1776

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining history
Review: 1776 has never been one of my favorite musicals. I missed the original stage production but gave the original cast album a listen or two over the years and never really took to it. At some point years ago I saw the movie on commercial television and thought it was sturdy, not stellar, entertainment. But having read the many raves at this site and having read several books on the Founding Fathers in the past eighteen months, I was game for another look.

It's better than I remembered. The strong points here are the book and the acting. It's a surprisingly accurate history lesson. The debates leading up to the drafting and signing of the Declaration of Independence are compelling drama. Yes, there are a couple of liberties taken with the facts, as in Martha Jefferson's visit to Philadelphia (it never happened), but this is a musical, not a documentary, and it should be judged as such. The liberties taken work well dramatically. And John Adams' pivotal role in the founding of our nation was first popularized not last year in David McCullough's best-selling biography, but thirty years earlier in, of all things, a Broadway musical.

William Daniels is superb as Adams, pulling off the difficult trick of making a dislikable man sympathetic to the audience. This is at least in part due to the tender relationship between him and his wife, Abigail. Howard DeSilva perfectly embodies Benjamin Franklin. And Blythe Danner as Martha Jefferson is radiant as always.

The music is serviceable. It isn't on a par with the great musical scores. The same could be said for the production as a whole. This is an old-fashioned musical, not the best or the worst of the genre. It has been transferred to the screen in a thoroughly professional, entertaining fashion. It's not ground-breaking cinema, and I don't think it was meant to be. I'm happy I saw it. I don't need to see it again. The bottom line: better than sturdy, still not stellar.

One note about the commentary track: the director and writer spend way too much time describing the action. Presumably by the time one is listening to the commentary, one has already viewed the film and knows what is happening on screen. There are some interesting anecdotes about the making of the film, but not enough of them.

Rating:
Summary: Worth Seeing
Review: This is a terrific film for so many reasons. It's a musical even most musical-haters can stomach; it features wonderful performances from William Daniels and the rest of the cast; and it concerns a subject guaranteed to interest Americans and students of history.

More important, it's a history lesson that doesn't FEEL like a history lesson. I've watched it scores of times, and I just marvel over the characterization, from John Adams to John Hancock to Dr. Lymon Hall (new delegate from Georgia). My friend Kate says when she gets to heaven, if Ben Franklin doesn't look and act EXACTLY like Howard da Silva, she's going to be really disappointed!

In school, I read about the Revolution. As a native Virginian, I learned all about Jefferson and the 'Lees of Old Virginia'. When I went to Boston, I visited Adams' house, and I spent hours walking around Philadelphia. I also majored in history in college. I suppose some could argue that I am predisposed to favor a movie like this since I'm already a history nut, but I can promise you that 1776 can turn anyone on to history.

I recommend this movie to anyone who wants to be entertained while learning something....or is it learning something while being entertained?

Rating:
Summary: 1776- a must see
Review: I first saw this movie when I was very young. It's one of my parents favorite's and I remember watching it every July 4th, well at least until the movie stations stopped playing it. I seem to recall my parents dancing around the kitchen table singing "Here a Lee, there a Lee, everywhere a Lee a Lee." (much to my amusement I might add). I bought this as a present for my mother when I was in junior high, but the tape somehow made it into my room permanently because I fell in love with it. I watched it just about every weekend. Then in my freshman year in high school my teacher decided to play it after we studied the Second Continental Congress and the Declaration. I was the only person in the class who had even heard of the movie let alone seen it. The urge to resist singing along proved to be a challenge, but I managed to make it through. Most of the people in the class spent the 2 days of watching it trying to figure out where they had seen William Daniels (John Adams) before. When no one figured it out I kindly informed them that he played Mr. Feeny on "Boy Meets World." (Great show by the way)

1776 is still one of my favorite movies and still gets brought out often. Whenever I am having a gloomy day I can bring it out and it will cheer me up right away. It is a very funny yet smart film. It's a great way to teach younger kids and young adults about how there countries roots were planted. I strongly recommend 1776 for anyone. Great family viewing.

