1776 - The musical / movie is on TV tonite!

[Imzadi]

1776 is one of my favorite musicals & movies. I get all patriotic watching it.

It's about what it took for this country to get our independence. The steadfastness of our forefathers - especially that obnoxious & disliked John Adams.

"Sit down John! Sit down John. For God's sake, John sit down!"

It's on tonite night, after the fireworks are all over.

On the TCM Channel (Turner Classic Movies) at 1:30am EDT.
(Technically it's July 5th on the DVR. But, I'll still be up at that time, not having gone to sleep, so I consider it part of July 4th - if that makes any sense? )

 

[karly05]

Yes! I've got my DVR set up. Everything I know about the Declaration of Independence I learned from "1776." It's a great show; everybody watch!

 

[superme80]

I love that movie! Mr. Feeney is John Adams! Cracks me up every time!!!!!

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

1776 is one of my favorite musicals & movies. I get all patriotic watching it.

It's about what it took for this country to get our independence. The steadfastness of our forefathers - especially that obnoxious & disliked John Adams.

"Sit down John! Sit down John. For God's sake, John sit down!"

It's on tomorrow night, after the fireworks are all over.

On the TCM Channel (Turner Classic Movies) at 1:30am EDT.
(Technically it's July 5th. But, I'll still be up at that time, not having gone to sleep so I consider it part of July 4th - if that makes any sense? )

I hate to ask but ate you sure I just set the dvr and it said 12:30

 

[plutotek]

You're kidding, right??? It's all about the proper use of saltpeter!!

 

[erincon23]

Found it -thanks! I love that movie. Have you watched the miniseries done a couple of years ago about John Adams? That was spectacular. I had DH buy it for me for Christmas (and the theme music was terrific!).

 

[Imzadi]

You're kidding, right??? It's all about the proper use of saltpeter!!

Excuse me! It was all about PINS!

Who'da thunk winning the war had to do with the negotiation of sewing pins?

Found it -thanks! I love that movie. Have you watched the miniseries done a couple of years ago about John Adams? That was spectacular. I had DH buy it for me for Christmas (and the theme music was terrific!).

No, unfortunately, by the time I found out about it, it was too far along the miniseries to watch it.

 

[luvgoing2disney]

I have always enjoyed the stage version much more than the film version. The film looks dated to me and I don't mean colonial, just from a production angle. Still it is a wonderful story and it reminds us how close we came to NOT becoming this country.

 

[Feralpeg]

Fortunately, I have it on DVD. We watch it every 4th of July. It's an amazing movie and a great teaching tool!

 

[Imzadi]

I have always enjoyed the stage version much more than the film version. The film looks dated to me and I don't mean colonial, just from a production angle. Still it is a wonderful story and it reminds us how close we came to NOT becoming this country.

I saw the stage version on Broadway several years ago. Brent Spiner, (who plays Data, on Star Trek: The Next Generation,) played John Adams. Unfortunately, he played John really harsh & unlikable. It makes me appreciate the movie more as William Daniels really did play John Adams with some charm and soft moments.

 

[luvgoing2disney]

I admire the performances as it was almost if not the entire original Broadway cast that agreed to be in the film. That is something almost unheard of-- and Jack Warner did a masterful job in accomplishing this. It is just that, to me, it has almost a made for TV movie feel to it. I especially think of that when watching the segment with Richard Lee is sent to Virginia to get support for the declaration.

BTW that scene was filmed around a fountain constructed for the film. The same fountain would be used years later in the opening of a little sitcom called "Friends" Maybe you've heard of it!

 

[minkydog]

I saw the stage version on Broadway several years ago. Brent Spiner, (who plays Data, on Star Trek: The Next Generation,) played John Adams. Unfortunately, he played John really harsh & unlikable. It makes me appreciate the movie more as William Daniels really did play John Adams with some charm and soft moments.

IIRC, John Adams was considered to be stiff-spined and unlikeable in his day.

 

[Imzadi]

BTW that scene was filmed around a fountain constructed for the film. The same fountain would be used years later in the opening of a little sitcom called "Friends" Maybe you've heard of it!

Wow! I didn't know that!

IIRC, John Adams was considered to be stiff-spined and unlikeable in his day.

Yes, but when you are watching a 2+ hour show/movie, and that person is the star of the show, there should have been a little artistic license. You want to like the character, and be rooting for him to succeed. If that person is the villain instead, he should be the villain you love to hate.

At the end of the Broadway show, I felt pummeled for two hours. Even I wanted him to sit down & shut up. Unfortunately, Brent Spiner played no other notes. Part of the reasons the show has the scenes with Abigail Adams and and him dancing with Martha Washington is to show some of his charm & a gentler side for the audience to like.

 

[BillSears]

Fortunately, I have it on DVD. We watch it every 4th of July. It's an amazing movie and a great teaching tool!

Same here. I'll be watching it tomorrow while I make potato salad for the cookout. It's my tradition every year.

 

[NMAmy]

It's one of my favorites! Thanks for the heads up!

 

[donac]

I can't believe that they are putting it on at 1:30 in the morning. I love this movie and do have it on DVD so I will be watching it while I am sewing this afternoon after we cut lawns.

I have seen a couple of local theater groups. Yes John is rough but he does have a softer side that comes out in the scenes between John and Abigail. I have been reading their letters and he was rough but did have a softer side that comes out in his letters.

 

[daannzzz]

I have never seen this before. I was 16 in 1972 and remember it coming out. I loved musicals (still do) but for some reason I wasn't interested in that one. We watched it in HD on our 80" TV last night. It is one of the very few movies I think would be improved by cutting out all the songs! I thought three of the songs were pretty good but the others were so bland I do not remember them already. But the rest of the movie was awesome. I thought it was very entertaining the way they presented it.

 

[Imzadi]

I have never seen this before. I was 16 in 1972 and remember it coming out. I loved musicals (still do) but for some reason I wasn't interested in that one. We watched it in HP on out 80" TV last night. It is one of the very few movies I think would be improved by cutting out all the songs! I thought three of the songs were pretty good but the others were so bland I do not remember them already. But the rest of the movie was awesome. I thought it was very entertaining the way they presented it.

Just kidding! I do think a few songs could be cut. I can't stand Molasses to Rum. It is long, slow and painful. George Washington's letter carrier's song could be cut too. But, I also understand why they are there. They tell about pivotal points in our history.

 

[Imzadi]

A few fun & interesting tidbits from William Daniels' IMDb.com bio page:

"Nominated for a Tony as Supporting Actor in a Musical for his lead role of John Adams in the 1969 musical "1776." He could not be nominated for lead actor because he did not then have star billing (i.e., name above the title). Adams is clearly the lead role in 1776 (1972), so Daniels declined the nomination.

Worked conscientiously to lose the Brooklyn accent he grew up with, so that he could obtain a wider range of roles. His adopted accent is close to the Boston dialect he used as Dr. Mark Craig on "St. Elsewhere" (1982).

One episode of "St. Elsewhere" (1982) called for Dr. and Mrs. Craig to visit Philadelphia. Inspired by returning to Independence Square, he sang a few lines of the song, "Sit Down, John" from 1776 (1972). The moment was included in the episode."

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

Funny, I just commented to DH that "my Fourth of July movie" was not going to be on! Didn't look at the wee hours of the morning.
It has been a favorite since seeing it on Broadway when I was in college. William Daniels was even better in person!