MovieChat Forums > 1776 (1972) Discussion > I think I'd like this to get a live-TV t...

I think I'd like this to get a live-TV treatment.

posted 8 years ago by jschillig
5 replies | jump to latest

As much as I love the movie, I'd like to see this be another in the line of live-TV musical treatments. (To air around the Fourth of July, natch.)

Right now I can't think of any current musical theatre stars (or actors-who-can-sing) that might fill the roles, but I'm sure they can rustle up plenty. It's a shame Brent Spiner is probably too old by now to be a believable Adams as he was in the revival. (Or maybe he could be Franklin...)

There is one addition I'd make to the very end for a live-TV version. Of course they'd use the dissolve-into-engraving-and-signatures deal the stage and film versions did...but imagine, as the Liberty Bell keeps ringing, superimposed text onscreen over the signatures...

(BONG)

John Dickinson kept his promise to join the Continental Army, where he served with distinction. In 1787 he was instrumental in the drafting of the United States Constitution.

(BONG)

Caesar Rodney survived to become State President of Delaware for a time, resigning shortly after the Battle of Yorktown due to ill health. Before his death in 1784, he served as speaker of the Legislative Council.

(BONG)

Benjamin Franklin continued his career as a writer, statesman and diplomat, serving as Ambassador to France from 1776 until 1781 and serving as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention.

(BONG)

John Adams, after serving as a diplomat in Europe during the war years, became vice president to George Washington and succeeded him as our nation's second president. He retired to Braintree after his presidency, where he outlived Abigail by eight years.

(BONG)

Thomas Jefferson became the third president of the United States. Due to political disagreements, he and Adams were bitter rivals for a time. In their old age, they put aside their differences and became friends once more, exchanging letters for the rest of their lives.

(BONG)

Adams and Jefferson both died on the same day...July 4th, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration.

(BONG)

Adams' last words were, "Thomas Jefferson survives."

[–] ghostfan 8 years ago

I don't want a remake, (heck, I didn't even like the revival soundtrack, with Brent Spider as Adams, but I like your idea very much!

[–] rimnod-17089 8 years ago

A good idea.

[–] nannyjo 8 years ago

My ideal singing cast from actors that have done broadway would be Matthew Morrison, Neil Patrick Harris and Hugh Jackman. I would watch those three in ANYTHING!

.... along with Kevin Kline - I just remembered him

I thought for a moment that it would be nice to see William Daniels as Ben Franklin, but I just noticed that even though he has acting credits in 2015, he was born in 1927. That might be a bit too much.

[–] jad1986 8 years ago

Maybe it's because I really dug Hamilton (no, it's definitely because of that), but I was listening to the movie's soundtrack and couldn't help but wonder how Jefferson's lines, few as they are, would sound sung by Daveed Diggs.

What we see and what we seem are but a dream. A dream within a dream.

[–] jschillig 8 years ago

Hee! Yes, I can see that.

I understand that Lin Manuel Miranda was considering having John Adams as an actual onstage character in Hamilton, but decided against it because he figured there was no outdoing William Daniels' portrayal in 1776.

IIRC, Hamilton was also supposed to have some lines during a tirade about the Adams administration that dissed Abigail, but LMM took them out because "you just don't mess with Abigail Adams."