It's time to talk about how much we love 1776- Page 3

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 7/2/14 at 7:53pm

Wow..thank you so much. Never saw that before..

[IndyTheatreGeek]

Posted: 7/2/14 at 8:40pm

Another thanks for the link. I first saw the movie on commercial tv and gladly bought the director's cut dvd when it came out. Loved it. William Daniels was fantastic as John Adams, but I also really enjoyed Howard da Silva as Franklin. I remembered seeing him in The Missiles of October playing Khrushchev (interesting role for a black listed actor) I saw the 97 revival and loved it so much that I went back the next night. I can only imagine how great the original production was.

Updated On: 7/2/14 at 08:40 PM

[Nydiva2]

Posted: 7/2/14 at 11:29pm

My all time favorite musical. I saw the original production (by that time Daniels was replaced by John Cunningham) AND, most especially, the Roundabout revival - which I saw more times than I'll admit to and adored to no end.

Of course, I'll be at 54 Below tomorrow. Miss the chance to see the truly superb Michael McCormick as Adams (not to mention Daniel Marcus getting a crack at Franklin)? "Never, never!!"

A lingering regret is that I never got to see the gentleman pictured in my avatar in the role. Too far out of town.

[mamaleh]

Posted: 7/3/14 at 12:49am

Loved the original production so much back in my student days that I saw it four times, three when the superlative Williams Daniels led the cast, and once when, I think it was either Brian Bedford or John Cunningham. Each time I see the movie, I think how fortunate that it so beautifully captures the crisp drama, humor and passion of the stage production. I, too, think Daniels was robbed of a so very deserved Tony for his Adams.

Updated On: 7/3/14 at 12:49 AM

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 7/3/14 at 8:01am

Thanks to this thread and all of you idiots, I spent an hour last night dancing around my 100-degree apartment in my underwear to “He Plays the Violin” on repeat. When I ran into my neighbor on the way out this morning, he was very quiet.

[newintown]

Posted: 7/3/14 at 8:09am

I imagine he was resentful that he only had the audio, with no video feed.

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/3/14 at 8:45am

This was the first big-scale musical I ever saw. I had just turned nine years old, and it was the national tour with Rex Everhart as Franklin, Barbara Lang as Abigail, and George Hearn as Dickinson.

I remember my mother sobbing next to me through "Mamma, Look Sharp." It was a big deal back then in 1971, one of the strongest anti-war movements in our country's history, and that song hit home with so many people.

But the moment that left the biggest impression on me was "Molasses to Rum." It actually scared the crap about of me. I remember the red light seeping through the slats of the shudders as the "slave auction" took place. I watched Rutledge go from congressman to devil/madman in front of my eyes. Very disturbing.

Years later, I had an opportunity to audition for the show. I wanted to play Rutledge, and I got the part. It's still one of the most satisfying things I've ever done artistically. I felt like I was confronting, embracing, and emulating my own childhood fears. I had to see it from his perspective instead of the audience's, and that was a dark journey. It felt like was going into a trance most nights. And watching the faces of the other members of congress as I hopped up onto the table and cracked my invisible whip in the air.

Great stuff.

Needless to say, this is one of my favorite musicals for the reasons I've just said. It's oddly constructed, with nearly 40 minutes without music in the first act (the first major congress scene before "But Mr. Adams"), yet I think it's pretty flawless.

I always enjoy watching the (excellent) film version as well. It takes me back to my childhood and early adulthood memories of the play.

[madbrian]

Posted: 7/3/14 at 9:24am

By they way, TCM is broadcasting 1776 at 1:30PM (eastern) tomorrow, 7/4.

[Hest882]

Posted: 7/3/14 at 11:58am

Eric, from days ago...when I first saw the movie I was bored stiff as well. I finally got to see it on stage a year ago and adored it. The urgency and tension came though much better for me on stage, and the ending had me almost in tears. (Well, yeah, of course I'm an American...) I suspect when I see the movie again I'll feel differently about it now.

Posted: 7/3/14 at 11:59am

I saw 1776 fr the first time as a Freshman in high school and it taught me so much about history and politics. These are REAL people- not faces on Mount Rushmore. I love how Washington s portrayed as a fussbudget and Adams is resentful of Franklin's popularity. I love how they weren't afraid to point out the North's complicity in the slave trade. And the argument about whether the declaration should include the anti-slavery paragraph- an argument you hear echoed in eery single debate about progressive issues. Is it better to fail doing the right thing or grab an imperfect but incremental victory?

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 7/3/14 at 2:36pm

"Molasses to Rum" is hands down my favorite part. It gives me chills every time I see it or listen to it.

[FishermanBob]

Posted: 7/3/14 at 2:51pm

"Thanks to this thread and all of you idiots, I spent an hour last night dancing around my 100-degree apartment in my underwear to “He Plays the Violin” on repeat. When I ran into my neighbor on the way out this morning, he was very quiet."

I certainly hoped you looked right at him and said Hi... Hi... Hi diddle diddle.

