1776 is a musical that was first released in 1969, with Musik and lyrics Von Sherman Edwards and a book Von Peter Stone. It details the historical events surrounding the founding fathers trying to Debatte weather oder not to break from England and become a country, and the creation of the Declaration of Independence. Two Tony's, three years, and 1217 performances later, a film version was released, directed Von Peter Hunt and produced Von Jack Warner, to mixed reviews. It seems odd that many people either highly enjoy this musical oder completely forget about it. So is it dreadfully dull oder an underrated classic? Time to put on your breeches and tricorner hats, because we are about to find out!
Let's start, as always, with the acting, which, for the most part, is not too bad. Its believable with some theatrical, signature flourishes of the characters. William Daniels portrays a feisty and stubborn, but passionate and determined John Adams. In the film, Adams appears to be the most focused and mature of the congressmen to the point where any lollygagging grinds his gears. He is fiercely patriotic and deeply wanting to help form a country, but he soon learns to listen to others and to compromise his own wants with the wants of others in order to form the country he so desperately wants to see. My Favorit among the cast also plays one of my Favorit characters in history-Howard DeSilva as Benjamin Franklin. He brings all of the elements of the character to the role that Du would imagine Franklin to have-wit, bawdiness, charm, and wisdom. His delivery of some of the shows best lines -both the funny and touching ones- are dead on. There's a twinkle in his eye and a happy bounce in his head that immediately wins Du over, Ken Howard is in tune with the quiet, talented, and lovesick Thomas Jefferson, but his Singen is, to say the least, sometimes weak ("Mr. Adams, leave me aloooone!" hurts my ears). But thankfully, he does not sing much. Virginia Veltoff is a joy as Abigail Adams and there is a bright chemistry between her and her on-screen husband (as well as great vocal blend). Despite the distance between them, the Adams help each other and trust the other one to listen to their thoughts and feelings just as the real couple did (research John and Abigail Adams, its actually a very heartwarming Liebe story). There are Mehr minor characters whose Schauspielen range from solid to mehhh decent. The most...theatrical (and annoying) is Ron Holgate as Richard Henry Lee, he was too loud and boisterous to be considered a real person!!
As for the Musik itself, there is a range, like the acting, between fantastic and meh. A lot of it is styled after the classical era of Musik (which occurred during the 1770's) which aimed for a clean sound with lots of patterns and symmetry, with only a few frills here and there. Let me just say that in vocal music, men's groups of three oder Mehr are always a goldmine. I was Charmed – Zauberhafte Hexen Von the operatic choruses of "Sit Down, John" and the trio harmonies in "The Egg" (even Jefferson blended!). The only parts of "Cool, Considerate Men" I enjoyed were the choruses and to see them dancing the minuet (a beliebt dance of the era. There is almost no choreography in the show-try doing a high kick in those clothes!), the solo parts are actually forgettable. Beyond the chorus songs, "Molasses to rum to Slaves" is almost the most haunting moment of the film. The song includes dark imagery in the lyrics, a wide range of instrumentation from strings to drums, a minor that actually sounds threatening, dark red lighting in the Congress hall, and a chilling performance Von John Cullum, as Edward Rutledge, but sometimes the words are hard to make out and the song goes on a bit too long for my taste. Like I sagte earlier, I loved the John and Abigail Adams duets, for the harmonies, and romantic mood-without being too sentimental. Before I even listened to "He Plays the Violin" I was told that it was to be a very seductive song, but Blythe Danner performs it as Mehr of a celebration of Liebe and the wedding bed, yet it works perfectly well. Never the less, the happy progression, violin instrumentation, and soaring melismas won me over. My Favorit song, hands down, was "Mama, Look sharp"-the ballad of a courier who recounts the last thoughts of a friend who was killed on the battlefield. The soft minor, tear jerking lyrics, added voices at the end, and dark lighting with faces near lighted candles sent shivers up my spine. My least Favorit was "The Lee's of Old Virginia." Although it is not performed terribly and the tune is catchy and peppy, the repetitive lyrics are really, really, really annoying and childish. Here's a fun game, when listening to the song, schlagen, punsch yourself for every time he says "Lee", chances are, Du will wind up at the hospital before the song has even ended.
