1776 (Restored Director's Cut)

My first recorded version of this movie was taped off of a local television station that had drastically edited it for length and content. When I finally got around to buying the VHS version of 1776, I was amazed at what had been left out, particularly when it came to the earthier dialogue. Imagine my reaction to the new DVD director's cut edition of this musical; it was like watching a completely new movie. Bridging scenes that had been edited out now provide a nearly seamless narrative flow, and the musical number "Cool, Considerate Men" has been restored, providing for greater balance between the conservatives and radicals in Congress.

The cast, a number of whom reprise their roles from the Broadway production, is nearly flawless. William Daniels IS John Adams, hard-headed, driven, passionate, "obnoxious and disliked". Howard da Silva is equally effective as Benjamin Franklin, elder statesman and earthy man-of-the-world, while the rest of the actors do very well by their characters. Of necessity, the film's emphasis is on Congress, and therefore on the male of the species; women are limited to two roles--Martha Jefferson, played by Blythe Danner, and Abigail Adams, played by Virginia Vestoff. Of Danner's role, there is little to say beyond the fact that the actress is a luminous screen presence. Vestoff, on the other hand, has a rather more substantial role as John Adams's wife, confidant, and sounding board. The film effectively portrays the correspondence between John and Abigail, a partnership that was, in many ways, remarkable in American history.

Director Peter Hunt keeps things moving along at a lively pace, propelled by the music of Sherman Edwards, who also wrote the lyrics. It's hard to pick a favorite song, but two stand out in my mind--the chilling "Molasses to Rum to Slaves" and the poignant "Mamma, Look Sharp". The former underlines the flawed nature of the American Experiment--that a new nation established on the principle that "all men are created equal" would also keep hundreds of thousands of people in chains. The latter song brings home the fact that while Congress engages in endless debates, men (and boys) are dying on the field of battle.

I could dwell at some length on the historical inaccuracies embodied in this movie--the character of Judge Wilson, for one, and that of Richard Henry Lee, for another. However, purism aside, what 1776 makes clear is just what a close run thing independence really was, that there was, indeed, a significant proportion of Americans (and their representatives) who wished to remain loyal to the British crown. Better yet, the Founding Fathers are portrayed mot as marble men, but as the passionate, flawed, flesh-and-blood individuals they were.


Three Cheers and Fireworks for 1776!   February 4, 1999
45 out of 47 found this review helpful

I was absolutely thrilled to see this movie available for sale on Amazon.com! My family and I have nearly worn out a very poor recording made off television in 1984. Suffice to say, I absolutely love this film. The book by Peter Stone manages to make a thriller out of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Though we all know the ending, the tension and suspense built up through the film leave that ending very much in doubt until the last moment. The cast, most of whom repeat their Broadway roles, are excellent without exception. William Daniels, a perennial favorite of mine, captures the historical Adams to a T -- a man long on passion, if short on people skills. Howard daSilva, to my mind, IS Franklin. Hard to credit these days -- but true -- da Silva was almost denied the Broadway role because of having been targeted by Senator McCarthy's Committee on Unamerican Activities. Then, to top it all off, he had a heart attack right before the opening and was replaced on the cast album. So it's all the more wonderful that his performance lives on in video! Ken Howard is adorable as Jefferson, as is Blythe Danner as his wife, Martha. She, by the way, was one of the few newcomers in the film, replacing Betty Buckley. Of the other supporting characters, the absolute standout is John Cullom. As Routledge, delegate to the Congress from South Carolina, he confronts Adams on the anti-slavery clause in the draft document, threatening to sink the entire effort if the clause is not deleted. His song, "Molasses to Rum to Slaves," a chilling portrayal of the slave trade, is a show-stopper. Sherman Edwards' score may be a bit short on "hum-ability" but it is a near-perfect blend of "period" and contemporary -- no mean feat! True, the history in the fim is not 100% accurate, but it's close. What the film does do, which to me is more important, is to give life and humanity to our founding fathers -- warts, foibles and all. And it gives us all a real sense of what it was like to sit in that room during those hot days in Philadelphia when our nation nearly wasn't born!


My Favorite Movie of All Time!   April 1, 2001
Judy Morris (Brick, NJ USA)
44 out of 45 found this review helpful

If it was possible, I would give this movie 100 stars! This movie got me into the American Revolution, and the men behind it with its almost perfect representations of our Founding Fathers. Though everyone knows the story of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, '1776' adds so much more detail and insight into the event. William Daniels is a perfect John Adams...his dogged determination for indpendence are wonderfully portrayed. John Cullum is a chilling Edward Rutledge, and his song 'Molasses to Rum', is a painfully accurate picture of the slave trade. Howard da Silva and Ken Howard are both notable as Franklin and Jefferson, but my favorite actor has to be Ronald Holgate as Richard Henry Lee. He gives such an energetic and humorous performance, and 'The Lees of Old VA' is probably my favorite scene in the movie. '1776' is great for both history buffs and casual viewers. It's really an experience to see how it probably really was in Philadelphia that summer, and it gives so much more body to the men who created our nation. A great movie!!!


"Will someone...   July 4, 2002
Kathy (Oak Park, IL)
29 out of 31 found this review helpful

One of my favorite movies is finally available on DVD, and all I can wonder is, "What took so long?"

The director (of both the Broadway production and the film) was able to restore more than 25 minutes that had been sliced away by the producer, Jack Warner, immediately before the film's release, so we can now see the film as he intended it to be seen. Most of the moments restored are relatively minor, but there are extended passages that reflect many of the arguments both for and against independence that Warner viewed as "too political," as well as the long-lost "Cool, Considerate Men" number cut because of Pres. Nixon's protest of the song's portrayal of conservatives.

Both the director and the writer of both movie and play were brought in for the commentary for this extended edition, and they just don't stop talking! However, there are quite long stretches when all that's being said is the writer summing up the plot and reciting some lines along with the actor(s) (about 25-30 percent of the commentary is just this, unfortunately). Both participants do have some very interesting stories to relate, mostly about the production of the play (Howard Da Silva was rather incorrigible and stubborn), and the director does contribute many details about the mechanics of filming the long shots throughout the movie. They do acknowledge the recent popularity of John Adams, and (correctly, IMO) trace much of this interest back to their play/movie.

Another plus are screen tests of five of the Broadway stars that were cast in the movie (most of the cast recreated their roles in this film, at Warner's request), as well as the original teaser trailer.

The best extra of this entire disc, though, is the fact that it is in widescreen! I purchased the video last year, and was highly disappointed that it was only available in pan&scan, which really wrecks this movie's rhythm and flow. It was a true delight to actually see Jefferson, Franklin, and Adams all in the same shot during "The Egg" number.

The only problems that I could see with the print used for this transfer was white spotting (particularly obvious during the darker moments, especially "Mama, Look Sharp" and "Is Anybody There?") and a few moments of prismatic lighting at the edge of the frame during an early Congressional chamber scene.

This movie spearheaded my lifelong fascination with the Adams family and the Revolutionary War, and I am just thrilled that it is now available in this fantastic form!