1776 (1972)

The film version of the Broadway musical comedy of the same name. In the days leading up to July 4, 1776, Continental Congressmen John Adams and Benjamin Franklin coerce Thomas Jefferson ... See full summary »

Director:

Peter H. Hunt

Writers:

Sherman Edwards (play), Peter Stone (play),

Stars:

William Daniels, Howard Da Silva, Ken Howard

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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)

Storyline

The film version of the Broadway musical comedy of the same name. In the days leading up to July 4, 1776, Continental Congressmen John Adams and Benjamin Franklin coerce Thomas Jefferson into writing the Declaration of Independence as a delaying tactic as they try to persuade the American colonies to support a resolution on independence. As George Washington sends depressing messages describing one military disaster after another, the businessmen, landowners and slave holders in Congress all stand in the way of the Declaration, and a single "nay" vote will forever end the question of independence. Large portions of spoken and sung dialog are taken directly from the letters and memoirs of the actual participants.

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Plot Keywords:

pennsylvania | declaration of independence | debate | richard henry lee | continental congress | 

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Genres:

Drama | Family | History | Musical

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 November 1972 (USA)

Also Known As:

1776 - Rebellion und Liebe

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

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

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

On the laserdisc commentary, director Peter H. Hunt says that originally he had not planned to cast Howard Da Silva as Benjamin Franklin in the film version, because of how difficult the actor had been during the Broadway run of the musical. However, he relented and let Da Silva reprise his stage role in the film when the actor promised to cooperate and begged to play Ben Franklin in the movie as a legacy to his grandchildren.

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Goofs

Outside Independence Hall, the street is supposedly a dirt street, yet when the courier arrives on his horse, when Richard Henry Lee arrives on his horse, and when the "cool considerate men" drive away in their coaches, no dirt is kicked up by any of the horses' hooves. The "dirt" is artificial.

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Quotes

John Adams: Abigail, I'm very lonely.
Abigail: Are you, John? As long as you're sending for wives, why not send for your own?
John Adams: Oh, don't be unreasonable, Madam!
Abigail: Oh, now I'm unreasonable? You must add that to your list.
John Adams: List? What list?
Abigail: The catalogue of my faults you included in your last letter.
John Adams: They were fondly intended, Madam!
Abigail: Indeed? That I play at cards badly?
John Adams: An endearment.
Abigail: That my posture is crooked?
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)

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Soundtracks

"Yours, Yours, Yours"
Music and Lyrics by Sherman Edwards
Performed by William Daniels and Virginia Vestoff

User Reviews

WONDERFUL American FILM!

The NYC Broadway Musical was a great experience for me to have seen. However for some reason I did not see the film version until it was shown in Arcola, Illinois on a 4th of July celebration! William Daniels (John Adams)"Her Alibi",'89, gave a great performance

along with Howard Da Silva(Dr. Benjamin Franklin),"The Great Gatsby",'74 who looked exactly like the many pictures of Ben Franklin. Ken Howard,(Thomas Jefferson),"At First Sight",'99, gave all his fellow Planner's of the Declaration of Independence a very hard time, playing a violin and enjoying the pleasures of romance with his wife. It is a wonder the Declaration was ever accomplished! The music and singing was very comical among the politicians. This is a great outstanding American FILM which all Americans can enjoy seeing every 4th of July for many generations!