IMDb RATING
7.6/10
9.8K
YOUR RATING
A musical retelling of the American Revolution's political struggle in the Continental Congress to declare independence.A musical retelling of the American Revolution's political struggle in the Continental Congress to declare independence.A musical retelling of the American Revolution's political struggle in the Continental Congress to declare independence.
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
9.8K
YOUR RATING
- Peter Stone(book: play)
- Sherman Edwards(based on a conception of)
- Stars
- Peter Stone(book: play)
- Sherman Edwards(based on a conception of)
- Stars
- Peter Stone(book: play) (screenplay)
- Sherman Edwards(based on a conception of)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaIn an interview in TV Guide in the 1970's, Ken Howard related that he was rehearsing some of his lines from the play aloud while traveling on an airplane. The inflammatory revolutionary rhetoric caused the plane's crew to summon the police and he was questioned by the authorities when the plane landed.
- GoofsSouth Carolina was not resistant to the notion of independence, far from it. In fact, South Carolina had rewritten its constitution in 1774, removing all references to Royal Authority.
- Quotes
John Adams: I have come to the conclusion that one useless man is called a disgrace; that two are called a law firm, and that three or more become a Congress! And by God, I have had this Congress! For ten years, King George and his Parliament have gulled, cullied, and diddled these colonies with their illegal taxes! Stamp Acts, Townshend Acts, Sugar Acts, Tea Acts! And when we dared stand up like men, they have stopped our trade, seized our ships, blockaded our ports, burned our towns, and spilled our BLOOD! And still, this Congress refuses to grant ANY of my proposals on independence, even so much as the courtesty of open debate! Good God, what in hell are you waiting for?
- Crazy creditsThe theatrical version has no credits at the beginning other than "Columbia Pictures presents" and the film's title. The Director's Cut and the extended laserdisc edition includes a main title sequence at the opening.
- Alternate versionsThe studio cut the film heavily prior to its release. Released theatrically at 141 minutes; laserdisc reissue is 180 minutes and features deleted footage, alternate takes for certain scenes, and an additional musical number titled "Cool Considerate Men." This version also includes an overture and intermission. According to the laserdisc jacket, the original film elements of the extended version were destroyed; thus the deleted scenes were taken from whatever Columbia could find, mostly old, misused prints (which leads to a decrease in picture and sound quality whenever the film transitions from the theatrical version to the deleted footage). One deleted scene was taken from a black-and-white print and was presented as such.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Playing Columbine (2008)
Review
Featured review
Excellent, and remarkably accurate to history!
As a person who has gained a college degree in History, I first fell in love with this movie when I saw it as the stage play with the Broadway cast in my junior year in high school, in 1976. The movie is surprisingly accurate with direct quotations from key congressional members, such as Adams, Franklin and Jefferson as borne out in David McCullough's "John Adams." Yes, there were a few licenses taken with history such as the dramatic scene with Wilson,Dickinson, and Franklin when Wilson is forced to decide the entire question of independence on his vote. But it is these few licenses that bring out the true seriousness of the founding of our nation. One particular scene that I am glad was restored from Jack L. Warner's shameful caving in to Richard Nixon is the piece "Cool, Cool, Considerate Men." That piece clearly fleshed out the Conservative's viewpoint in Congress. William Daniels is perfect for the part of John Adams. His Boston twang (even though he was born in New York) is excellent. One cast change that I am glad they made is putting Blythe Danner in the role of Martha Jefferson in the movie version, in place of Betty Buckley. No offense to Ms. Buckley, I love her as an actress in her roles, but her voice comes across too nasal and strident in her singing of Tom's qualities. (I own the stage play LP to make this comparison) The rest of the cast is perfect. Donald Madden was excellent as John Dickinson, even if you can forgive his singing voice in "Cool, Considerate Men." I will always think of Howard Da Silva and Ken Howard as Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, respectively. All in all, it is a movie that should be seen by everyone in their High School History or Civics class.
helpful•643
- cbruble
- Dec 21, 2004
Details
Box office
- 2 hours 21 minutes
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