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.
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.
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.
Totally enjoy the movie, saw it in grade school and very moving. The White Shadow coach Ken Howard is Thomas Jefferson.
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.
It’s one of the best patriotic films around. I enjoyed it.
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.
I loved the part where Franklin smote the ground and out sprung George Washington. Fully grown. On his horse.
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.
-PJ
-PJ