1776 (1972)
- Starring:
- William Daniels, Howard Da Silva, (more)
- Director(s):
- Peter H. Hunt
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- PG
- Category:
- Music & Performing Arts, Independent Films
Member Rating
My RatingSynopsis of 1776
The first independent production of former studio mogul Jack Warner, 1776 was adapted from the hit 1969 Broadway musical by Peter Stone and Sherman Edwards. William Daniels, Ken Howard, and Howard Da Silva are among the many actors who recreate their Broadway roles. The story is set during the first Continental Congress, when the Declaration of Independence was drafted by such founding fathers as John Adams (Daniels) and Benjamin Franklin (Da Silva). The script attempts to "humanize" these remote historical figures by contemporizing them -- particularly the character of Ben Franklin. Blythe Danner's character of Martha Jefferson is expanded for the film version to allow for an elaborate outdoor production number. After 1776, Warner made only one more film, the 1972 "grunge Western" Dirty Little Billy. On an added note: the picture was originally rated G with its theatrical running time of 141 minutes. It was later expanded to 166 minutes; the added scenes caused the MPAA to re-rate it PG (for language) in 1992. Both versions are available on video. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 166 mins
Complete Cast of 1776
- William Daniels - John Adams
- Ken Howard - Thomas Jefferson
- Roy Poole - Stephen Hopkins
- Peter Forster - Oliver Wolcott
- Patrick Hines - Samuel Chase
- Daniel Keyes - Josiah Bartlett
- Jonathan Moore - Lyman Hall
- Ray Middleton - Thomas McKean
- Blythe Danner - Martha Jefferson
- William Hansen - Caesar Rodney
- Frederic Downs - Samuel Huntington
- Leo Leyden - George Read
- Wabei Slyolwe - Richard Stockton
- Andy Albin - William Paca
- Richard McMurray - Francis Lewis
- Rex Robbins - Roger Sherman
- Jordan Rhodes - William Hooper
- Stephen Nathan - Courier
- Howard Da Silva - Benjamin Franklin
- David Ford - John Hancock
- Jack de Mave - John Penn
- Ralston Hill - Secretary Charles Thomson
- John Holland - William Whipple
- Mark Montgomery - Leather Apron
- Emory Bass - James Wilson
- John Cullum - Edward Rutledge
- William Duell - Custodian Andrew McNair
- Howard Caine - Lewis Morris
- William H. Bassett - Thomas Heyward, Jr.
- Gordon Devol - Thomas Lynch, Jr.
- James Noble - John Witherspoon
- John Myhers - Robert Livingston
- Donald Madden - John Dickinson
- Virginia Vestoff - Abigail Adams
- Ron Holgate - Richard Henry Lee
- Barry O'Hara - George Walton
- Director(s):
- Peter H. Hunt
- Writer(s):
- Peter Stone
- Producer(s):
- Jack L. Warner
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- PG(Suitable for Children)
- Categories:
- Independent Films, Music & Performing Arts
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