1776 [With Digital Copy] [UltraViolet]

Director: Peter H. Hunt Peter H. Hunt

Overview

The first independent production of former studio mogul Jack Warner, 1776 was adapted from the hit 1969 Broadway musical by Peter Stone and Sherman Edwards. William Daniels, Ken Howard and Howard Da Silva are among the many actors who recreate their Broadway roles. The story is set during the Second Continental Congress, when the Declaration of Independence was drafted by such founding fathers as John Adams (Daniels) and Benjamin Franklin (Da Silva). The script attempts to "humanize" these remote historical characters with wisecracks, scatology, and an abundance of sexual innuendo--particularly in the case of the libidinous Ben Franklin. Blythe Danner's character of Martha Jefferson is expanded for the film version to allow for an elaborate outdoor production number. Director Peter Hunt, who helmed the original Broadway production, can't quite overcome the essential staginess of the project, though the cast is game and the music is well showcased. After 1776, Jack Warner made only one more film, the 1972 "grunge western" Dirty Little Billy.

Product Details

Release Date:	06/02/2015
UPC:	0043396459670
Original Release:	1972
Rating:	NR
Source:	SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMT
Region Code:	A
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Language:	English
Time:	2:45:00
Sales rank:	16,784

Special Features

All-new commentary with Peter H. Hunt, William Daniels & Ken Howard; Extended cut of the film; Deleted and Alternate scenes with filmmaker commentary; 4 never-before-seen screen tests; Commentary with Peter H. Hunt & Peter Stone; Archival screen tests

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

William Daniels	John Adams
Howard da Silva	Benjamin Franklin
Ken Howard	Thomas Jefferson
Blythe Danner	Martha Jefferson
Donald Madden	Dickinson
John Cullum	Rutledge
Roy Poole	Hopkins
Virginia Vestoff	Abigail Adams
David Ford	John Hancock
Ron Holgate	Lee
Emory Bass	James Wilson
Rex Robbins	Roger Sherman
Peter Forster	Oliver Wolcott
Frederic Downs	Samuel Huntington
Howard Caine	Lewis Morris
John Myhers	Robert Livingston
Richard McMurray	Francis Lewis
Gordon DeVol	Thomas Lynch Jr.
William H. Bassett	Thomas Heyward Jr.
Jonathan Moore	Lyman Hall
William F. Engle	Button Gwinnett
Barry O'Hara	George Walton
William Hansen	Caesar Rodney
Ray Middleton	Thomas McKean
Leo Leyden	George Read
Patrick Hines	Samuel Chase
Heber Jentzsch	Charles Carroll
Andy Albin	William Paca
Charles Rule	Joseph Hewes
Jack De Mave	John Penn
Jordan Rhodes	William Hooper
James Noble	John Witherspoon
Richard O'Shea	Francis Hopkinson
Fred Slyter	Richard Stockton
Daniel Keyes	Josiah Bartlett
John Holland	William Whipple
Ralston Hill	Secretary Charles Thomson
Stephen Nathan	Courier
William Duell	Custodian Andrew McNair
Mark Montgomery	Leather Apron
Wabei Siyolwe	Richard Stockton
Ray Heindorf	Conductor
Sherman Edwards	Composer

Technical Credits

Peter Stone

Peter H. Hunt	Director
Jack L. Warner	Producer
Peter Stone	Screenwriter
Arthur Piantadosi	Sound/Sound Designer
Al Overton Jr.	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

When 1776 debuted in 1972, the filmgoing public's thirst for musicals appeared to be slackening. Still, with songs and staging polished in 1776's successful Broadway run, and the country's bicentennial on the horizon, director Peter H. Hunt's screen adaptation performed moderately well at the box office. Years have added luster to this musical celebration of the Founding Fathers, and the restored director's cut now available on DVD is a truly delightful experience. Adapted from the Sherman Edwards/Peter Stone Broadway show, 1776 recounts events in Congress during the hot and stormy Philadelphia month leading up to the July 4th signing of the Declaration of Independence. A versatile cast -- led by William Daniels as the fiery John Adams and Howard Da Silva as the cagey Ben Franklin -- breathes life and humanity into the nation's defining moment. The film deftly mingles a variety of tones. The spellbinding political debates over the Declaration's text, for instance, remain mostly true to the historical record while benefiting from sharpened dialogue and dollops of wit. There is also whimsy and even romance, as the yearning, long-distance romance between John and Abigail Adams (Virginia Vestoff) is dramatized in split screens, as they act out their daily letters back and forth. Interspersed into the narrative are rousing refrains such as "But, Mr. Adams" and "The Egg," and tender tunes like "Till Then." For fans of the original film, or anyone interested in a playful interpretation of American history, this DVD release marks the triumphant return of a true musical classic.

Barnes & Noble

The subject of some controversy when produced (many objected to the characterization of the founding fathers, and the Nixon White House is alleged to have pressured the producers into deleting a song critical of conservatives), 1776 had all the ingredients of a wonderful musical film -- except for a skillful director. This is unfortunate, because the screenplay is literate and witty, full of memorable and exciting characters. The one-of-a-kind score is excellent, and the cast -- almost all direct from Broadway -- could not be better. Although director Peter Hunt manages to open up the proceedings, there's still a staginess that could have been avoided. Better yet, Hunt could have used the staginess to create a confined feeling that could have echoed both the stifling atmosphere of the Continental Congress meeting place and the stifling oppression against which John Adams fought. Hunt also showed very little imagination in shooting the musical numbers; the opening cries out for someone who can create the visual equivalent of the music's chaos. The use of the soft-focus lens for the scenes between Adams and his wife is hokey, and the static staging of "Mama, Look Sharp" dilutes that song's impact. When he does try something, the effect is often weak or distracting, as in the lightning cuts of Lee mounting his horse at the start of "The Lees of Old Virginia." As Adams, William Daniels gives a magnificent performance, capturing all of the facets of this complicated and fascinating man, and Howard Da Silva is a delight as Ben Franklin. The entire supporting cast is deserving of praise, but special mention must be made of John Cullum, whose "Molasses to Rum" is a chilling showstopper. Ultimately Hunt's direction damages the film, but its strengths are still significant.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler