PeaceBang
The manic mind of the minister -- Auntie Mame Meets Cotton Mather. Blogging about Unitarian Universalism, UU Christian spiritual practice, occasional cultural and political ravings, and the inner life of ministry. PeaceBang is the alter ego of a small town pastor serving an historic New England Unitarian Universalist congregation.
A Clip From “1776″
July 2, 2008 on 6:47 pm | In Inspirations, TV/Movies/Theatre/Book Reviews |I first saw the film “1776″ in 1976, when the movie was four years old and I was a patriotic ten year old. I developed a mad crush on John Adams (played in the film, as on the Broadway stage, by the fabulous William Daniels — better known to some of you as the voice of Kit the Car on “Knight Rider”) which resulted in a life-long adoration.
I’ve seen the musical many times on stage since then (it won the Tony for Best Musical when it debuted in 1969 and was revived successfully in New York not long ago) and try to watch it on DVD every year on or around the 4th. And NOW, thanks to the wonder of the internets, I can share this marvelous show with you! Here is a clip from the Ed Sullivan Show that features some of the opening number, “Sit Down, John” (interesting that Adams’ written lyrics, “GOOD GOD!” have been changed to “Good Lord” in two cases and “What the devil” in one other case — obviously a concession to those tough 70’s era TV censors) and the powerful diatribe against Northern self-righteousness over the slavery question, “Molasses to Rum To Slaves,” sung by Edward Rutledge of South Carolina. If you only know John Cullum from his work as the endearingly mild character Holling Vincoeur in “Northern Exposure,” here he is at his pinnacle of Broadway Super-hunkdom. And oh, what a hunk he was. It’s an amazing and disturbing number about the triangle trade which ends with the mock salute, “Hail Boston! Hail Charleston! Who stinketh the most?”
Go thee and get the movie. Yes, it takes some time getting used to seeing the original delegates to the Second Continental Congress bursting into song. However, the performances are delicious (look for Gwyneth Paltrow’s mom, Blythe Danner — a phenomenal movie and Broadway actress in her own right — as a blushing and bouffanted Martha Jefferson), and the book by Peter Stone absolutely riveting. Yes, there are some historical inaccuracies, but they are obviously not the result of ignorance, but used for dramatic purpose to illustrate something about the characters or to condense actual history for the purpose of moving the plot along. Watch it with your kids and get them hooked on history! Happy Independence Day!
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My daughter had to watch 1776 early this year in her 8th grade history class. She immediately reserved it at the library and rented it serially for weeks. I found a copy for her for Christmas. Then, for father’s day, I got my husband the HBO series of John Adams. We were watching a bit last night and my daughter walked through asking “when do they sing?” My next daughter will have to watch it in class next year, but she alreaday has the whole musical memorized–or so it seems by the dramatics that go on around our house. [oh, yay! A new generation to love this wonderful piece! - PB]
Comment by uuMomma — July 2, 2008 #
I haven’t seen “1776″ yet myself, but this subject reminded me of the Stan Freburg comedy album, “Stan Freburg Presents the United States of America” from 1961. Stan Freberg was the guy you might remember who wrote parody songs (sort of Weird Al Yankovic’s predecessor), wrote countless advertising jingles and was a voice over actor.
Some of the song titles:
-”Pilgrim’s Progress ‘Take An Indian To Lunch’ ”
-”The Sale Of Manhattan ‘Top Hat, White Feathers, And Tails’ ”
“Betsy Ross And The Flag ‘Everybody Wants To Be An Art Director’ ”
My Dad introduced this album to me about 10 years ago, and it’s well worth the effort finding if you like your American history with healthy dose of parody and satire. [Jim, sounds hilarious! thanks, PB]
Comment by Jim B. — July 2, 2008 #
I saw 1776 for the first time last week! Made me wonder why I hadnt watched it before - great fun stuff —
as for Stan Freberg - he’s probably best known as a cartoon voice for Warners from the mid40s to the 1960s, and depending on one’s age for his great comedy singles (yes comedy on 45) in the 50s: “John and Marsha”, “St. George and the Dragonnet” - that one was #1 for 4 weeks on the pop charts!
his great ads were in the late 60s and 1970s
the Pizza Roll commercials that swiped the Larks cigarette ads, and the really great american soup ads with ann miller dancing about how great the soup is, with her husbands response “must you make a big production about everything?”