Rating:
Summary: More than a great drama, more than a great musical
Review: A friend of mine to whom I had lent the VHS version of "1776" a few years ago said the film was really good, except for all the times it got interrupted by singing. I don't agree with this, which is of course why I later bought the DVD version. But because "1776" defied convention, both on stage and on film, it can sometimes invite that kind of observation.

After "The Lees of Old Virginia," the film is devoid of music for more than 30 minutes. During that stretch, the film's credentials as a drama step to the fore, presenting, in a fascinating way, the Congressional struggle that threatens to derail the American colonies' efforts to break free of British control. People who don't like musicals, who have gotten hooked on the drama by this point, aren't really prepared when the next song, "But, Mr. Adams," makes its appearance. And so they groan. But for those who appreciate musicals, "1776's" dual virtues seem just right.

On the commentary track for this DVD, director Peter Hunt and screenwriter Peter Stone, who also developed the stage musical, point out that some people wondered if the original play needed music. But as Stone says, "The music lets you know at what kind of level the drama is." In other words, to the creators, the inherent drama of these events and the colorful nature of the characters demanded that they do more than just speak words -- this was stuff of almost operatic proportions. They had to sing.

Because it is a good drama, "1776" gives us three-dimensional characters, and doesn't try to whitewash them. For instance, it doesn't ignore the southern states' refusal to ratify the Declaration of Independence unless an anti-slavery clause was taken out; it even underlines the issue with the magnificent "Molasses to Rum to Slaves," sung by South Carolina's John Rutledge. The callous attitude of the wealthy, conservative anti-Revolution faction is illustrated with great wit and cleverness in "Cool, Cool, Considerate Men." The song was cut from the film's original theatrical release on the objections of then-President Richard Nixon, and seeing it here was a revelation for me. It's become one of my favorite moments in the score.

The DVD version of "1776" is director Peter Hunt's "restored director's cut." After the earlier laserdisc version had lifted the film's running time to 176 minutes, including an Overture and an Intermission, Hunt opted to remove those theatrical flourishes, as well as some underscoring that he didn't find appropriate. Having gone straight from a VCR to a DVD player, I missed the laserdisc era, so I wish the Overture and Intermission had been included here. Still, I very much enjoyed this disc.

Other favorite songs of mine include "Piddle, Twiddle and Resolve," "Mama, Look Sharp" (an ideal riposte to the uncaring attitude of "Cool, Cool, Considerate Men"), and "Is Anybody There?"

Rating:
Summary: A Hidden and Under-rated Treasure
Review: This film makes being "obnoxious and disliked" into a virtue. William Daniels' performance as John Adams is surely the steam that drives this film. Being a historical piece where we know the outcome up front, you'd better have a lot to keep the audience entertained during the ride and this film has plenty interesting sites and diversions to keep us engaged until we arrive at our "destination".

Catchy tunes and stong supporting performances by Howard DaSilva as Franklin and a youthful Ken Howard as Jefferson balance out the wild energy that William Daniels exudes as Adams.

Rating:
Summary: The Founding Fathers
Review: I quiet enjoy the musical movie 1776. It's a shame that it's often laughed at and some what forgotten in the musical history.
1776 was made during a very different time and was appreciated for it's work, when it was first released.
I honestly do think that its is a great introduction for kids who think history is boring.
All though the music isn't really what most kids enjoy these days. If you can get them to sit down and watch it. More then likely they'll learn at least a little something about America.
There are some moments that aren't historically accurate. Such as Martha Jefferson coming to see her husband Thomas.
However, if you take the time to watch/listen to the commentary with Peter Stone, and Peter Heart.
They explain why they created that moment.
The commentary is very inserting. You learn about the fact that many people in this movie. Were also originally in the live musical production. Other things such as why Howard Da Silva ( Dr. Benjamin Franklin-PA ) was missing when they did the original sound track for the movie.
The acting is surprising very good.
William Daniels is a wonderful John Adams ( MA. ) He really was a great choice for someone like Adams. Who was a character you had to dislike but at the same time like him.
I also really enjoyed the performance of Donald Madden ( John Dickinson-PA.)
Dickinson is the opponent. He is the force who does not welcome freedom. However, that didn't really make him a bad guy. It was just at the time he really didn't think the original thirteen colonies were ready for such a big step.
However, as you'll see. During the ending of the film. He does a remarkably heroic thing.
Even Judge James Wilson ( Emory Bass-PA ) character is better explained . Due to the fact that rejected scenes have be put back to it's proper place.
This really is a great start for any one who doesn't know a lot about history. The acting is excellent and the music grows on you.

