This is a film of Ian Ruskin’s acclaimed one-man play about Paine’s life, filmed in front of a live audience at the Lillian Theater in Hollywood.

Thomas Paine was the one truly radical Founder of America, a man largely forgotten and greatly misunderstood today.  His ideas about democracy, equality, slavery, pensions, healthcare, education and morality would have created a very different world had they been acted on.  When he was writing his books and pamphlets he was at the epicenter of world events, literally transforming nations through the power of his words.

“The man once enlightened cannot again become dark.”

“One must always speak the truth as one sees it, no matter the consequences, no matter the consequences.”

Filmed by Haskell Wexler.