Comment by Steven R — July 2, 2008 #
Follow up on Stan Freberg:
My favorite cartoon of all-time!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTSOjbp0Hs0
Freberg does the narration, with jazz trumpeter Shorty Rogers playing the wolf’s trumpet.
Sorry to go off the topic. Just wanted to share some cartoon greatness…
Comment by Jim B. — July 2, 2008 #
Oh, I love this movie!! I too saw it for the first time in 1976, although I was a few years older than you were. It inspired me so much that the next year, in 1977, I did an independent study history project on the Federalist papers.
I had only very fond memories of it for decades, when last year it finally occurred to me, “You know, I could /rent/ that….”
So I did, and watched it with great enjoyment — and realized, to my surprise and amusement, that I also had developed quite a crush on John Adams back when I first saw the movie, but without really being conscious of it at the time. It was funny to realize, all these years later!
I quite agree that the triangle trade song is very, very powerful: I’d forgotten all about it, and was glad to be re-introduced to it.
Anyway, I :heart: this movie to pieces. I took it out of the library again today & am looking forward to watching it this weekend.
Comment by StarWoman — July 2, 2008 #
In fact, William Daniels is best known to *me* for his portrayal of Mr. Feeny on _Boy Meets World_. What a distinctive voice!
I will definitely check this movie out, although I’m not sure I’ll be able to handle it. John Adams breaking into song? No problem. George Feeny? Much harder to swallow.
Comment by Maggie — July 3, 2008 #
I too fell in love with this show as a kid (courtesy of my dad). Did you know that the wonderful Howard Da Silva was blacklisted in Hollywood courtesy of HUAC, during the Red Scare? He was a principled man who spoke up for what he believed in — scary things like civil rights, you know — and Robert Taylor was a “friendly witness” to HUAC and gave him up. That just about ruined his career; certainly derailed it for along time. It’s all the more ironic that the role of beloved American statesman Ben Franklin, in 1776, was one of his first major comeback roles in that aftermath — first on Broadway, then in the movie. I just love him.
Comment by Peg Schuler-Armstrong — July 3, 2008 #
My first introduction to 1776 was when I played Martha Jefferson in the show in high school. My primary memory from that experience consists of having to engage in passionate, onstage kissing for 2 pages of dialogue with the boy playing Thomas Jefferson, who incicidentally became my boyfriend directly after that. . . Interestingly, though, I found the whole history aspect of the show terribly boring at the time (I have no excuse for this other than the fact that I was typical high school girl). Fortunately, I have a renewed interest in the events of 1776, as I coincidentally began watching HBO’s “John Adams” and reading Forrest Church’s “So Help Me God” (which explores the faiths of the founders) nearly simultaneously, and now this. Thanks for reminding me of another great depiction (if occasionally inaccurate) of our nation’s history!
Comment by Lindsay — July 3, 2008 #
Oh goodness. I love 1776. Funny fact - did you know that Brent Spiner (Star Trek TNG’s Data) played John Adams in the Broadway Revival?
Comment by Elizabeth — July 3, 2008 #
I love this movie so much - my sister and I got the sheet music so she could play some of the songs on the piano. When I heard there was a director’s cut of the movie that included an additional song (one that was in the Broadway show, I gather, but was cut from the movie for length - think it’s Cool Considerate Men), I couldn’t wait to get it. Now I have it and have been saving it for this weekend.
Favorite song: he plays the violin
Favorite motif: the closings of letters between John and Abigail -till then, I am, as I ever was, and ever shall be, yours.
Wonderful!
Comment by Allison — July 3, 2008 #
I just added this to my Netflix Q and remembered with fondness when you had us watch it back at Hill. Can’t wait to see it again!
Comment by Kate — July 4, 2008 #
PB,
Thanks for the link to the Ed Sullivan clip! I had never see that before - and now have it bookmarked. This is my favorite musical ever (Next to Music Man NCHS ‘82 - of course).
Patrick D.
Comment by Patrick D. — July 5, 2008 #
Hee. PB, I love this movie. It may be the first musical I ever saw as a wee little child, and we had the soundtrack on vinyl (along with South Pacific and The Sound of Music). This remains my favorite musical ever AND …
…I can sing all the songs by heart to this day!!!!!
Comment by Kate Setzer Kamphausen — July 9, 2008 #