Movies

I don't usually like musicals but I absolutely loved this. The songs were entertaining, the dialogue very witty and the acting was of an extremely high calibre - a cut above most films in my opinion. I'm a big history buff and I studied early US history in college last year so I found the storyline, particularly the debates over the Declaration of Independence, fascinating.William Daniels as John Adams stole the show. He was the best actor in a very strong cast and I was captivated from the very first scene. He has such a cool voice. (But no matter what he's done in his career, he's always be Mr. Feeny to me!) I've always admired the real John Adams to boot so he made an engaging protagonist. Howard de Silva as Benjamin Franklin was another definite highlight acting wise.

I promised my mother that I would once again put this wonderful movie on the video player this week end. There is a wonderful comment in the book "Lets put on a musical" about the fact that half way through the story you wonder if you really do know how it is going to end! William Daniels,is of course spectacular as John Adams,the linchpin of the show. Howard DaSilva and Franklin is just jaded enough(read dirty old man), and Ken Howard is delightful as Jeffrson. One person who was not in the stage production but is a definite asset to the movie is John Cullum as Rutledge.especially in his big solo number,Molasses to Rum.A real treat for eyes and ears ,and a history lesson to boot.

The NYC Broadway Musical was a great experience for me to have seen. However for some reason I did not see the film version until it was shown in Arcola, Illinois on a 4th of July celebration! William Daniels (John Adams)"Her Alibi",'89, gave a great performancealong with Howard Da Silva(Dr. Benjamin Franklin),"The Great Gatsby",'74 who looked exactly like the many pictures of Ben Franklin. Ken Howard,(Thomas Jefferson),"At First Sight",'99, gave all his fellow Planner's of the Declaration of Independence a very hard time, playing a violin and enjoying the pleasures of romance with his wife. It is a wonder the Declaration was ever accomplished! The music and singing was very comical among the politicians. This is a great outstanding American FILM which all Americans can enjoy seeing every 4th of July for many generations!