It's great to see so many fans of this movie. Just out of curiousity, has this film made you appreciate American History particularly the Revolutionary era more since watching it? Has it gotten you interested in any way other than just being interested in history?
"These are only shadows of the real world..."
This musical started me on my journey of American history. It is why I want to be a colonial historian! I love reading about Benjamin Franklin (I have 17 books on him) and Thomas Jefferson is one of my idols. So, yes, in short, it has helped me realize what I want to do with my life. That might sound dramatic, but it's the truth.
When a woman gives birth to a crack baby you do not buy her a puppy.
This film gave me an interest in history that has stayed with me most of my life. I am probably the only engineering major in the history of my very large state univesity to minor in history, and if I needed to change careers I'd like to teach history.
The ideals of the American Revolution are inspriring. I wish we did a better job of living up to them since that time.
It made me understand our country back than way more better. Musicals help me understand the story better I think. This is an amazing Film.
"I'm obnoxious and disliked, you know that, sir" - 1776
After watching 1776;
I give Sacajawea and Jefferson dollars to kids to teach history.
I have a framed replica of the Declaration hanging in my bedroom.
I went to Monticello and felt as if I had come home.
I visited the Jefferson Memorial and touched Tom's foot, whispering 'thank you'.
I portrayed Jefferson in a local production of '1776'.
So...
Yes.
I'd have to say it interested me in history.
My teacher has just shown about half of the movie, and it's already affected me. I now have a greater respect for John Adams: before I percieved him as a curmudgeon who did not want to work with anyone. Now I see him as a principled man who made unpopular decisions and was better for it.
I LOVE THIS MOVIE!!!!! :)
When I first saw this I was in Jr. High as part of a field trip. Of course it wasn't "cool" to enjoy a musical, but it did instill a deep desire to find out more. Later, this movie brought home the true valor and bravery of these men, who put their lives, their fortunes, and the safety of their families on the line for US. They could have just cooperated with the British and become wealthier more powerful men, but they followed their convictions and their beliefs in doing the right thing.
I think of this movie every time I hear the garbage spewed by some about the "rich white men" who founded this country. Well, they could have been MUCH richer and MUCH more powerful if they'd sold out their beliefs, and we'd be the poorer for it.
Even after viewing this movie for the umpteenth time, I still get choked up, and wonder if I or any of those around me would be willing to risk everything for a greater ideal.
This movie should be mandatory viewing in Elementary and later grades, but alas, the politically correct, blame America first crowd would never allow it today. Our founding fathers could have easily gone the other way, forming their own aristocracy. This was such a rare, rare, occurrence in the history of mankind, and as corny as some parts of the movie may seem, it brings forth the message of these far sighted brave men who founded this experiment of government, in which the rights of the individual actually count for something.
You can't be serious, f-ascaso ! That today's political correctness would keep people from sharing this wonderful film and amazing musical about the origins of our unique and brave country?
I'm a liberal from the word go, and no other musical shows how much more closely our Founding Fathers resemble liberals than they do the pigs at the trough that we just (finally!) threw out of Washington.
Liberals are very proud of this country - after all, Liberals founded it, created it, supported it, fought for it, died for it, and....come to think of it, are still dying for it.
No Message
shareIf you look at my post, I never ONCE mentioned the word "liberal." But it's very telling that you immediately identified and recognized yourself and your ilk with "politically correct, blame America first crowd." Not to mention "rich white men."
You have a tentative grasp of history at best, or, giving you the benefit of the doubt, made those ridiculous statements in order to get some sort of rise out of someone.
Ease up the Kool-Aide there partner.
And the left is taking the Revolution full circle, now. They want to confiscate our guns and ammo. Lexington-Concord was all about protecting our weapons. Now the Senate wants to repeat that mistake. They should see this movie to get an idea about what happens when people's freedom is taken away from them.
shareYou can't be serious, f-ascaso ! That today's political correctness would keep people from sharing this wonderful film and amazing musical about the origins of our unique and brave country?
I'm a liberal from the word go, and no other musical shows how much more closely our Founding Fathers resemble liberals than they do the pigs at the trough that we just (finally!) threw out of Washington.
Liberals are very proud of this country - after all, Liberals founded it, created it, supported it, fought for it, died for it, and....come to think of it, are still dying for it.
"I'm a liberal from the word go, and no other musical shows how much more closely our Founding Fathers resemble liberals than they do the pigs at the trough that we just (finally!) threw out of Washington. "
After the commie-in-chief just expanded the federal budget in one MONTH by more than the entire previous 8 years COMBINED? You want to talk about PIGS again???
And by the way, the vast majority of the Founding Fathers were NOT liberal in the 2009 version of it (which really means "leftist" since there are effectively no more liberals left. The leftists ate them all.) John Adams was NO liberal. In fact, the American Revolution was scarcely a LEFTIST revolution. It was as conservative an event of its type.
