT FEATURE FILM PROJECT

Saratoga 1777:
The Turning Point

This noble, independent feature film project – a wholly veteran-owned enterprise – needs a miracle just as America needed a miracle in the early autumn of 1777 during one of the darkest hours of the American Revolution.

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INDEPENDENT FEATURE FILM PROJECT

Saratoga 1777:
The Turning Point

This noble, independent feature film project – a wholly veteran-owned enterprise – needs a miracle just as America needed a miracle in the early autumn of 1777 during one of the darkest hours of the American Revolution.

Watch Reel

We Need Your Help

Our Mission

This story must be expertly brought to the silver screen to the widest possible audience.

This vision – the funding, production, post-production marketing, and release of this compelling motion picture – must be successfully brought to fruition by the Fall of 2027, to commemorate the 250th anniversary of General Burgoyne’s surrender on October 17, 1777. 

About the Project

Support

They did their part. Now, we must do our part. We owe it to them to tell their story.

To my fellow veterans, history buffs, patriots, & citizens: Your help is urgently needed to complete an important mission. We can’t do it without you. We need to share our Revolutionary War history and commemorate the 250th anniversary of the turning point of the American War for Independence.

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Spread the Word

I humbly ask you to please join me in this noble effort and help make this motion picture.

What could be better than America’s veterans and fellow patriots banding together to tell the compelling story of the turning point of the American War for Independence? Please spread the word. Your help will be the difference as I simply can’t do this without you. Together, we can do this.

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Sizzle Reel

The compelling story of how citizen soldiers rallied to reinforce the American Army in New York’s Upper Hudson Valley and heroically helped save the American War for Independence in the Fall of 1777.

  • Duration

    15 min. 23 sec.
Script Summary

Calling All Veterans & Patriots

Hello, I’m Mark O’Rourke. I’m a proud United States Army veteran and history buff.

I’d like to briefly share some of my background so that you can hopefully gain a clear sense as to why I urgently need the help of my fellow veterans as well as from my fellow patriots across the nation. I sincerely want to establish an ironclad trust with you by sharing who I am and why I have an important mission that I am asking my fellow veterans and patriots across the nation to help me complete.

As an attorney and veteran, I have proudly taken numerous oaths to support and defend The Constitution of the United States. And, I rightfully take these solemn pledges and ethical obligations very seriously. 

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THE STORY

Timeline of Events

The Battle of Saratoga is one of the most important battles ever fought in world history.

In 1777, the American Revolution was on the brink of collapse. The British army delivered crushing defeats to the Continental Army and controlled Canada to the North and New York to the South. They devised a plan to link forces and crush the rebellion once and for all.

With a renewed vigor, militias from all across New England and New York converged and poured in to a small town along the Hudson River, Saratoga. In a miraculous event, the Americans delivered a stunning defeat to the British. For the first time, the mightiest army in the world had surrendered to the newest. Ceremoniously, British General John Burgoyne was forced to hand over his sword to American General Horatio Gates.

The Battle of Saratoga, became known as
“The Turning Point of the Revolution.”

May 1776

Gen. John Burgoyne arrives in Canada with British reinforcements.

February – March 1777

Gen. John Burgoyne submits his battle plans, which are ultimately approved on March 2, 1776.

June 30, 1777

British forces appear near Fort Ticonderoga.

July 5, 1777

American forces evacuate peacefully, and the British take control of the fort.

August 1777

Burgoyne attempts to raid the supply depot in Bennington, Vermont and the British are ultimately defeated.

September 19, 1777

Burgoyne divides his army, numbering about 7,500, into three columns to probe American defenses at Freeman’s Farm.

The British sustains heavy casualties, losing twice as many soldiers as the Americans. While the British remain stuck, the American army is replenished and grows to 13,000 strong.

October 7, 1777

Burgoyne sends a reconnaissance force to attack Americans at Bemis Heights, but the patriots get wind of the plan and force the British to withdraw to their well-defended Balcarres Redoubt.

October 8, 1777

Burgoyne retreats and the British army attempts to escape north, but a cold, hard rain forces them to stop and encamp near the town of Saratoga. Hungry, weary, and out of options, they dig in and prepare to defend themselves.

October 13, 1777

The Americans have the British surrounded.

October 17, 1777

After negotiations, Burgoyne’s army surrenders.

The American defeat of the British army lifted patriot morale, furthered the hope for independence, and helped to secure the foreign support needed to win the war.

The Timeline

JOIN OUR MISSION

We Need You

Your generosity will be the crucial help that makes this miracle – a compelling feature film – possible.

Let’s do our part, together.

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