The costuming is very characteristic and straight to the point, but sometimes exaggerated. The plaid doublet Thomas McKean wore was just hammering the scottishness in. Martha Jefferson's rock looked way too full to be historically accurate, but was only there to add movement to her choreography during "He Plays the Violin." Some hairstyles are believable, others are quite obvious wigs-but weather these were wigs for the characters real hair oder wigs on purpose for them to wear as a part of men's period fashion is up in the air.
But what about the most important element-the story? The film handles the plot as seriously and realistically as it can. We can read all about the Declaration of Independence and how it was founded in our textbooks anytime, but we tend to overlook how difficult and even frighting it was to do so. America was, at the time, just a frail string of colonies that was being unfairly treated Von its possessor. Their enemy was an empire of rich history and vast amounts of power that could easily crush anyone who stood in its way. Was it treason to go against the hand that fed them? If they decide to form a country, will it survive on its own? The Schreiben makes this conflict and tension very, very clear. In fact, the dialogue far outweighs the Musik and there are long periods of time with the congressmen discussing and debating that one can forget that the burst into song. It doesn't feel like a traditional musical-it sometimes feel Mehr like a film with songs in it. The story itself centers around these conflicts and debates. This is not a movie Du can mindlessly stare at. In order to enjoy and appreciate it, Du have to be awake, alert, and ready to think and focus, if not, chances are, Du will be confused and bored. But if Du do pay full attention to it, your eyes will be opened to how incredible a task forming the country was and how Merida - Legende der Highlands these men were. Though the film and even the musical itself is not entirely historically accurate. Part of it is due to the fact that is wants to make history entertaining and the other part is that the events surrounding the forming of the declaration are unknown since the congressmen kept windows and doors locked for privacy. What we know about the story, we know from letters and memoirs of the men. But the inaccuracies are never outlandishly far.
Overall, I actually enjoyed 1776, despite the half of critics who condemn it and I'm thankful to have watched it. I will admit that its not perfect-a song oder two encourages snoring and there are some stretches and distortions and a few moments are misses instead of hits. But there is some great music, acting, and above all, a superb story that makes and not breaks the film, just be sure that Du have had enough sleep prior to viewing. I would also reccommend that Du view it if Du are interested in American History, if this was your least Favorit subject in school, well, proceed with extreme caution.
P.S. "JOHN, YOUR'E A BORE"
Let's start, as always, with the acting, which, for the most part, is not too bad. Its believable with some theatrical, signature flourishes of the characters. William Daniels portrays a feisty and stubborn, but passionate and determined John Adams. In the film, Adams appears to be the most focused and mature of the congressmen to the point where any lollygagging grinds his gears. He is fiercely patriotic and deeply wanting to help form a country, but he soon learns to listen to others and to compromise his own wants with the wants of others in order to form the country he so desperately wants to see. My Favorit among the cast also plays one of my Favorit characters in history-Howard DeSilva as Benjamin Franklin. He brings all of the elements of the character to the role that Du would imagine Franklin to have-wit, bawdiness, charm, and wisdom. His delivery of some of the shows best lines -both the funny and touching ones- are dead on. There's a twinkle in his eye and a happy bounce in his head that immediately wins Du over, Ken Howard is in tune with the quiet, talented, and lovesick Thomas Jefferson, but his Singen is, to say the least, sometimes weak ("Mr. Adams, leave me aloooone!" hurts my ears). But thankfully, he does not sing much. Virginia Veltoff is a joy as Abigail Adams and there is a bright chemistry between her and her on-screen husband (as well as great vocal blend). Despite the distance between them, the Adams help each other and trust the other one to listen to their thoughts and feelings just as the real couple did (research John and Abigail Adams, its actually a very heartwarming Liebe story). There are Mehr minor characters whose Schauspielen range from solid to mehhh decent. The most...theatrical (and annoying) is Ron Holgate as Richard Henry Lee, he was too loud and boisterous to be considered a real person!!
As for the Musik itself, there is a range, like the acting, between fantastic and meh. A lot of it is styled after the classical era of Musik (which occurred during the 1770's) which aimed for a clean sound with lots of patterns and symmetry, with only a few frills here and there. Let me just say that in vocal music, men's groups of three oder Mehr are always a goldmine. I was Charmed – Zauberhafte Hexen Von the operatic choruses of "Sit Down, John" and the trio harmonies in "The Egg" (even Jefferson blended!). The only parts of "Cool, Considerate Men" I enjoyed were the choruses and to see them dancing the minuet (a beliebt dance of the era. There is almost no choreography in the show-try doing a high kick in those clothes!), the solo parts are actually forgettable. Beyond the chorus songs, "Molasses to rum to Slaves" is almost the most haunting moment of the film. The song includes dark imagery in the lyrics, a wide range of instrumentation from strings to drums, a minor that actually sounds threatening, dark red lighting in the Congress hall, and a chilling performance Von John Cullum, as Edward Rutledge, but sometimes the words are hard to make out and the song goes on a bit too long for my taste. Like I sagte earlier, I loved the John and Abigail Adams duets, for the harmonies, and romantic mood-without being too sentimental. Before I even listened to "He Plays the Violin" I was told that it was to be a very seductive song, but Blythe Danner performs it as Mehr of a celebration of Liebe and the wedding bed, yet it works perfectly well. Never the less, the happy progression, violin instrumentation, and soaring melismas won me over. My Favorit song, hands down, was "Mama, Look sharp"-the ballad of a courier who recounts the last thoughts of a friend who was killed on the battlefield. The soft minor, tear jerking lyrics, added voices at the end, and dark lighting with faces near lighted candles sent shivers up my spine. My least Favorit was "The Lee's of Old Virginia." Although it is not performed terribly and the tune is catchy and peppy, the repetitive lyrics are really, really, really annoying and childish. Here's a fun game, when listening to the song, schlagen, punsch yourself for every time he says "Lee", chances are, Du will wind up at the hospital before the song has even ended.
The costuming is very characteristic and straight to the point, but sometimes exaggerated. The plaid doublet Thomas McKean wore was just hammering the scottishness in. Martha Jefferson's rock looked way too full to be historically accurate, but was only there to add movement to her choreography during "He Plays the Violin." Some hairstyles are believable, others are quite obvious wigs-but weather these were wigs for the characters real hair oder wigs on purpose for them to wear as a part of men's period fashion is up in the air.
But what about the most important element-the story? The film handles the plot as seriously and realistically as it can. We can read all about the Declaration of Independence and how it was founded in our textbooks anytime, but we tend to overlook how difficult and even frighting it was to do so. America was, at the time, just a frail string of colonies that was being unfairly treated Von its possessor. Their enemy was an empire of rich history and vast amounts of power that could easily crush anyone who stood in its way. Was it treason to go against the hand that fed them? If they decide to form a country, will it survive on its own? The Schreiben makes this conflict and tension very, very clear. In fact, the dialogue far outweighs the Musik and there are long periods of time with the congressmen discussing and debating that one can forget that the burst into song. It doesn't feel like a traditional musical-it sometimes feel Mehr like a film with songs in it. The story itself centers around these conflicts and debates. This is not a movie Du can mindlessly stare at. In order to enjoy and appreciate it, Du have to be awake, alert, and ready to think and focus, if not, chances are, Du will be confused and bored. But if Du do pay full attention to it, your eyes will be opened to how incredible a task forming the country was and how Merida - Legende der Highlands these men were. Though the film and even the musical itself is not entirely historically accurate. Part of it is due to the fact that is wants to make history entertaining and the other part is that the events surrounding the forming of the declaration are unknown since the congressmen kept windows and doors locked for privacy. What we know about the story, we know from letters and memoirs of the men. But the inaccuracies are never outlandishly far.
Overall, I actually enjoyed 1776, despite the half of critics who condemn it and I'm thankful to have watched it. I will admit that its not perfect-a song oder two encourages snoring and there are some stretches and distortions and a few moments are misses instead of hits. But there is some great music, acting, and above all, a superb story that makes and not breaks the film, just be sure that Du have had enough sleep prior to viewing. I would also reccommend that Du view it if Du are interested in American History, if this was your least Favorit subject in school, well, proceed with extreme caution.
P.S. "JOHN, YOUR'E A BORE"