Black & White World

1776 (1972)

“For God’s sakes, John, sit down!” It’s May 1776, and there is only one thing that the Continental Congress in Philadelphia can agree on (other than “it’s hot as hell in Philadelphia")—that John Adams should sit down and shut up.

I have my obsessive-compulsive holiday traditions and this is one of them—Independence Day isn’t complete without my annual viewing of 1776.  Despite the singing and dancing, it’s a pretty faithful retelling of the events leading up to the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress.  Poor old John Dickinson, though—a staunch supporter of American Independence, he’s portrayed here as a villain, interested only in protecting his own property and economic interests, and fighting the move for Independence at every step.  It’s true that he didn’t sign the Declaration (and that he joined the Revolutionary Army after stepping down from Congress), but it wasn’t that he wasn’t in favor of the measure—he just didn’t think Congress had thought far enough ahead as far as states’ rights and other issues.

William Daniels can barely be contained on the screen.  Damn, what I wouldn’t give to go back in time and see him do this live on the Broadway stage.  I think it sucks that Adams has the worst song in the show, that “Does Anybody Care” number—it’s almost 100% unsingable, but what it lacks in melody, Daniels makes up for in gusto.

On the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, John Adams said: “All that I have, and all that I am, and all that I hope, in this life, I am now ready here to stake upon it...live or die, survive or perish, I am for the Declaration. It is my living sentiment, and by the blessing of God it shall be my dying sentiment. Independence now, and Independence forever.” This line didn’t make it into the screenplay of 1776, but Daniels’s performance embodies that Revolutionary spirit.

1. 1776! Now that’s the spirit!

   Ok, that’s an old Three Stooges line, but I couldn’t resist.

   I saw this movie years ago. It seemed pretty faithful to history. Anytime I watch something like this I’m always wondering what these people would say if they knew what happened to their Country. How would the Continental Congress react if they knew all our elected officials were traded on the open market by big business like pork belly futures? That the average person isn’t represented at all and the only thing that gives us any rights are those few pieces of paper they drafted so many years ago?

   They may have been realistic enough to realize nothing lasts forever. Maybe they figured 200 years is a pretty good run. Some of the things they’ve written in letters indicare as much. Still, things iike that occupy my thoughts as much as the movie.

   Posted by Duke  on  07/05  at  07:45 PM

2. Here’s another Adams quote for you, Duke:  “Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.”

   Posted by  on  07/05  at  10:45 PM

3. That’s a great quote. No fooling Adams was there?

   Here’s a good one for you from Alexander Tytler, who wrote from Edinburg around 1776:
   “A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until a majority of voters discover that they can vote themselves largess out of the public treasury.”

   Considering 5% of our population pays 95% of the taxes, Tytler hit the nail on the head.

   Posted by Duke  on  07/06  at  10:20 AM
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