Declaration! The Musical

Jeff Cohen

Tomorrow, for those who have not bothered to check a calendar, is July 4, designated as Independence Day here in the United States of America. And while many things have changed in this country recently--and I will refrain from listing them here--there is still an absolute halt of activity on that day. No mail is delivered. Most people do not go to work (sorry, those who must). Many stores are closed. Sales of hot dogs go through the roof.

In my house we will observe the holiday as we have come to do every year: by watching the 1972 film of the Broadway musical 1776, a movie as historically accurate as you can expect when it includes scenes of Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams dancing through Independence Hall, which as you can expect was called something else then.

Although not critically acclaimed on its release, 1776 earned a place in our hearts through its depiction of the Founding Fathers as men, not, as Franklin puts it, "demigods." (Yes, I can quote numerous passages from memory. So I'm a geek.) Yes, enormous liberties (you should pardon the expression) are taken with history. Members of the Second Continental Congress who did not oppose American independence are seen doing so. Dramatic license is taken throughout, as when the entire Southern delegation walks out over Adams's refusal to remove a clause abolishing slavery in America. That never happened, and the debate did not take place until after the resolution declaring us free from Great Britain had already passed.

Which occurred, by the way, on July 2, 1776. You read that right.

Yes, there is singing and dancing in 1776. There are wisecracks that in all likelihood were not uttered at the time. But a good chunk of the dialogue, particularly between Adams and his wife Abigail (and there needs to be a movie just about them) comes from letters exchanged at the time. There is some attempt, albeit a theatrical one, to be accurate when it doesn't get in the way of a good story.

But the people in the film are what bring us to the DVD every year. It's not out of a sense of duty that we view 1776 every July 4 anymore than our tradition of checking in on the Marx Brothers each New Year's Eve. We like to visit with the men (and very occasionally women) at the center of the patriotic drama.

Chief among these is William Daniels's brilliant turn as John Adams, a role I wish I could become an actor to play. Short, overweight, viewed universally as "obnoxious and disliked": I was born to play the part. Alas, I lack the talent and Mr. Daniels could act me out of town while just sitting in a chair.

We understand exactly why Adams is seen as abrasive (even if in real life he was not such a social pariah before his rather disastrous presidency). He is bossy, arrogant, egotistical and obsessed--and those are his good qualities. But we also get to see Adams as dedicated to a principle we can all embrace, the need for a people to follow its own destiny and not have one imposed upon it. Yes, the founders made enormous mistakes, particularly toward people of color and women, but they did what they could and this movie doesn't ignore that. It celebrates the attempt and it revels in the necessary compromises. Would America be born today in the political climate of the moment? It's a really good question.

Is 1776  a great cinematic achievement? Not really. It contains some terrific performances and it strives to entertain, to move and to provoke thought. It has some snappy dialogue and a few catchy songs. That's not bad. It's not Hitchcock, but hey, he was British and who knows what alterations he'd have made to the historical record? As entertainment and food for thought, it's good enough for me.

So enjoy your backyard barbecues, Americans. Have a great time at the fireworks (ours were on July 2, and not for historical accuracy so much as low costs and lack of competition). Maybe take in a ball game or go to the movies. It's a day off. You should have fun.

We'll be watching John, Ben and Tom create a country. Not all by themselves and far from perfectly. But hey: so far it's lasted 241 years and it was created by people who wrote their ideas down. 

A country made by writers. What a concept. 

And if that ain't a lesson for today's political age, I don't know what is.

Comments

[Sandra]

I salute your choice of viewing! I wondered at the wording at the beginning ("July 4, designated as Independence Day here in the United States of America"), but you explained it later on. You are one of the few who notice/remember the mention of that date in "1776." I recall a Life magazine cover from the 1960s that read "The Glorious 4th" with 4th crossed out and 2nd written in. I will admit I have personal age-related reasons for remembering that cover (and the "correct" date) so well, but I may just join you in watching "1776" tomorrow, if only to hear John Cullum sing. He had the wrong idea, but a marvelous voice to be mistaken in.

[Anne Louise Bannon]

Oh, that's right. John Cullum was in that. Not a fan of the show - I had to review a stage production once. But I do love how it does make the Founding Fathers human and flawed. And the Beloved Spouse was pointing out the July 2 thing last night. But, hey, it's still July 4 on the top of the doc, so I'll go with that. ;-)

[Patty]

I still haven't managed to catch the movie but I listen to the soundtrack, often. "Sit Down John" is my favorite song. Now I have to go see if I can find the movie to watch...

[Jeff Cohen]

TCM is showing it July 4 at 10 p.m.

[Elizabeth Zelvin]

Jeff, my husband and I saw the original production of 1776 on Broadway. My husband and I whispered to each other that John Adams looked awfully familiar, halfway through the show, my hubby suddenly exclaimed, loud enough to embarrass me and raise a laugh among our nearest seatmates, "It's Data!" Yep, Brent Spiner originated the role.

[Jeff Cohen]

Well yes, Liz, but that was the revival. The original production had William Daniels in the role and it opened in 1969.

[P. Casey Morgan]

I also watch "1776" annually but usually over July 5 to 7 or so. I record it so that I can fast-forward through the "Molasses to Rum to Slaves" song, as well as the sad song by the soldier. The rest of it I savor - the eagle, the turkey, the dove and the whole glorious mess.