IMDb > 1776 (1972)
1776
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Overview

User Rating:
7.0/10   3,878 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 6% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Peter H. Hunt
Writers:
Sherman Edwards (play)
Peter Stone (play)
more
Contact:
View company contact information for 1776 on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
17 November 1972 (USA) more
Plot:
The film version of the Broadway musical comedy of the same name. In the days leading up to July 4, 1776... more | full synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
'Charade' Writer Dead
 (From WENN. 30 April 2003)

User Comments:
INTELLIGENT,WITTY AND TUNEFUL. more (113 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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Additional Details

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 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
USA:G | USA:PG (longer video version) | Singapore:PG

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The final scene shows the members of Congress being called individually to come forward in order to sign the Declaration of Independence while the camera trucks back, or zooms out. The characters' final positions are an approximation of John Trumbull's famous painting, The Declaration of Independence. The actual painting shows the congressional chamber from the front behind Hancock's desk while the scene in the movie is from the rear of the chamber, and therefore the characters appear reversed with the five members of Congress who were assigned to the committee to write the Declaration on the right of the desk as opposed to the left. Far fewer of the actual number of delegates, who were in Congress, are represented in the movie, but the resemblance to the painting is unmistakable including the delegate sitting with one leg crossed over another. more
Goofs:
Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Caesar Rodney is depicted as a short man, but he was famously tall and thin. more
Quotes:
John Adams: Franklin, where in God's name have you been?
Dr. Benjamin Franklin: Right here, John, being preserved for posterity. Do you like it?
[John walks around to look at the painting]
John Adams: It stinks.
Dr. Benjamin Franklin: As ever, the soul of tact.
John Adams: Well, the man's no Botticelli.
Dr. Benjamin Franklin: And the subject's no Venus.
John Adams: Franklin, where were you when I needed you? You should have heard what I suffered in there.
Dr. Benjamin Franklin: Oh, I heard, all right. Along with the rest of Philadelphia. Lord, your voice is piercing, John.
John Adams: Well, I just wish to Heaven my arguments were.
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Playing Columbine (2008) more
Soundtrack:
Finale more

FAQ

Were Witherspoon and the New Jersey delegates really late because Franklin's son was arrested?
Is "1776" accurate?
Who is Botticelli?
more
26 out of 29 people found the following comment useful.
INTELLIGENT,WITTY AND TUNEFUL., 24 August 1999
9/10
Author: ALAN MOUNT from CARDIFF, WALES

This movie scarcely saw the light of day in Britain and has not been seen on T.V. there for 20 years and this is their loss as this intelligent,witty and tuneful musical is up there with the best of its genre. Okay,so no-one goes round whistling these tunes like they do for the likes of Rodgers and Hammerstein and Lerner and Loewe but the music and lyrics provided for "1776" work like a dream and all are zestfully performed.As for the cast,you imagine that if you were to travel back in time these 200 years and more and asked the likes of Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin to sing to you,this is what they would have sounded like and these are the words they would have sung.William Daniels,short in stature but long in charisma was perfect here as John Adams.A shame that the big screen did not make greater subsequent use of this gifted performer.Full marks to all of those involved.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (113 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for 1776 (1972)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
The stick fight edimeo25
If 'He Plays the Violin' was cut... edimeo25
What's factual and what isn't in the movie. BKRudy-1
Which 1776 song is your favorite? tigerprincess2024
Donald Madden Site andiweaves
Nixon offended by 'Cool, Considerate Men' psybok
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