The revolution YOU guys can take full credit for is the FRENCH Revolution, oh, yeah, and the RUSSIAN revolution. Guillotines and gulags, that is YOUR foundation!
Induced vomiting.
shareI first saw the film in 8th grade, which would have been 1985 (thank you Mr. Hower). Though I am not a history buff, this film has become an annual celebration, usually the week before July 4th. I have shared my love for this movie with many people, and I have it on my personal "Top 100" list as well. It will always be a favorite.
shareI also saw this on a field trip in the 7th grade in 1972. Growing up in NYC, I was lucky enough to see it at Radio City Music Hall. I've seen it on stage as well, bought it on VHS, and on laserdisc when they restored footage to it, and anxiuosly awaited the DVD. It's given me great tunes to whistle and sing to myself, and it gave me knowledge and an appreciation of the "lesser" political players who helped our nation gain its independence. For instance, I didn't have to go look up who Caesar Rodney was when I saw him on the Delaware quarter.
I am currently majoring in American History, this movie has only fueled my interest. I have visited Independence Hall and I was at peace there. To know what took place in that room sent chills through me. I highly recomend going there, you can almost see the great men debating the issues, and Adams yelling, "Good God what in the Hell are you waiting for!?!" lol.
“Don’t mourn for me now
because I’m finally at home
in the Stars”
>> Has this film done anything for you?
Yes. It gave me the greatest musical I've ever seen, or expect to see. This is a superb film and I think it deserves a place on any classic DVD shelf. Howard Da Silva, William Daniels, and Ken Howard are all phenomenal.
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"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." --Benjamin Franklin
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I was 25 in 1996, living in Philadelphia since birth, and had never even been to Independence Hall once. Then I saw this movie for the first time and it changed my entire perspective on American History forever. Maybe it's because I'm a musical theatre fanatic. But I finally "got" what this country was all about. 12 years later, I still love this movie. I watch it every 4th just to remind me of what an amazing country this is. God Bless America!
shareYes-I will proudly say it did something NO history class I ever took(prior to the one I saw the movie in)could before.
I went to wikipedia and I typed Richard Henry Lee(my fave char)...before I knew it..I was..doing something almost scary-
I WAS INTERESTED IN HISTORY! :-)
I saw this film on a Saturday afternoon in 1982. It has stayed with me ever since. It was at that moment that my life's course became clear to me. I have been teaching history now for the last 22 years. I've become absolutely obsessed with it. My three kids have all seen the play and know the words by heart. It inspired me to learn more. That is the highest compliment I can give anything. I hope a former student can say the same about me some day. I love this stuff.
shareSomething that 1776, and the true events of the American Revolution teach is the value of belief in a cause. Based on the realities they were faced with in July, 1776 he patriots both in Congress and the Continental Army should have packed up and gone home. Their cause was by any sane measure impossible.
As Dickinson said it in the musical "No troops, no arms, no ammunition, no money, no navy, no allies..." (I'm paraphrasing, at least a little).
However, because they believed in what they were doing they stayed at it, so that as opportunities came they were still there to take advantage of them, and in the end they wore the British down and showed them that the Empire's own cause was in fact the hopeless one.
Not a bad lesson for politics, not a bad one for life either!
Wow! I wish I had been back sooner to check up on this thread. I'm impressed by the answers and thank you for sharing them. I wondered if it was a fluke just to me that this film should be so inspiring, but now I see that it's not. Thank you all, and I hope others will post.
"These are only shadows of the real world..."
It has given me a sense of just what the Founders accomplished, and that mortal men could create a nation like this one is something I consider miraculous.
I have most of the dialogue in memory, and I frequently joke that my dream man is a combination of Thomas Jefferson (for being Southern & brilliant) and John Adams (for the passion he brings to independence--and for the sweetness seen in his treatment of his wife.)
bellamade01, I love your post! The dialogue is amazing. I watch this movie once a year(and have been since I first owned it in the early 90s) in honor of the 4th. I can almost quote is word for word.
"These are only shadows of the real world..."
My mom forced me to watch this when I was a kid. A couple of years ago, I forced my fiancee to watch it with me. It is now one of our favorite movies to watch together, and my favorite musical. It did get me hooked on the history of this great country!
1776: Congress was forced to vote unanimously to secede from the King. If they were a success, they would never really see the benefits of their labors in their lifetimes, and would assure an uphill battle, not only in the guaranteed war but in daily life to start a country independently from scratch. Odds were highly against us. If they failed, they would be signing their names over to treason and could hang for their crimes. Still, they chose the harder effort, not because it was easy, but because it was best for their country that they so valiantly served.
2012: Congress cannot decide on a simple popular vote what to have for their catered dinner. How sad. How disappointed our forefathers would be.