1776: Restored Director's Cut
"A wonderfully happy meeting of our distinct American history with that peculiarly American dramatic forum: the musical comedy." -Wall Street Journal
1776 is a delightful musical celebration of the founding of the United States of America based on the award-winning Broadway production. The story centers around the familiar historical characters as they organize a movement for independence from Mother England: the tough unyielding John Adams (William Daniels); the charming and pragmatic Benjamin Franklin (Howard Da Silva); the brilliant young Thomas Jefferson (Ken Howard), who is chosen to write the Declaration of Independence even as he longs for the company of his new bride Martha (Blythe Danner); and the rest of the Continental Congress. All events lead up to that most significant date July 4, 1776 when the Declaration was signed. Wonderful songs combined with history make this excellent family viewing.
Member Reviews
Great ambience; worth watching twice - esperanto41
As a hybrid of drama, comedy, and musical, this film succeeds admirably, and conveys a realistic sense of the ambience of the Congress in the year 1776. Whatever the artistic license and historical abbreviations, the movie gives one a "you are there" sense of the political drama and maneuvering which led to the Declaration of Independence.
I for one don't count musicals among my favorite genres, but at least the songs here are few and far between. Most of them are mediocre, IMHO, except for a very dramatic, vividly orchestrated, and well-sung pro-slavery piece, "Molasses to Rum", by the South Carolina delegate, Rutledge. It is remarkable to watch the movie's portrayal of how Ben Franklin and others sold out the anti-slavery cause and helped take out the anti-slavery clause of the Declaration, in order to placate the southern states.
Let me remind viewers again, as I often do, to use the English subtitles, to help with dialogue and song lyrics. Also, the "special feature" on the DVD is a complete re-run of this very long movie, with a voice-over discussion by the director and writer. Since they drown out the dialogue, you can still read the subtitles. We learn, for example, that President Nixon, after a private showing, had prevailed upon the producer to remove an anti-conservative song, which segment was to be destroyed. The director many years later recovered that film, and restored it to this edition of "1776" along with other outtakes.
The newly restored "1776" is worth watching twice -- or even three times if you sit through the special-feature discussion.Absolutely Brilliant - revsdd
1776 ranks as one of my absolute favourite movies of all time. By turns funny, dramatic and even romantic, this is a brilliant presentation of the debates and events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Although there are many things I like about this movie, what strikes me most powerfully is the performance of William Daniels as John Adams. He was absolutely superb in the role, offering a far more complex portrayal of Adams than we often get from the historical record. Egotistical and arrogant yes - or, as various characters in the movie repeatedly remind us, "obnoxious and disliked" - Adams is also presented as a passionate man - passionate about the cause of American independence and passionately in love with his wife Abigail, without whom he is terribly lonely in Philadelphia. Great work from Daniels. The romance of the movie comes largely from Daniels and Virginia Vestoff as Abigail, although the passion of Jefferson (Ken Howard) and his wife Martha (Blythe Danner) is also on display. Most of the laughs in the movie are offered by Howard Da Silva's wonderful portrayal of Benjamin Franklin, and his interactions with Adams, Jefferson at. al. The drama of the debate surrounding the Declaration is kept in historical context with the reading of dispatches from George Washington, which describe the apparently hopeless situation of the Continental Army. There is also a very powerful scene headed up by John Cullum as Edward Rutledge of South Carolina demanding the removal of anti-slavery language from the Declaration and pointing out the North's complicity in "the triangle trade." There's few weaknesses to be found here. Perhaps Ken Howard's singing wasn't quite up to par with that of the rest of the cast, but really that's a minor point in a wonderful movie.loved it, after seeing it on Broadway - anneoftheisland
I loved this movie, because I loved the Broadway show in 1970, and had not seen the movie until now (2008). It features the cast members I remember so well, especially William Daniels as the "obnoxious and disliked" John Adams. I don't care if they messed with American history-- they brought it to life in a very entertaining way. At the end, as the Liberty Bell was tolling, I was moved to be proud of my birth country, even though I am glad to be Canadian now.
The addition of Martha Jefferson did seem unnecessary, though it was fun to see Blythe Danner, whom I have also seen onstage.
I think anyone would enjoy this film as a humanization of a time in history, historical fiction perhaps. I would have liked to see it during American history studies in school, and maybe it's used there now. It certainly makes Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson seem like real people in a way no book ever did. Some of the songs, especially the opening number and "But Mr. Adams", are funny, too.
Member Reviews
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Great ambience; worth watching twice - esperanto41
As a hybrid of drama, comedy, and musical, this film succeeds admirably, and conveys a realistic sense of the ambience of the Congress in the year 1776. Whatever the artistic license and historical abbreviations, the movie gives one a "you are there" sense ...Absolutely Brilliant - revsdd
1776 ranks as one of my absolute favourite movies of all time. By turns funny, dramatic and even romantic, this is a brilliant presentation of the debates and events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Although there are many ...loved it, after seeing it on Broadway - anneoftheisland
I loved this movie, because I loved the Broadway show in 1970, and had not seen the movie until now (2008). It features the cast members I remember so well, especially William Daniels as the "obnoxious and disliked" John Adams. I don't care if they messed ...