1776
1972 · Movie · G · 141 min · ★ 6.9 · 79% critics
In Philadelphia, colonial representatives debate whether to break from British rule and what kind of country they want to build. As tempers flare and compromises are tested, a committee is tasked with drafting a bold declaration that could unite the colonies—or split them further.
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Details
- Years
- 1972
- Release date
- 1972-11-09
- Language
- English
- Rated
- G
- Runtime
- 141 min
- Critic score
- 79/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.9/10 (85 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a funny, stirring history-themed musical with big personalities and plenty of debate, like Fiddler on the Roof; Not for you if you dislike long runtimes or find singing politicians too silly.
Pros: catchy, witty songs; inspiring patriotic mood; lively debate-driven humor | Cons: runs quite long; historical accuracy debated; some songs forgettable
Themes
- philadelphia, pennsylvania
- congress
- musical
- based on true story
- based on play or musical
- 18th century
- founding fathers
- declaration of independence
Awards & recognition
- National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
- Academy Award — Best Cinematography · 1973 · nominated
Cast & crew
William Daniels
as John Adams
Howard Da Silva
as Dr. Benjamin Franklin
Ken Howard
as Thomas Jefferson
Blythe Danner
as Martha Jefferson
- DM
Donald Madden
as John Dickinson (PA)
John Cullum
as Edward Rutledge (SC)
- DF
David Ford
as Congressional President John Hancock (MA)
- RH
Ron Holgate
as Richard Henry Lee (VA)
- EB
Emory Bass
as James Wilson (PA)
Virginia Vestoff
as Abigail Adams
Directed by Peter H. Hunt