These men were pretty much throwing their lives away when they signed the Declaration of Independence and we should forever be in gratitude to these men so long rememered for one action rebelling against the British Empire. As having a great great great etc. Uncle who was a Colonel under George Washington it is amazing to say when we are more connected to these men even though its been so long ago. RIP all the signers of the Declaration of Independence
I imagine the actual event went something like this; they must have been both relieved and frightened at the same time. On one hand, years of discourse and uncertainty had finally reached a definitive conclusion-on the other, they were stepping into totally uncharted territory and had little idea what the consequences would be. That took a great deal of courage, fortitude, and just a bit of foolhardiness all at the same time.
In the Library of Congress rests the draft copy of The Declaration of Independence as written by Thomas Jefferson but edited by John Adams and Benjamin Franklin --- and boy did Franklin editor. It makes for fabulous reading. The signed copy on parchment is, of course, under thick glass at the National Archives.
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@Bestmanme08 You're probably right, but many years ago I charmed a luncheon of very rich American bankers' wives with my vast knowledge of American history, all of which comes from my being totally conversant with the musical 1776. It doesn't matter if the truth cut corners, it is a piece I can imagine stirs up patriotism in the USA. Thanks to the American War of Independence the British had to settle Australia, the best thing they ever did.
The ending of this film is what I always remember: that final pullback shot (at 6:04) which starts on Adams's face as the bell gongs, a single take that lasts two-and-a-quarter minutes. And this is the edited TV broadcast version of the film; note the CinemaScope squeeze of the image at the end in order to fit the wide screen closing credits. The letter boxed DVD version of the film has those same credits at the beginning of the film rather than the end. A wonderful film in either version.
We obviously don't know how accurate this portrayal is. But it makes me even more grateful for what these men did & the sacrifices were made for the USA to come about. God Bless America!!!
I love how the ending feels bittersweet and not overly patriotic. Washington's army is in shambles and they all realize they could be hanged for treason. They don't know what the future is going to hold. It really makes you appreciate the risks the Founding Fathers took and where the origins of our country come from. Happy 4th of July!
While this is a fun and entertaining scene, it is pure fiction. Such dialogue never took place. You didn't really think our founders were this "campy," did you? If you want to watch something to that gives you a more historical account of this event, watch the HBO miniseries "John Adams."
I saw this on B'way in 1969, I was in 6th grade at the time. Incredible show with a huge impact on my family. I was so glad the majority of B'way actors were used for the film version. This is a 4th of July tradition with my family in New Orleans.
I don't get why they made it look like Caesar Rodney was on his death bed when the Declaration was about to be voted on. Rodney lived almost a full 8 years after the signing. Also, McKean didn't go and fetch him. Rodney made the trip himself. I don't like it when movies aren't historically accurate. I guess there's no real proof that Rutledge whined about the slavery part of the Declaration either. This was a great movie though, but it didn't have to be a musical.
@GreenDay1981 Because movies are about story, not history. If you can find a single movie that is historically accurate in every way, I will salute you. And never watch that movie, because it won't have the drama of a well written story.
@ladyvivamus I'll admit it would have been very difficult to make this movie historically accurate considering the year it was based on (who knows if Adams was really a loud-mouth ranter that was disliked by most of Congress), but still, what was the point? They made it seem like Rodney was as much of a key character as Adams and Franklin were. On a funnier note, don't you think the guy that played John Hancock looks a lot like Tom Berenger? When I first saw it, I thought it was him.
@fumetti Yes but they made him out to be really weak and near death. They even had him say "a man should die in his own bed" like he could perish at any moment. Still, I enjoy this movie and I'm glad TCM ran it yesterday. I still think the guy that played John Hancock looks a lot like Tom Berenger.
@GreenDay1981 Well Ken Howard became famous for the White Shadow, William Daniels went on to Boy Meets World and St Elsewhere, and the dude who played Rev. Witherspoon was the Governor on the sitcom Benson.
@fumetti Only people I recognized from this movie were William Daniels and Howard Caine, the representative from New York who "abstains courteously". He played Major Hochstetter in the TV series Hogan's Heroes. He was hilarious in that role.
@GreenDay1981 Jefferson was Ken Howard of the White Show....and if you watched the TV sitcom Benson, the man playing Rev. Witherspoon was the same person. Howard de Silva who played Franklin, was blacklisted in the 50s for supposedly supporting communism.
And Blythe Danner who played Mrs. Jefferson is the mom of Gwenyth Paltrow. She was the mom in the movie the Great Santini.
George Washington actually cried out this line during the Battleof Brooklyn Heights, when he watched his 5th Maryland make a suicidal counterattack against the British, sacrificing itself so that the rest of the army could escape- one of the few times Washington let his feelings show.
