Monday, July 4, 2011

Declaration in Myth

I've always really loved the musical 1776.













Not because it is in any way an accurate telling of the lead-up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, but instead because of how beautifully it portrays the myth of America.

Filmed in 1972, this Jack Warner production is in many ways a conservative response to the changes in attitude about America brought on by the then current Vietnam war and the whole radical changes brought about by American youth.

But still, it is classic Hollywood myth making at its finest.

William Daniels, Ken Howard and Howard De Sliva all shine as the founders, Adams, Jefferson and Franklin, and although as I said, this is exactly NOT how America came to independence, it probably is how it should have.










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