1776 (1972)

57% of critics liked it
(14 reviews)
80% of users liked it
(8,118 ratings)

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 first… More 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 first 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 figures by contemporizing them -- particularly the character of Ben Franklin. Blythe Danner's character of Martha Jefferson is expanded for the film version to allow for an elaborate outdoor production number. After 1776, Warner made only one more film, the 1972 "grunge Western" Dirty Little Billy. On an added note: the picture was originally rated G with its theatrical running time of 141 minutes. It was later expanded to 166 minutes; the added scenes caused the MPAA to re-rate it PG (for language) in 1992. Both versions are available on video. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 2 hr. 22 min.
Directed By: Peter H. Hunt, Peter Hunt
Written By: Peter Stone
Genres: Drama, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1972 Wide
On DVD: Jul 2, 2002
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Every American should watch this once a year.
Carol Cling, Las Vegas Review-Journal
A star-spangled, all-singing delight.
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
A wonderful, witty underrated musical. A 4th of July tradition in my house.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Long and boring musical about the American Revolution.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
A whole lotta toe-tappin' musical patriotism.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Americans have a propensity for getting chummy with heroic figures of the past -- a tendency on display in this lightly amusing history lesson.

Read all 6 critic reviews

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Cast

            William Daniels as John Adams

            Howard Da Silva as Benjamin Franklin

            Ken Howard as Thomas Jefferson

            David Ford as John Hancock

            Roy Poole as Stephen Hopkins

            Andy Albin as William Paca

            Emory Bass as James Wilson

            William H. Bassett as Thomas Heyward Jr.

            Howard Caine as Lewis Morris

            Blythe Danner as Martha Jefferson

            Jack De Mave as John Penn

            Gordon Devol as Thomas Lynch Jr.

            Frederic Downs as Samuel Huntington

            William Duell as Custodian Andrew McNair

            Peter Forster as Oliver Wolcott

            William Hansen as Caesar Rodney

            Ralston Hill as Secretary Charles Thomson

            Patrick Hines as Samuel Chase

            Ron Holgate as Richard Henry Lee

            John Holland as William Whipple

            Daniel Keyes as Josiah Bartlett

            Donald Madden as John Dickinson

            Richard McMurray as Francis Lewis

            Ray Middleton as Thomas McKean

            Stephen Nathan as Courier

            James Noble as John Witherspoon

            Barry O'Hara as George Walton

            Jordan Rhodes as William Hooper

            Rex Robbins as Roger Sherman

            Wabei Slyolwe as Richard Stockton

            Virginia Vestoff as Abigail Adams

            John Myhers as Robert Livingston

            Leo Leyden as George Read

            Mark Montgomery as Leather Apron

            Jonathan Moore as Lyman Hall

            John Cullum as Edward Rutledge
See full cast

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