Rating:
Summary: A Hidden and Under-rated Treasure
Review: This film makes being "obnoxious and disliked" into a virtue. William Daniels' performance as John Adams is surely the steam that drives this film. Being a historical piece where we know the outcome up front, you'd better have a lot to keep the audience entertained during the ride and this film has plenty interesting sites and diversions to keep us engaged until we arrive at our "destination".

Catchy tunes and stong supporting performances by Howard DaSilva as Franklin and a youthful Ken Howard as Jefferson balance out the wild energy that William Daniels exudes as Adams.

Rating:
Summary: Finally--independence from the wretched VHS release!
Review: "1776" has always been one of my favorite musicals. It broke no new ground, and had no songs that became "standards" but it made history come alive in a way few movies ever have, and presented the founding fathers not as gods but as all-too-human people plagued with all-too-human frailties but who somehow managed to overcome their regional and philosophical differences and forge a new nation together.

The movie version was extremely stagey and not particularly well directed, and its audio quality was atrocious, but it was more than made up by the solid quality of the play and the perfect casting. I simply can't imagine anyone other than William Daniels playing John Adams (indeed, he went on to play Adams' father in PBS's "The Adams Chronicles") or Howard Da Silva playing Franklin (just listen to the original Broadway recording, which features someone else playing Franklin, to see the difference--in fact, Da Silva did such a good job he went on to play Franklin in a series of "Bicentennial Minutes" in 1976)). Ken Howard, in pre-"White Shadow" days, plays a very staid Tom Jefferson.

What always nagged me about the movie version was how how much of the material from the original musical was left out. In addition, the VHS version was plagued with terrible sound, and the most horrible pan and scan I've ever seen in a movie (so bad that you can't tell who is speaking in certain scenes because they're off frame). The DVD finally solves most of the problems, restoring several key scenes. A restored section of debate on the resolution for Independence is welcome, and highlights the the jarring editing in the original release where these scenes were cut. Most importantly, the musical number "Cool, Considerate Men," which very lucidly explains the philosophy of the anti-independence bloc, is restored (apparently, producer Jack Warner caved in to Richard Nixon's objections to the scene). Even without Nixon's beef, the piece isn't well directed and drags the movie a bit, but within a home viewing context it really is welcome.

Most importantly, the movie is restored to wide-screen format, so the pan and scan is gone. This is most important for numbers such as "The Egg" and "Molasses to Rum." Unfortunately, the transfer to DVD highlights some of the film's flaws. The lighting is terrible in some places. The soundtrack quality remains tinny. Some of the editing is very jarring. But the technical flaws are overcome by the sheer quality of the performances.

Your enjoyment of the movie will be based solely on whether you like the play. Pauline Kael hated it; thinking that it burlesqued the founding fathers. I don't agree. Franklin was a hilarious, bawdy man. Adams was a hot-tempered egotist. "1776" portrays them better than any wooden PBS or educational film ever could.

Rating:
Summary: Old Cast Member's Opinion
Review: The highlight of my mostly unsuccessful career in musical theatre was appearing in the last 3 months of the original 60's Broadway production of this awe-inspiring musical and again in several touring companies as The Courier, ("Mama, Look Sharp"), so I'm prejudiced in its favor.

