a.k.a. V.J.

I wrapped up Independence Day by watching 1776 on TCM. For those who are unfamiliar, 1776 is a 1972 musical comedy about the writing and signing of Declaration of Independence, adapted from the Broadway show of the same name. Viewing that movie on the Fourth is something I started back when I was a kid, as it was always playing on one channel or another back then. I didn’t watch it every year, but often enough to consider it a tradition.

A few years ago, Griffin discovered the film and enjoyed it. We’ve made it a point to watch 1776 together on or around the holiday ever since. (As a history nerd, any time I can get my family to watch a historical movie — even a musical that doesn’t exactly aim for scrupulous accuracy — I consider that a win.)

All that said, 1776 is a film I like, but don’t love. It’s far from a perfect movie. For one thing, it’s overly long, clocking in at 141 minutes. Worst of all, it’s a musical in which most of the songs are forgettable, and/or simply not that good. At least one is a chore for me to sit through.

On the plus side, 1776 has a very good cast headed up by Howard da Silva and William Daniels turning in wonderful performances as Benjamin Franklin and John Adams respectively. It’s also a great-looking movie with beautiful sets and period costumes. And as much as the music falls flat for me, the humor makes up for it, with many moments that make me chuckle even after all the repeated viewings.

Would I recommend the film? Sure. If nothing else, it’s worth watching just for William Daniels alone. He manages to make John Adams sympathetic even while leaning into the fact that Adams was considered “obnoxious and disliked” by most of the Continental Congress. Some viewers may be tempted to fast-forward through a few of the songs, but overall, 1776 is a fun little history lesson.