Happy Independence Day everyone! In keeping with the tradition I have started two years ago, I will review a patriotic movie for today. Boy, do I have one for you. When I was in Eighth Grade, my history class saw a movie called “1776: A Musical,” released in 1972. I think that I will review that for today. Bear in mind, I haven’t seen this movie since then, but I still remember it and I think it was a good movie.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat started their review off by saying, “Americans have a propensity for getting chummy with heroic figures of the past. 1776, a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical and a film directed by Peter H. Hunt, trades on that peculiar tendency.”
The Founding Fathers spend three months debating over including something in the Declaration of Independence that is against slavery or not. In writer Peter Stone’s stylish scenario for that period, John Adams, played by Mr. George Feeny from “Boys Meet World” and occasionally in “Girl Meets World” and the voice of KITT from “Knight Rider,” William Daniels is described by Brussat as “an officious, puritanical rebel who drove the Second Constitutional Congress to take action on secession from England.” Benjamin Franklin, played by Howard Da Silva, is a wise and complicated diplomat with a liking for food and pretty girls (there’s a part where he does a dance with Thomas Jefferson’s wife, played by Blythe Danner). Thomas Jefferson, played by Ken Howard, comes in as a scholarly Southern lord who is forced to write the Declaration of Independence when no one else wants to.
Most of the time, “1776” is a lightly amusing historical lesson. Part show and part historical comedy, the film’s two best musical numbers are “The Lees of Old Virginia,” a lighthearted tribute to a famed old American family, and “Sit Down John,” a number sung by the members of Congress when they wear out of Adams’ repeated lectures. “1776” is a better-than-average family film clear to become a 4th of July holiday essential.
Brussat ended their review by mentioning, “The new DVD release is a restored "director's cut" containing the vision of Peter Hunt. He is also featured on the best extra, an audio commentary with screenwriter Peter Stone.”
In the end, if you haven’t seen this movie, definitely give it a chance and watch it, especially if you have kids around. Bear in mind, John Adams does swear somewhat in this since he was known to have a short temper. Actually, Benjamin Franklin actually says a profane word a couple of times as well, especially when he talks about his son. Maybe if you have teenaged kids, than they can watch this, but not if they are in Elementary school, since they should not hear swear words.
Well, Happy Independence Day once again. Go out and enjoy tonight by watching fireworks and celebrating with everyone about the importance of today. Stay tuned next Friday for my continuation of “Terminator Month.”
Where did you get the idea that "1776" won a Pulitzer?? I see absolutely no information anywhere on the web tot corroborate that claim.
ReplyDeleteFrederic and Mary Ann Brussat said that it won a Pulitzer, I didn't, but according to eBay, their DVDs incorrectly state it won a Pulitzer
DeleteI'm in contact with Mary Ann Brussat to have her correct this misinformation. So far, it's still there. I will keep trying. I contacted Ebay about it and was told they get their information from the "UPC Code" over which they have no control. I haven't been able to track down the source of this "UPC Code", but it's worth noting that DVDs of "1776" on Amazon do *not* make this false claim. To verify that 1776 did *not* win a Pulitzer, you can easily search the Pulitzer Prize website yourself: http://www.pulitzer.org/search/1776
ReplyDelete... and see that only 3 items are found, none of which are 1776 (the musical.
The text on Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat's site has been corrected to read "Tony Award Winning Musical", which is correct. Now, you need to fix yours since your quote no longer reflects what their site actually says.
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulitzer_Prize_for_Drama#Musicals - 1776 did NOT win a Pulitzer Prize. Mary Ann Brussat corrected their error. Now you need to correct yours. Your statement of May 4, 2017 asserting that "Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat said that it won a Pulitzer" is now false.
ReplyDeleteSee also:
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulitzer_Prize_for_Drama#Musicals
"Nine musicals have won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, roughly one per decade from the 1930s to the 2010s¹. They are:..." 1776 is NOT one of the nine.
Ok, please calm down, I corrected the statement. I did not know this, so thank you for bringing it to my attention.
DeleteI see the correction. Thank you! Now it's on to deal with Netflix and Ebay! ;-)
ReplyDelete