[Glitter and be Gay]

Posted: 7/4/14 at 12:34pm

Does anyone know why Betty Buckley was not cast in the film? Almost everyone else in the movie was in the original Broadway production.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 7/4/14 at 1:03pm

I remember reading that even though Blythe was a bit older than Betty in real life, she gave a much more youthful persona which worked better on screen.

That said, I also heard that Betty B was not so popular with the 1776 company and was not hired for that reason (but I have NO idea if that was true or not).

I do know that Howard DaSilva was a pain in the ass during the Broadway run and had to BEG the producers to hire him for the movie - promising he would be on his best behavior. They did..and he was.

Updated On: 7/4/14 at 01:03 PM

[Glitter and be Gay]

Posted: 7/4/14 at 1:14pm

That makes sense, in Carrie (the film) she reads older than she was. As for her popularity with cast - having had professional dealings with Betty, I'll just say she'll never win any awards for congeniality.

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 7/4/14 at 1:21pm

Entertainment Weekly listed 10 reasons why we should watch the film today.


10 reasons true Americans should watch '1776' today

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/4/14 at 1:33pm

Howard Da Silva had a heart attack very early on in the run of the show, and he went out on extended leave of absence. His understudy Rex Everhart took over the role during that time, and it's Rex you hear on the Original Cast Album, for that reason.

Howard eventually came back to the show after being out for months, and Rex went out on the road as Franklin (that's who I saw play it).

I'm not sure how anyone could call Howard Da Silva a "pain in the ass" when he was out of the show for so long due to major health issues. Even after he came back, to call him a "pain in the ass" would be the height of insensitivity, given his circumstances.

I hope you heard wrong, actually.

It also makes sense that he would have to convince Columbia and Jack Warner that he was capable of playing the role in the movie, but not because he was a "pain," because he had to show them he was healthy enough to get through it.

Updated On: 7/4/14 at 01:33 PM

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 7/4/14 at 2:10pm

It's actually documented somewhere that DaSilva WAS difficult to work with - unrelated to his illness...and that he did have to beg to be in the movie. I don't remember where I read that...but I do remember DaSilva confirmed it as being true.
______________
I found something about it below ...I remember reading more elsewhere.

On the laserdisc commentary, director Peter H. Hunt says that originally he had not planned to cast Howard Da Silva as Benjamin Franklin in the film version, because of how difficult the actor had been during the Broadway run of the musical. However, he relented and let Da Silva reprise his stage role in the film when the actor promised to cooperate and begged to play Ben Franklin in the movie as a legacy to his grandchildren.



Updated On: 7/4/14 at 02:10 PM

[daisybeetle]

Posted: 7/4/14 at 2:57pm

Love the film! I actually took 6 months of violin lessons because I wanted to play "He Plays the Violin". Saw a theater in the round version later in the '80's at the Marriot Linconshire staged by Dominic Missimi. It was wonderful.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/4/14 at 4:42pm

Franklin has so many great lines! Why is this book never mentioned when discussing great books for musicals? It's a little long but it's a masterpiece.

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/4/14 at 5:41pm

"They will cheer every word, every letter!"

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 7/4/14 at 7:02pm

It really is a remarkable film of a remarkable musical. I love the way "But Mr. Adams" is staged on the staircase, and the way the Abigail sequences are done. "Molasses to Rum" still gives me chills, as does "Is Anybody There" and the finale with the 13 bell rings.

It really does keep you on the edge of your seat about whether the vote will go through. And I'll second the comment about "The Lees of Old Virginia" making me grin.

Posted: 7/4/14 at 7:39pm

I feel it necessary to point out so many of Franklin's awesome lines are quotes from Franklin himself (or paraphrases of documented remarks) as are many of Adam's zingers, including his bitching that "The History of our Revolution will be one continued lye [sic] from one end to the other. The essence of the whole will be that Dr. Franklin's electric rod smote the earth and out sprang General Washington. Then Franklin electrified him... and thence forward those two conducted all the Policy, Negotiations, Legislations, and War."

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 7/4/14 at 7:39pm

Yes I get weepy at the end each time...holding my breath until the last vote. So many great actors, so much humor and drama blended into one piece. Still get chills.

Me too, I can't stop grinning at the "Lees of Virginia" and "But Mr. Adams". And honestly could Blythe Danner be any more charming?

It's hard to compliment the actors individually as one is better than the rest. It took a lot of guts to hire mostly "non-Hollywood" actors. I feel extremely lucky that I got to see them live on Broadway as well. I actually got to see both Rex Everhart and Howard Da Silva playing Ben F. Rex was excellent but Howard Da Silva WAS Ben Franklin.

I do remember when there was a well respected PBS special a number of years ago about John Adams. I am sure Paul Giamatti was wonderful but he was just not John Adams to me. I couldn't watch it.

It is ironic that it real life both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on the 4th of July in 1826 - 50 years to the day of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 7/4/14 at 7:43pm

I do remember when there was a well respected PBS special a number of years ago about John Adams. I am sure Paul Giamatti was wonderful but he was just not John Adams to me. I couldn't watch it.

A friend of mine just showed me the first episode of the HBO miniseries with Paul Giamatti, and neither of us liked him as much as William Daniels, though he is quite good. (Laura Linney is absolutely perfect as Abigail Adams, though.)