1776 (1972)

Director:

Peter H. Hunt

Writers:

Sherman Edwards (play)
Peter Stone (play)

Release Date:

17 November 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Family | History | Musical

Plot:

The film version of the Broadway musical comedy of the same name. In the days leading up to July 4, 1776...

Plot Keywords:

Thomas Jefferson | Broadway Musical | George Washington | Declaration Of Independence | John Adams

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 nomination

Cast

William Daniels	...	John Adams (MA)
Howard Da Silva	...	Dr. Benjamin Franklin (PA)
Ken Howard	...	Thomas Jefferson (VA)
Donald Madden	...	John Dickinson (PA)
John Cullum	...	Edward Rutledge (SC)
Roy Poole	...	Stephen Hopkins (RI)
David Ford	...	Congressional President John Hancock (MA)
Ron Holgate	...	Richard Henry Lee (VA)
Ray Middleton	...	Col. Thomas McKean (DE)
William Hansen	...	Caesar Rodney (DE)
Blythe Danner	...	Martha Jefferson
Virginia Vestoff	...	Abigail Adams
Emory Bass	...	Judge James Wilson (PA)
Ralston Hill	...	Congressional Secretary Charles Thomson
Howard Caine	...	Lewis Morris (NY)

MPAA:

Rated PG for language. (edited version)

Runtime:

142 min | 168 min (director's cut) | 180 min (Laserdisc version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:G | USA:PG (longer video version) | Singapore:PG

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The 176 minute extended version is available on the laserdisc and DVD. It contains 35 minutes cut from the original videotape release, including the song Cool, Considerate Men.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Contrary to what is portrayed in the Broadway musical and the film, John Adams and Richard Henry Lee had a healthy admiration and respect for one another.

Quotes:

Hopkins: Dear Sir, You are without any doubt a rogue, a rascal, a villain, a thief, a scoundrel and a mean, dirty, stinking, sniveling, sneaking, pimping, pocket-picking, thrice double damn no good son of a bitch.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Playing Columbine (2008)

Soundtrack:

He Plays the Violin

Finally, a good musical!

*** 1/2

Starring: William Daniels, Howard DeSilva, Ken Howard, and Blythe Danner.

There haven't been many good musicals at all (with the exception of Grease) so I decided to take the chance and rent 1776. I've heard a good rap from many critics so why not? After seeing this movie, really why not? The movie was excellent. It's a historical musical (what are the odds?) about all the signers of the Declaration of Independence. William Daniels portrays the second U.S. president, John Adams. DeSilva portrays Benjamin Franklin. Howard portrays our 3rd president, Thomas Jefferson. Danner, who looks exactly like her daughter Gwyneth Paltrow, portrays Jefferson's wife Martha Wilkes Jefferson. This movie is a must see, and finally a good musical since Grease.