Movie 1776

Opinipundit ^ | 7/4/11 | traderrob

[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?

[Clintonfatigued]

It’s one of the best patriotic films around. I enjoyed it.

[Tax-chick]

We watch it every year ... wore out our VHS copy and got a DVD. When my daughter graduated from Coast Guard boot camp two summers ago, the attendees visited Independence Hall, and several of them sang relevant “1776!” tunes while others pretended they didn’t know those crazy people.

I wish there was a video with the recent Broadway cast, though.

[Tax-chick]

John Collum’s an incredible performer; I love him in anything. Blythe Danner, on the other hand ...awful.

My only series gripe is the character, not the performer, of Richard Henry Lee. That’s pretty seriously wrong.

[Tanniker Smith]

I loved the part where Franklin smote the ground and out sprung George Washington. Fully grown. On his horse.

[proudofthesouth]

The soundtrack to this movie is one of my very favorites.

The song “Mama Look Sharp” is especially good and can apply to any war.

[Tanniker Smith]

Adams (angry and righteous) -- Drinking and whores! Franklin (always up for a party) -- Oh. Okay!

How else would you get Franklin to go to New Brunswick?

[Moonmad27]

Always a favorite of mine. As a kid, I saw it with the orig cast in NYC, except Howard da Silva’s understudy played Franklin. I later sent a letter to da Silva and he sent back a handwritten note with a nice Franklin quote.

[xkaydet65]

John Adams was good and I like Giamatti, but I prefer the 1976 PBS Adams Chronicles.George Grizzard as Adams and William Daniels as John Quincy.

[I still care]

And may my wife refuse my bed,
If I can’t deliver, as I said,
A Resolution, of Independency!

[ArmyTeach]

Here we are, in this little isolated community in Fairbanks, AK, and we did an astonishing production of 1776 when it was brand new and fresh - in the auditorium of a local high school. The costuming was perfect, the talent was amazing. All the principals are great voices, 'John Adams' and 'Rutledge' and too long a list. I wasn't prepared for what I was about to see, and I came out breathless and teary-eyed. I'll never forget when the stage lights were dimmed, everything in shadow except Rutledge on the table. A very young man, a powerful, incredibly haunting voice, his sweeping body language evoked the conflict that devastated the nation 90 years later. You could have heard a pin drop in the audience. And I'm picky. I'll tell you when I think a performance is amateurish.

[COBOL2Java]

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.

Will never happen. Hollywood and the NEA have successfully promulgated the meme that the Founding Fathers were misogynistic racists and backwards womyn haters.

[Political Junkie Too]

Caesar Rodney was not as sick as portrayed in the movie. He died about 10 years later.

-PJ

[Political Junkie Too]

Caesar Rodney was not as sick as portrayed in the movie. He died about 10 years later.

-PJ

[Political Junkie Too]

Yes, there was a lot of " refreshing the missus" in that movie.

The scene with Franklin having his portrait painted when Lee rides up takes place in front of the same fountain that was used in the opening scene of Friends.

-PJ

[TBP]

I saw it on Broadway and loved it. The score is good. “Is Anybody There” is a poweful depiction of what Aemrica is supposed to be. The opening number works very well. Adams is completely right about Congress. And that very tender number between him and Abigail is sweet and wonderful.

The signing ceremony at the end can move you to tears.

Part of the reason it works was that William Daniels WAS John Adams, as completely as an actor can be his character. (The only other case in a musical where I’ve seen an actor so completely absorbed in his character was Richard Kiley aas Don Quixote in Man of LaMancha.)

[miss marmelstein]

Thanks for the lovely description of this wonderful play! I have seen community theatre and high school theatre that have knocked my socks off. You never know when or where great art is going to rear its head.

A Happy Holiday to you.

[miss marmelstein]

Man of La Mancha and 1776 kind of overlapped on Broadway. The 60s were the last decade of the great musicals - perhaps with the exception of A Chorus Line in the late 70s.

[miss marmelstein]

The George Grizzard mini series was absolutely wonderful! It is now on DVD.

[LibertarianLiz]

Actually, the music is very pretty and sometimes VERY dramatic (”Molasses To Rum to Slaves”)

I saw the stage play of this in Chicago when I was going into senior year of high school. My mother took me and I still remember the number "Molasses to Rum to Slaves". If you think it is dramatic on the screen, you should have seen it in person. It was electrifying.

[miss marmelstein]

I had a major crush on John Cullum after I saw him on stage. I have now met him TWICE and he is the most modest Southern gentleman you could ever meet. He’s had a wonderful career and is still trodding the boards on Broadway.