It's really an amazing film, that this trailer captures *some* of... And it's funny seeing such clunky edits! In the era before this film and most certainly the era since, you don't have trailers that are this amateurish!
But "1776" is mostly amazing because the timing of everything that happened is about as accurate as can be! That famous wall calendar really adds to the tension, in the same way the TV series "24" did with its clock!
It's fantastic that the cast of the Broadway show is what makes up the bulk of the film. The typical M.O. was to bring in bigger stars to play the parts. But who would have been better than William Daniels to play the part of John Adams?! They left Betty Buckley out to allow Blythe Danner (now best known as Gwyneth Paltrow's mom) to play Martha Jefferson, and I missed Paul Hecht as the congressional dissenter, John Witherspoon. But adding John Cullum as Rutledge was brilliant.
Did You Know? Howard Da Silva, who plays Franklin, was blacklisted from Hollywood during the McCarthy Witch Hunts? The fact that he came back to Broadway to play the part in 1969 and went on to the film version, preserved permanently as one of our Founding Fathers makes me feel happy.
I watch this film, every July, in case you couldn't tell I am an unabashed fan!
Part of me would love to see this, partially because a friend gave me a mix CD years and years ago that has the song about her dancing to Jefferson's violin.
But....oh man. The shot they had from that scene? Where she spins in a circle and her dress goes flying up? Made me head-desk because dresses back then just didn't do that. Also, her petticoats look like a very modern material.
I have discovered that knowing the very rudiments of social mores and clothing of the past ruins a great many otherwise-fine movies, because I can't stop being distracted by stupid shit.
I remember going on a school field trip to see this! I can't remember if I liked it, but I do remember the WTF feeling I had when I realized it was a musical. Still better than being in school, though. :)
God I love this film/musical. So much of 8th grade history involved re-enactments in one form or another, including an in-class performance of 1776. Best history course I ever took.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2012-02-20 07:16 pm (UTC)But "1776" is mostly amazing because the timing of everything that happened is about as accurate as can be! That famous wall calendar really adds to the tension, in the same way the TV series "24" did with its clock!
It's fantastic that the cast of the Broadway show is what makes up the bulk of the film. The typical M.O. was to bring in bigger stars to play the parts. But who would have been better than William Daniels to play the part of John Adams?! They left Betty Buckley out to allow Blythe Danner (now best known as Gwyneth Paltrow's mom) to play Martha Jefferson, and I missed Paul Hecht as the congressional dissenter, John Witherspoon. But adding John Cullum as Rutledge was brilliant.
Did You Know? Howard Da Silva, who plays Franklin, was blacklisted from Hollywood during the McCarthy Witch Hunts? The fact that he came back to Broadway to play the part in 1969 and went on to the film version, preserved permanently as one of our Founding Fathers makes me feel happy.
I watch this film, every July, in case you couldn't tell I am an unabashed fan!
Happy Presidents' Day!
no subject
Date: 2012-02-21 07:47 pm (UTC)I didn't know that! It makes one of my favorite movies even more interesting.
no subject
Date: 2012-02-20 07:23 pm (UTC)I...still can't stand it.
no subject
Date: 2012-02-20 07:28 pm (UTC)But....oh man. The shot they had from that scene? Where she spins in a circle and her dress goes flying up? Made me head-desk because dresses back then just didn't do that. Also, her petticoats look like a very modern material.
I have discovered that knowing the very rudiments of social mores and clothing of the past ruins a great many otherwise-fine movies, because I can't stop being distracted by stupid shit.
no subject
Date: 2012-02-21 12:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-02-21 02:05 am (UTC)