Posted on 07/04/2011 2:56:52 PM PDT by traderrob6
Just watched the 1972 movie production of "1776". Personally I thought the movie was VERY entertaining. I'm not much into musicals and I thought for the most part the songs were forgetable.
That being said, the acting was top shelf and the story, well, is, inspiring. I'm no historian, but I believe it was reasonably historically accurate.
There were points in the movie when I was really moved... and when they signed the document of declaration at the end as the bell tolled, I got a tear in my eye.
Please, your thoughts?
(Excerpt) Read more at exposingtheleft.blogspot.com ...
It’s a great little movie, and reasonably accurate. Where I think it came up short is in the music. Some of the songs were simply lame. I loved Franklin in this one.
True in the overall sense, but the final scene was purely for dramatic effect. The vote took place on July 2, 1776, and thereafter the idea was hatched to put it in writing, and the writing itself was not signed, according to the records, until August 2, 1776.
Adams expected everyone to be celebrating the event on July 2, 1776 every year. This is an inaccuracy irrelevant to the story, though, IMHO.
I wonder if there is an intrepid sort that could make an exciting modern (current day) version of this story, so that when the kiddies at school are looking for a lazy history lesson, they can show the movie and take a “test” after watching it...you know, so the socially promoted ones who can’t read can learn it, too.
It is an important story.
We were told it was cpmpletely accurate (with the exception of the Hollywoodness" of it all.
I've watched it a couple a times a year just because I like it .... probably because I'm as obnoxious as John Adams and I have a Ben Franklin friend.
I’ve always loved it, including more than half of the songs, and just had my 13 year old watch it with me on FMC even though we have the DVD. I recalled seeing a different version years back a(without the lamest tunes) and was intrigued to hear from the narrator that I had remembered correctly - the version that came out long ago was edited by Tricky Dick himself, President Nixon.
I love the music. A couple of the songs are not so good, but some are great. I love “Yours, yours, yours,” it’s got a good march, and Dear Mr. Adams has a great tune and lyric.
But “Cool Considerate Men” toasts me. So glad they left it out of the theatrical version. The idea that the founding fathers were LEFTISTS? What planet were they on? The idea of limited government is frankly and openly hated by the left nowadays, and they have no problem saying they don’t like the founding fathers’ ideas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXlXJa1dQPw
Franklin:
Mr. Adams, I say you should write it
To your legal mind and brilliance we defer
Adams:
Is that so? Well, if I’m the one to do it
They’ll run their quill pens through it
I’m obnoxious and disliked, you know that, sir
Franklin:
Yes, I know
Adams:
So I say you should write it Franklin, yes you
Franklin:
Hell, no!
Adams:
Yes, you, Dr. Franklin, you
but, you, but, you, but
Franklin:
Mr. Adams, but, Mr. Adams
The things I write are only light extemporania
I won’t put politics on paper; it’s a mania
So I refuse to use the pen in Pennsylvania
Others:
Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, refuse to use the pen
Adams:
Mr. Sherman, I say you should write it
You are never controversial as it were
Sherman:
That is true
Adams:
Whereas if I’m the one to do it
They’ll run their quill pens through it
I’m obnoxious and disliked, you know that, sir
Sherman:
Yes, I do
Adams:
So I say you should write it, Sherman, yes you
Sherman:
Good heavens, no!
Adams:
Yes you, Roger Sherman, you
but, you, but, you, but
Sherman:
Mr. Adams, but, Mr. Adams
I cannot write with any style or proper etiquette
I don’t know a participle from a predicate
I am just a simple cobbler from Connecticut
Others:
Connecticut, Connecticut, a simple cobbler he
Adams:
Mr. Livingston, maybe you should write it
You have many friends and you’re a diplomat
Franklin:
Oh, that word!
Adams:
Whereas if I’m the one to do it
They’ll run their quill pens through it
Others:
He’s obnoxious and disliked; did you know that?
Livingston:
I hadn’t heard
Adams:
So I say you should write it, Robert, yes you
Livingston:
Not me, Johnny!
Adams:
Yes you, Robert Livingston, you
but you but you but
Livingston:
Mr. Adams, dear Mr. Adams
I’ve been presented with a new son by the noble stork
So I am going home to celebrate and pop the cork
With all the Livingstons together back in old New York
Others:
New York, New York, Livingston’s going to pop a cork
Jefferson:
Mr. Adams, leave me alone!
Adams:
Mr. Jefferson, dear Mr. Jefferson
I’m only 41; I still have my virility
And I can romp through Cupid’s Grove with great agility
But life is more than sexual combustibility
Others:
Combustibility, combustibility, combustibili...
Jefferson:
Mr. Adams, damn you Mr. Adams
You’re obnoxious and disliked; that cannot be denied
Once again you stand between me and my lovely bride
Oh, Mr. Adams, you are driving me to homicide!
Others:
Homicide, homicide, we may see murder yet!
Franklin (groggy) -- Leaving? Why are we going there?
Adams (angry and righteous) -- Drinking and whores!
Franklin (always up for a party) -- Oh. Okay!
Actually, the music is very pretty and sometimes VERY dramatic (”Molasses To Rum to Slaves”) and moves the plot forward as it is required to do. A lot of the lyrics come from the letters of John Adams.
This is the original Broadway cast. I saw it in 1968 when I was 13 years old. William Daniels was out that night and John Cullum (who plays the South Carolinian in the movie - gee, I forgot his name!) took over as John Adams. Brilliant and handsome as only John Cullum could be. Virginia Vestoff who plays Abigail died tragically young and instead of the bland Blythe Danner as Jefferson’s wife, we had the great singer Betty Buckley. Superb!
I’m so very glad they preserved this cast in the movie. It has one of the strongest “books” (that’s what the dialogue is called in a musical) to ever come out of a musical.
While the movie was very unsuccessful in its day, I notice that’s it’s grown in stature. The staging is very close to the play - which is why it looks so very stagey.
Given a choice between using the move or any of the various “official” textbooks I will take the movie every time. Sorry about that Dr. Keloch (college American History professor).
The description of this movie said “Founding Fathers ——JOHN ADAMS, Tom Jefferson and someone. Who can let the leftist media know????
It is one of my favorite movies and it has become a beloved family tradition. We love it!
The music is FANTASTIC!!! How can anyone think the music is less than inspiring? It’s great. The only one less than good was the “Cool, considerate men” which was not included in the movie version.
Every American should be intimately familiar with the whole thing.
I have always liked that movie. My favorite songs are The Egg and The Lee’s of Virginia.
Finished watching it myself on TCM a little while ago. The music isn’t bad, but what moved me was the historical events it was representing and portraying. I was glad that someone had broadcast it today.
And may my horses turn to glue
If I can’t deliver up to you
A resolution of independency.
Totally enjoy the movie, saw it in grade school and very moving. The White Shadow coach Ken Howard is Thomas Jefferson.
And the actor who played Major Hochstedder on Hogan’s Heroes plays Lewis Morris of New York.
“New Yorks abstains. Couteously”
Love the movie. Watch it whenever I can. It is historically accurate for the most part, deviating only in some details for dramatic purposes. The music is only fair, but not horrible. Some of the scenes are quite funny, others very profound.
I, too, was surprised by the “never left” line in that song TMC reinserted. Glad the producers had the wisdom to leave it out of the original release of the movie. That song is way too contemporary in it’s political message.
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