...on what better day than the Independence Day - the 4th of July to watch this brief video on the Founding of our Dear Country - The United States of America.
FEENY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
helenadagreat 1 week ago
These men were pretty much throwing their lives away when they signed the Declaration of Independence and we should forever be in gratitude to these men so long rememered for one action rebelling against the British Empire. As having a great great great etc. Uncle who was a Colonel under George Washington it is amazing to say when we are more connected to these men even though its been so long ago. RIP all the signers of the Declaration of Independence
RYansAdams79 1 week ago
I imagine the actual event went something like this; they must have been both relieved and frightened at the same time. On one hand, years of discourse and uncertainty had finally reached a definitive conclusion-on the other, they were stepping into totally uncharted territory and had little idea what the consequences would be. That took a great deal of courage, fortitude, and just a bit of foolhardiness all at the same time.
dkupke 3 weeks ago
Both Adams and Jefferson died within hours of each other on July4th 1826, 50 years from the supposed signing.
candr 1 month ago
In the Library of Congress rests the draft copy of The Declaration of Independence as written by Thomas Jefferson but edited by John Adams and Benjamin Franklin --- and boy did Franklin editor. It makes for fabulous reading. The signed copy on parchment is, of course, under thick glass at the National Archives.
agatematt 1 month ago
John Hancock, played by Tom Berenger's dad.... or so I believed when I was a kid.
jrs689 2 months ago
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When millions lock in that pyramid will flip upside down.
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TruthKnowledgeDOTcom 4 months ago
This movie is inaccurate and rotten as history!
Bestmanme08 4 months ago
@Bestmanme08 You're probably right, but many years ago I charmed a luncheon of very rich American bankers' wives with my vast knowledge of American history, all of which comes from my being totally conversant with the musical 1776. It doesn't matter if the truth cut corners, it is a piece I can imagine stirs up patriotism in the USA. Thanks to the American War of Independence the British had to settle Australia, the best thing they ever did.
MsSmallthings 1 month ago
This makes me happy(:
BrooksOfficial 5 months ago
Omg.. I hated what we were learning in US History class but this movie makes it soo fun and easy to understand! love it!
crazy4corbinbleux 5 months ago
The ending of this film is what I always remember: that final pullback shot (at 6:04) which starts on Adams's face as the bell gongs, a single take that lasts two-and-a-quarter minutes. And this is the edited TV broadcast version of the film; note the CinemaScope squeeze of the image at the end in order to fit the wide screen closing credits. The letter boxed DVD version of the film has those same credits at the beginning of the film rather than the end. A wonderful film in either version.
mca1218 7 months ago
their gonna cry
Divaratrika 7 months ago
Good movie, but with all the leftwing liberals and jews, makes me wonder just how accurate it is.
proudrebel69 8 months ago
Comment removed
bajillionballet15 8 months ago
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One of my favorite movies of all time. John Cullum as the South Carolina rep. was particularly good.
Georgejmh 8 months ago
We obviously don't know how accurate this portrayal is. But it makes me even more grateful for what these men did & the sacrifices were made for the USA to come about. God Bless America!!!
pennybug12 8 months ago 2
I love how the ending feels bittersweet and not overly patriotic. Washington's army is in shambles and they all realize they could be hanged for treason. They don't know what the future is going to hold. It really makes you appreciate the risks the Founding Fathers took and where the origins of our country come from. Happy 4th of July!
EHH246 8 months ago 3
happy birthday america
garda611 8 months ago in playlist 4th of july
Great movie! Thanks for posting
Gaius8666a 8 months ago
Great clip, great movie. Happy 4th to all!
michelemabelle222 8 months ago
Happy Independence Day! :D
TGIFridayy 8 months ago
Playing Roger Sherman in a community theater production in October!
TeletranOne100 8 months ago 2
@TeletranOne100 Break legs - and hearts.
MercedAFBrat77 8 months ago
While this is a fun and entertaining scene, it is pure fiction. Such dialogue never took place. You didn't really think our founders were this "campy," did you? If you want to watch something to that gives you a more historical account of this event, watch the HBO miniseries "John Adams."
guyfroml 8 months ago
"Oh, good for you, John." I love Franklin! :)
historygirl0126 9 months ago 3
I saw this on B'way in 1969, I was in 6th grade at the time. Incredible show with a huge impact on my family. I was so glad the majority of B'way actors were used for the film version. This is a 4th of July tradition with my family in New Orleans.
