I thought Paul Giamatti did a splendid job as Adams and any awards that come his way due to his portrayal are richly deserved.
That being said William Daniels will always be John Adams to me.
He's taking the knife out of the Cheese!
Do you think he wants some cheese?
I have to agree with that. I've seen the Adams Chronicles as well and thought that George Grizzard did a great job, but since 1776 has been available and that hasn't I've grown used to him as Adams. It's hard to change.
"These are only shadows of the real world..."
William Daniels as John Adams is one of the great film performances of all time.
shareAnd it's amazing that he is able to command the screen as he does given how much phyiscally larger than he Thomas Jefferson / Ken Howard is.
shareThe scene on the staircase shows the physical difference's and is very funny when Adams threatens to use "physical force if necessary" to get Jefferson to write the Declaration.
He's taking the knife out of the Cheese!
Do you think he wants some cheese?
and daniels bring total conviction to that absurd line.
shareHe does make you believe that he believes he could do it doesn't he?
He's taking the knife out of the Cheese!
Do you think he wants some cheese?
I have seen "1776", and "John Adams" ( with Paul Giamatti) but unfortunately have not had the chance to see "The Adams Chronicles with George Grizzard. I have to admit, my first thought of the idea of listening to William Daniels sing was going to be lousy. However I thought he did a good job singing, and brought an intensity to the role. Giamatti also brought a quiet dignity to the part in the HBO miniseries. Frankly I liked them both.
I may not agree with your opinion, but I will defend to the death your right to disagree!
The 1976 Adams Chronicles was finally released to DVD some time in 2009 (I think). I haven't bought it yet because my late mother was smart and recorded all the shows when they ran on our local PBS station about ten years after the Bi-Centennial (at least with PBS I have a fair idea they haven't been edited.) I burned her tapes to DVD a few years ago. It's fun to see people like Christopher Lloyd and Mark Hamill in bit parts!
I have to say, I had the opposite problem... having seen 1776 first, I kept EXPECTING the actors in Chronicles to sing... for a little, anyway! I think Daniels was smart playing John Q Adams.
I remember at the time it was first released, someone DID ask Daniels why he didn't take the role of John Adams (I guess he was asked?) and he said the same thing. That it was a brilliant, challenging part, but if he took it, people would expect him to sing, and it would be distracting, so he took John Q. instead.
If I am not mistaken, WD has played an Adams four times now - JA on stage, JA in the movie, JQA in the Chronicles and Samuel Adams in a mini series also produced in the 70's (I think)-(John Jakes' "The Ba s tard.")
Do not get me started. I had to do a history paper on Sam Adams for 7th grade history class.
shareI do agree..I just re watched the opening scene that evolves into "Sit Down John" Notice how his physicality is spot on. The way he moves his arms when he swings around to bolt down the stairs, the way he goes down them, and then how he strides into the Congressional chambers. He is a not big in physical stature, but he fills the room with his presence nonetheless. Truly a masterwork.
shareWILLIAM DANIELS RULES !!!
Sit down John, sit down John...for God's sakes John - sit down ! ; )
Daniels doesn't really resemble Adams that much other than the height. He's much thinner. But I just love his whole caustic demeanor in 1776! That distinctive New England voice just gets me every time. Giamatti looks more like the real Adams but he's too much of sourpuss for me...Although, perhaps that was the way Adams was in real life.
Son of a married couple! - Kenneth Parcell (30 Rock)
I think Paul Giamatti did a good job also, but have to say that William DAniels will always be John Adams to me, and when I read any of Adams letters its always his voice I hear, not Mr Giamatti's. (mind you Mr Daniels had a 30 year head start.)
It is not our abilities that show who we truly are...it is our choices
William Daniels is TRULY John Adams to me, as well. I saw the play on Broadway in 1973, and can absolutely say that it did its job. It gave voices to famous figures, and opened history to people in ways they never thought of.
Thank you, Mr. Daniels.
I don't feel the need to chose either Daniels or Giamatti over the other one. Giamatti was beyond brilliant in a strictly dramatic role - Daniels was fantastic in the musical role.
I remember when Daniels was doing St Elsewhere and his character's wife reminded him he was obnoxious and disliked. It was great.
I am sure my opinion is clouded by the fact that I saw "1776" before I saw the John Adams mini-series, but I much prefer William Daniels' version. I thought Giamatti's version depicted Adams far too grouchy, brash, and without much personality. (Unless, of course, that really was Adams' real-life demeanor. If so, then bravo, Mr. Giamatti!)
shareI've read the McCullough book which the miniseries was based on, and Adams was NOTHING at all like Giamatti's character. He wasn't a dour, depressing fellow at all! William Daniels wins.
shareSometimes capturing the soul of a character means departing from how he'd actually behave. 1700's decorum would have required that Adams behave more as Giamatti did -- the kind of pushiness William Daniels had would not have been tolerated. But the Daniles performance is how Adams felt, and how he was perceived, so while it might not acurrately mimic Adams' real behavior, it is, in an artistic sense, more accurate.
McCullough was something of an apologists for Adams. He saw him somewhat differently than Edwards and Stone did. I often had the feeling that he was deliberately contradicting the impression 1776 gave. Who is actually closer to the truth I cannot say.
G o t r i d o f t h e c o m p u t e r w i t h t h e f a u l t y s p a c e b a r
You're right that 18th century sensibilities would not have tolerated the pushiness shown in William Daniels' Adams, but those words "Obnoxious and Disliked" were a real contemporary quote!
(They were from John Adams' letters to Abigail.)
John Adams was a great revolutionary but a miserable politician. He was all passion and agitation but then when it came time for negotiation and compromise he managed to make himself the first President voted out of office!