Black & White World
You can tell by the lines I'm reciting, I've seen that movie too.
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Tuesday, July 04, 2006
1776 (1972)
“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.” John Adams, founding father.
Well, what the hell. I feel patriotic today. 1776 is not what I would call a great musical, but quite historically accurate and against probability, pretty good fun. These are not numbers you walk out of the theatre humming, like The Music Man or Sound of Music, but with repeated listening they do start to stick. My favorite is “The Egg,” which Adams, Jefferson and Franklin sing in anticipation of the hatching of their new nation, along with the chilling “Molasses to Rum,” Edward Rutledge’s endorsement of slavery. I also admit to a certain pride at hearing “The Lees of Old Virginia,” as my family is directly descended from Richard Henry Lee—portrayed here as a “strutting popinjay” and a bit of a buffoon, but a statesman and a patriot nonetheless.
The main cast is all excellent, but William Daniels is a lion as John Adams and pretty much blows everyone else off the screen. Except Howard Da Silva, whose portrayal of Franklin is both tongue-in-cheek and sincerely heartfelt. The location scenes in Philadelphia, in the shadow of Independence Hall, help ground the production in historical accuracy. All in all, I would say it’s not for everyone (historical drama and musical are an odd combination, after all), but it’s a favorite of mine, and an Independence Day tradition.
To close with another quote, one which is still quite apt and often quoted today: “Those who would give up some of their liberty in order to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” - Benjamin Franklin. Happy July 4th.
