1776 the Musical: Restored Director's Cut

The director's cut DVD of 1776 was a long awaited release of the movie that came out in 1972. Fans of the Broadway play were pleased to discover the DVD version now contained scenes that were thought to have been destroyed under Jack Warner's orders when he reedited the film to remove the song, "Cool, Cool, Considerate Men." The DVD provides commentary by Peter Hunt and Peter Stone regarding this request by Richard Nixon to have the number deleted after a screening at the White House. The two men claim Nixon asked Warner to remove the number from the movie because he did not like the way conservatives were presented as blocking the move to independence.

Nixon was wrong about the value of this number. The reasons some representatives objected to the discussion on independence are frequently left out of history books, or quickly glossed over. Once victory has been achieved it is often hard to be sympathetic to the concerns of those who do not wish to move forward with something new. There were some very valid fears expressed by these men. They were not oppositional for opposition sake. In fact they held a rather logical position based on the odds of winning against a superior military force. There were significant advantages for many of the property and merchant classes if they stayed within the British Empire. The arguments for leaving addressed few of their concerns for how those needs would be addressed and protections that would be provided. There were few guarantees promised to any of the classes. This song expresses concerns held by not just the propertied classes, but by those who feared what retaliation from a super power would mean. Looking back it is easy to be on the side of independence and believe firmly that the Americans would win. However, doubt was an honest emotion to have based on the facts of the time. One of the most powerful lines in the song is "Why begin if we know we cannot win, and if we cannot win why bother to begin?" It is a rational question, not a selfish one. Since we did win, it is one not often addressed when studying this time period.

In listening to several interviews by the writer and director, I am not sure that was their purpose in including this song about conservatives. The writing of a line for Hancock about their loyalty to "the British Crown or the half crown" makes the intent of the author and director a bit clearer. However, a more objective audience can draw from this song a clearer perspective of why all Thirteen Colonies did not immediately jump on the band wagon for independence from Great Britain.

Music is again used powerfully when the South condemns the North for hypocrisy regarding the triangle trade and thus the North's participation in slavery. While wanting to ban the South's slavery, the North continues to engage in highly profitable shipping of slaves. This is another topic often glossed over in our history books, but brought to thundering life in the song, "Molasses to Rum." South Carolina's, Edward Rutledge is tasked with singing this powerful song which outlines New England's triangle trade routes. After the song the Southern delegation storms out leaving the question of independence in the balance. While obviously created for dramatic effect it does create a more balanced look at how we got to the compromises on slavery that created the alliance to declare our independence. There was tension on this issue that would not be solved directly if there was any hope to move forward with one new nation. The conversation would ultimately continue to create compromises and resolves that would continue through the Civil War.

For those currently frustrated with the progress of our modern government the scene created around the song, "Piddle Twiddle and Resolve" not only sums up Adams feelings of frustration, but resounds just as loudly for many of us frustrated with Congress today. It truly feels as if some things regarding government never change. In this scene early in the film, Adams expresses his frustrations with lack of progress made by the Continental Congress. There is a dream sequence in which his wife Abigail intervenes. Another song that will equally appeal to voters is another Adams song, "Is Anybody There" in which he again expresses his frustrations. He thinks he is making logical points but nobody is listening and they refuse to hear what he thinks needs to be done. I'm thinking this scene and song would resonate with many voters across the country about now who are begging for the return of common sense. That is why I do actually disagree with the writer and director of the film. In many ways there is much here that does appeal to conservatives and libertarians. You just have to view it in the right context.

Returning to the historical aspects of the film, while the author and director are hesitant to admit the liberties they took with historical accuracy, one of the fun challenges is to identify the where they stuck to historical facts and where they took their liberties. The most obvious are the female characters. One of the challenges of any play or movie is not having any female leads. Abigail Adams is added as a fantasy character so there is already an expectation that the incidents are not real. Some of the incidents mentioned while compressed, are based on letters between John and Abigail. The author has met the criteria for creating historical fiction. Adding Martha Jefferson was misleading. She did not come to Philadelphia during the Continental Congress, but in fact was home in Virginia. When you listen to the interviews with Stone and Hunt, neither apologizes for these historical alterations. However, if you know your American history, or are quick with a Google search, this information is not hard to obtain.

Another piece of historical data that I finally went and verified before writing this article was the health situation of Caesar Rodney. The National Parks service has released an on-line version of a book on the signers that was originally issued during the Bicentennial. They were able to clarify the information that the movie compressed and jumbled for dramatic purposes. In the movie, there is constant drama regarding Rodney's health. Delaware's delegation is divided and according to their instructions must have a majority ruling to vote. We are presented with a shrunken man; near death, from what we discover is cancer. Eventually during the course of the film, he has to be taken home by Thomas McKean to die, leaving George Read to give Delaware's vote against independence. Rodney is then summoned back from his death bed to cast the deciding vote.

Well it makes for a dramatic movie moment and the summoning part is not wrong, the movie had the facts wrong. While he did have skin cancer, he was not dying. He was in fact acting in a militia capacity in Delaware when the vote was called. The ride is in fact documented. He came after receiving a dispatch from McKean that Reid was voting against independence on behalf of the Delaware delegation. The ugliness of the ride described in the movie is accurate, just not the physical health of the rider. Caesar Rodney did not die until 1784, but did suffer politically for his vote for independence. This is an issue not discussed in the movie version and generally ignored in history texts.

This is a film worth watching if you enjoy seeing history come to life, understand the realities of historical fiction, and like musicals. One should understand this is not a short film. The DVD credits list it at 166 minutes. However, it has become a staple in our household every Fourth of July. We have converted family and friends to our annual tradition. It combines history, humor, music, and powerful dramatic scenes to help us to see the founding fathers not as "demigods" as Franklin's character says, but as humans with real faults and failings.

Sources:

Stone, Peter, writer. 1776. Dir. Peter Hunt. Perfs. William Daniels, Howard Da Silva, Ken Howard. 1972. DVD Restored Director's Cut. Columbia Pictures, 2002.

1776 The Official Website:

http://www.1776themusical.us/index.htm

http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=R000376

Frank, William and Harold Hancock. "Caesar Rodney's Two Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary: An Evaluation." Delaware History 18 (Fall-Winter 1976): 63-76; Rodney, Caesar. Letters To and From Caesar Rodney, 1756-1784. Edited by George Ryden. 1933. Reprint, New York: DaCapo Press, 1970.

National Park Service:

http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/declaration/bio40.htm