I saw _1776_ in its original production on Broadway in 1969 and it remains one of the happiest memories of my life. The book, music, lyrics, orchestrations, acting, set, costumes, and lighting were perfection. And while the movie is superb, this video clip gives you a more visceral feeling for how electrifying the production was live and on stage. A few years ago I called the director, Peter Hunt, and told him how seeing _1776_ when I was 13 showed me how theater can create magic, and inspired me to become a dramatist.
Fabulous! I saw the movie at Radio City Music Hall in Dec 1972 for the Christmas show there. It was a class trip. Have loved ths film ever since then...and my husband and kids do, too
Getting John Cullum to play the supporting part of Rutledge after Clifford David left was a coup as he he had already played the lead in ON A CLEAR DAY . As a matter of fact, he performed with William Daniels AND Clifford David in THAT show. He is better here than on the film!!
While I love the entire original Broadway cast -- especially William Daniels and Howard DaSilva (who was not included in this mostly-British cast) -- for me the biggest showstopper was always John Cullum's solo 'Molasses, To Rum, To Slaves' which both chills and moves me with the savage power of its searing message of hypocrisy and injustice. And, as is abundantly demonstrated here, Cullum's performance (astoundingly not even nominated for a Tony!) is the very definition of a true tour de force. Bravo! And just imagine what a great Sweeney Todd he would have made!
That's because John Cullum wasn't in the original cast. He was a replacement for Clifford David who created the role and can be heard on the original cast album.
I saw the movie, and was instantly taken with Billy Daniels and John Adams. I adore the movie, every scene, every song, every actor. I’ve seen several stage versions through the years, and loved each one. John Adams is always my favorite. But, I had a dream come true in 1997, when I got to see the revival on Broadway. Brent Spiner was John Adams, Pat Hingle was Benjamin Franklin and Paul Michael Valley was Thomas Jefferson. I knew Paul because he had spent some time on ANOTHER WORLD, one of my favorite soaps. They had just killed off his character, so I was really happy to see him. I didn’t know any of the other actors, or Martha Jefferson or Abigail Adams. Looking back over my PLAYBILL I still don’t know their names. But that was one thrilling Wednesday afternoon for me. My friends and I got to meet the actor that played Lewis Morris. I told him “I use your line so many times when I say I won’t do something.” He smiled,”Courteously. I have so many people tell me that after shows.” I taught elementary school, 4th grade, and in Social Studies when the issue of slavery came up I always used to break down the story of “MOLASSES TO RUM TO SLAVES”. I explained it wasn’t as simple an issue as modern society has made it out to be. “Hail Boston, Hail Charleston, who stinketh the most?”
I agree. There was a warmth to both in the movie. Still, what a musical. great book, music and acting. So many critics give the film a three out of four star rating but this is a clear four out of four star movie and the stage musical -- original or other -- is a must see.
21 months into the run, and Bill Daniels was still there, Ron Holgate (Richard Henry Lee) was there, and had won the Tony for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical. John Cullum was the original Edward Rutledge, but I’m so happy to see him in the show here. Looking over characters we know well, we see a lot of familiar faces from the film. How I LOVE this show!!
@@maestroclassico5801He replaced another actor. I can’t remember his name (Cliff David?)… but this guy, John Cullum, and Bill Daniels were in “On a Clear Day You Can See Forever” together.
I love the movie....saw it for the first time in seoul korea, when it first came out when i was a kid with my parents, my father stationed as an officer to J 4 unit on base. After peace time. Saw it in the theater on base.
John Cullum was indeed stupendous. But oh, how I wish that there was a film this crisp of his performance in Shenandoah! (And oh, how I wish they had used the immortal Ethel Merman in the film version of Gypsy, but that's a whole other can of worms and massive injustice.)
Wednesday, May 8, 2024---7:05 am CST I have the 1972 movie version of "1776" on Blu-ray and both the CD version and the vinyl version of the original cast recording from 1969. I was 16 years old and living in Richardson, Texas. I never saw the stage version of "1776" i don't think the play ever came to Dallas, Texas. If the play came here in Dallas, Texas, my grandmother probably would've of taken me to see it at the State Fair Music Hall here in Dallas, Texas., William Daniels is now 97 years old is still alive and still little active. Terry Marvin (Dallas, Texas) P.S. Thank you for uploading this. Where did you find it? Wish they showed the scene where William Daniels sings "Is Anybody Out There". William Daniels is originally from Brooklyn, New York. I also have his autobiography. I have the hardback version of his book and the audio version of the book.
Funny they kept "For God's sake, John, sit down!" but not his spoken interjections of "Good God!". How many times does he say it? It must have been a challenge to remember for the Sullivan broadcast!
Who is playing Jefferson here? Wikipedia says Ken Howard played the role in the original broadway cast, but that certainly doesn't look like Ken Howard.
Look at the INTERNET BROADWAY DATA BASE, the IBDB. You can click for opening night casts as well as touring companies' casts. I think Ken Howard was a replacement on B'way and/or toured.
