Five Key Details In HBO’s “John Adams” That Were Historically Accurate
The popular 2008 miniseries earned four Golden Globes and other awards, thanks in part to critically acclaimed performances by Paul Giamatti and Laura Linny. Not only did the performances draw high praise from critics, but the costumes, makeup, and set design further elevated the show, creating a more realistic revolutionary world. All of these factors would contribute to John Adams successfully standing out on HBO’s roster; a show that is still revisited and rewatched frequently. Like any period piece, historical accuracy often takes a back seat to dramatization in John Adams, however, there were numerous efforts the film crew took to make this miniseries more true to the time period. From detailed costume and set design, acting, and directing strategies, to details written into the script, these efforts helped to make the show more immersive and authentic.
Bad Teeth
The show takes place from 1770 to 1826, from when John Adams was in his mid-thirties to his death at age 90. Makeup artists on the show took painstaking efforts to transform Paul Giamatti’s appearance, including giving special attention to a detail that is oftentimes left out in period pieces — the teeth of the characters. Obviously dental hygiene was not as well understood in the 18th century, and to reflect this, many main members of the cast were fitted with false teeth. As the character ages, Paul Giamatti’s false teeth become more yellow and stained. Working-class characters often had worse looking teeth than their aristocratic counterparts; in some scenes, the crew even went as far as putting a type of “gunk” paint on extras, making sure that everyone’s physical appearance was authentic to the time period.
Oyster Shells, Dead Fish & Lime Peels
There are several scenes in John Adams that take place in a seaside area, dock, or harbor. There were several small props added to these scenes that created a more detailed environment. In one scene where John Adams returns home from abroad, truckloads of oyster shells were used on set, and
several real dead fish could also be seen. In another dockside scene, lime peels can be seen scattered and discarded on the ground. This detail is a reference to measures taken by the British Navy to reduce the rates of scurvy, by having the sailors suck on lime wedges.
Costume Changes
The costume department worked tirelessly to make sure the clothes featured in the show corresponded to real clothing and accessories that were popular in the years in which each episode took place. As the late1700s gave way to the 1800s, powdered wings were shown less and less on the show.
Even some of the American soldiers’ costumes had buttons cast from real revolutionary uniforms. Small details like hemline placements were thoroughly researched to match the year that each scene took place.
Nabby Adams’ Breast Cancer & Surgery
Sarah Polley’s character Nabby eventually succumbs to breast cancer, even after having surgery, which reflects the true historical events of how the real Nabby Adams died. In the surgery scene, Nabby is tied to her bed to keep her from struggling and given a piece of wood to clench her teeth on — a tactic commonly used in a time before anesthesiology.
General Hardships of the Time Period
While not everything in the miniseries is historically accurate, it certainly doesn’t romanticize the time period either. The threat of disease is mentioned multiple times throughout the show; both yellow fever and smallpox hover threateningly over the lives of the characters and even drive plot points
in some episodes. The brutality and danger of traveling by sea are shown when John Adams journeys to Europe with his son as a diplomat. The harshness of a Massachusetts winter and struggles of farming without modern machinery are depicted in a very straightforward manner by the show’s creators.