VValkyrie 10 months ago in playlist B'way
I don't get why they made it look like Caesar Rodney was on his death bed when the Declaration was about to be voted on. Rodney lived almost a full 8 years after the signing. Also, McKean didn't go and fetch him. Rodney made the trip himself. I don't like it when movies aren't historically accurate. I guess there's no real proof that Rutledge whined about the slavery part of the Declaration either. This was a great movie though, but it didn't have to be a musical.
GreenDay1981 10 months ago
@GreenDay1981 Because movies are about story, not history. If you can find a single movie that is historically accurate in every way, I will salute you. And never watch that movie, because it won't have the drama of a well written story.
ladyvivamus 10 months ago
@ladyvivamus I'll admit it would have been very difficult to make this movie historically accurate considering the year it was based on (who knows if Adams was really a loud-mouth ranter that was disliked by most of Congress), but still, what was the point? They made it seem like Rodney was as much of a key character as Adams and Franklin were. On a funnier note, don't you think the guy that played John Hancock looks a lot like Tom Berenger? When I first saw it, I thought it was him.
GreenDay1981 10 months ago
@GreenDay1981 He was indeed suffering from cancer of the face when the Declaration was being signed, and wore a patch as in the movie.
fumetti 8 months ago
@fumetti Yes but they made him out to be really weak and near death. They even had him say "a man should die in his own bed" like he could perish at any moment. Still, I enjoy this movie and I'm glad TCM ran it yesterday. I still think the guy that played John Hancock looks a lot like Tom Berenger.
GreenDay1981 8 months ago
@GreenDay1981 Well Ken Howard became famous for the White Shadow, William Daniels went on to Boy Meets World and St Elsewhere, and the dude who played Rev. Witherspoon was the Governor on the sitcom Benson.
fumetti 8 months ago
@fumetti Only people I recognized from this movie were William Daniels and Howard Caine, the representative from New York who "abstains courteously". He played Major Hochstetter in the TV series Hogan's Heroes. He was hilarious in that role.
GreenDay1981 8 months ago
@GreenDay1981 Jefferson was Ken Howard of the White Show....and if you watched the TV sitcom Benson, the man playing Rev. Witherspoon was the same person. Howard de Silva who played Franklin, was blacklisted in the 50s for supposedly supporting communism.
And Blythe Danner who played Mrs. Jefferson is the mom of Gwenyth Paltrow. She was the mom in the movie the Great Santini.
fumetti 8 months ago
@fumetti get a life
tfmcgee55 8 months ago
@tfmcgee55 get cancer, lose your parents to a horrible car crash, and then die.
fumetti 8 months ago
I Second the "to Hell with New York"
and respectfully add "lets go Red Sox"
ooxcfhxoo 11 months ago
00:35 "I attended William and Mary, Mr. Adams" Ha ha! W&M 1, Harvard 0.
Seasass 1 year ago 2
My name is still the only one on the DAMN thing...PS. I LOVE JOHN ADAMS(William Daniels)!!!
Cassid4813 1 year ago
@Cassid4813 I too am a big fan of Dr. Craig!
guyfroml 8 months ago
I love Dickinson and Jefferson and Adams !
dasyization 1 year ago
I get chills when the orchestra builds and the bell rings. Especially with the last note.
MotownConnoisseur30 1 year ago
"But dear god, what brave men I shall lose...before this business ends."
That entire last dispatch is stirring and brilliant. It really brings home the enormity of what they were doing.
Pfisiar22 1 year ago 17
@Pfisiar22
George Washington actually cried out this line during the Battleof Brooklyn Heights, when he watched his 5th Maryland make a suicidal counterattack against the British, sacrificing itself so that the rest of the army could escape- one of the few times Washington let his feelings show.
TeletranOne100 8 months ago 3
I gotten to see this as a class trip the whole school gotten a showing just for us, I was just 17 years old then.
BH206L3 1 year ago
"Stephen, sit down".
"No..ht, I want to remember each man's face as he signs".
r5t6y12 1 year ago 2
One of my alltime favorite movie scenes. So moving once the bell rings.
geoffolehane 1 year ago 14
@geoffolehane - Mine too, Geoff. Thanks. :)
RMNhobie 1 year ago
when I see this video, I always cry. signing of declaration of independence...
Louisa1789 1 year ago 8
@Louisa1789 - Yes - I "feel a rush" as the tableau comes together at the end. :)
RMNhobie 1 year ago
...on what better day than the Independence Day - the 4th of July to watch this brief video on the Founding of our Dear Country - The United States of America.
scotsman40 1 year ago 6
love this movie
garda611 1 year ago
Thanks for putting this up. Happy Fourth!
tmh24602 1 year ago 6
@tmh24602 You're quite welcome - Happy Fourth! :)
RMNhobie 1 year ago