I first saw the movie version in a rough-cut private screening preview in Denver to which our touring cast was invited (you could still see splices between scenes!). I was struck by the shrillness of the sound track but attributed this tinny sound to the small projection room and looked forward to lush stereo orchestrations when it premiered in NYC at Radio City Music Hall some months later. Sadly, even the superb sound system of Radio City couldn't help that tinny sound. I'm about to buy the DVD to see "Cool, Cool Considerate Men" again: it was in the preview I saw all those years ago, but was cut from the final release.

But oh, what a wonderful movie! It's a history lesson that will make you proud of America and not bore your kids to death. If only our history books would show our kids the humanity and personalities of the Founding Fathers: that Franklin's hated (...) son was the Royal Governor of New Jersey, that John Adams was "obnoxious and disliked" and that the southern colonies' preservation of slavery almost succeeded in blocking our independence!

The author took much of the dialogue from Adams' diaries and letters to Abigail and once wrote that he had to cut some quotes for fear of being accused of hindsight, such as (and I paraphrase here): "Mark my words, Abagail. A hundred years from now there will be such a stink over this issue." (slavery). The Civil War was fought about 100 years later!

Buy it, rent it or borrow a friend's copy and try upping the bass control on your stereo system. Turn up the volume at the end and let the bells fill you with pride. They used to shake the theatre walls, coming from all sides and the rear. This musical is superb!

Rating:
Summary: More than a great drama, more than a great musical
Review: A friend of mine to whom I had lent the VHS version of "1776" a few years ago said the film was really good, except for all the times it got interrupted by singing. I don't agree with this, which is of course why I later bought the DVD version. But because "1776" defied convention, both on stage and on film, it can sometimes invite that kind of observation.

After "The Lees of Old Virginia," the film is devoid of music for more than 30 minutes. During that stretch, the film's credentials as a drama step to the fore, presenting, in a fascinating way, the Congressional struggle that threatens to derail the American colonies' efforts to break free of British control. People who don't like musicals, who have gotten hooked on the drama by this point, aren't really prepared when the next song, "But, Mr. Adams," makes its appearance. And so they groan. But for those who appreciate musicals, "1776's" dual virtues seem just right.

On the commentary track for this DVD, director Peter Hunt and screenwriter Peter Stone, who also developed the stage musical, point out that some people wondered if the original play needed music. But as Stone says, "The music lets you know at what kind of level the drama is." In other words, to the creators, the inherent drama of these events and the colorful nature of the characters demanded that they do more than just speak words -- this was stuff of almost operatic proportions. They had to sing.

Because it is a good drama, "1776" gives us three-dimensional characters, and doesn't try to whitewash them. For instance, it doesn't ignore the southern states' refusal to ratify the Declaration of Independence unless an anti-slavery clause was taken out; it even underlines the issue with the magnificent "Molasses to Rum to Slaves," sung by South Carolina's John Rutledge. The callous attitude of the wealthy, conservative anti-Revolution faction is illustrated with great wit and cleverness in "Cool, Cool, Considerate Men." The song was cut from the film's original theatrical release on the objections of then-President Richard Nixon, and seeing it here was a revelation for me. It's become one of my favorite moments in the score.

The DVD version of "1776" is director Peter Hunt's "restored director's cut." After the earlier laserdisc version had lifted the film's running time to 176 minutes, including an Overture and an Intermission, Hunt opted to remove those theatrical flourishes, as well as some underscoring that he didn't find appropriate. Having gone straight from a VCR to a DVD player, I missed the laserdisc era, so I wish the Overture and Intermission had been included here. Still, I very much enjoyed this disc.

Other favorite songs of mine include "Piddle, Twiddle and Resolve," "Mama, Look Sharp" (an ideal riposte to the uncaring attitude of "Cool, Cool, Considerate Men"), and "Is Anybody There?"