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| re: '1776' film reviews: Historically applauded or panned? | |
| Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 12:30 pm EDT 07/05/17 | |
| In reply to: re: '1776' film reviews: Historically applauded or panned? - ilw 11:23 am EDT 07/05/17 | |
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| I don't find any of the first act songs "cutesy," and other than Richard Henry Lee, none of the characters is displayed as "clodhopping fools." Also, I strongly disagree with you that the solemnity of "Momma Look Sharp" is unearned, but I'd be interested to hear why you feel that way. | |
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| re: '1776' film reviews: Historically applauded or panned? | |
| Posted by: ilw 04:08 pm EDT 07/05/17 | |
| In reply to: re: '1776' film reviews: Historically applauded or panned? - Michael_Portantiere 12:30 pm EDT 07/05/17 | |
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| Thanks for asking. It's been quite a while, so I don't remember exactly what made me find the solemnity of "Momma Look Sharp" unearned. I just remember that the change in tone seemed jarring, and I didn't feel the strong emotion that the song was trying to evoke. Of course, it didn't help that I hadn't enjoyed the show up to that point. I don't know if I have a different reaction to this material than most, or if the revival didn't capture the spirit of the original Broadway production. |
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| re: '1776' film reviews: Historically applauded or panned? | |
| Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 03:35 pm EDT 07/06/17 | |
| In reply to: re: '1776' film reviews: Historically applauded or panned? - ilw 04:08 pm EDT 07/05/17 | |
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| "It's been quite a while, so I don't remember exactly what made me find the solemnity of 'Momma Look Sharp' unearned. I just remember that the change in tone seemed jarring, and I didn't feel the strong emotion that the song was trying to evoke. Of course, it didn't help that I hadn't enjoyed the show up to that point." Thanks for explaining. Whether it works for you or not, the huge change in tone for that scene is entirely intentional, I'm sure, to suddenly bring home to the audience the cost of war in terms of the loss of lives among those who are fighting. And although I believe that's the first time this point is really made in the show, it's not the last. There's also the very moving dispatch from General Washington that the secretary reads towards the end of the show, where Washington writes something like "dear God, what brave men I shall lose before this business is done." I think the Broadway revival of 1776 was good overall, but not great. I urge you to watch the movie in an uninterrupted viewing sometime if you have the opportunity. |
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| re: '1776' film reviews: Historically applauded or panned? | |
| Posted by: JereNYC (JereNYC@aol.com) 01:01 pm EDT 07/05/17 | |
| In reply to: re: '1776' film reviews: Historically applauded or panned? - Michael_Portantiere 12:30 pm EDT 07/05/17 | |
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| I don't even think Richard Henry Lee is portrayed as a fool, clodhopping or not. Lee is young and enthusiastic and has an energy and connections that neither Adams nor Franklin possess. I think they respect him, and know that he can come through for them (which he does), even if he may not be their own personal cup of tea. Nothing that Adams or Franklin say at any point indicates that they think he's a fool or don't like him. They're just different kinds of people and Lee's natural exuberance makes them at little uncomfortable. |
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| re: '1776' film reviews: Historically applauded or panned? | |
| Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 01:05 pm EDT 07/05/17 | |
| In reply to: re: '1776' film reviews: Historically applauded or panned? - JereNYC 01:01 pm EDT 07/05/17 | |
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| Well, Adams does call Lee an "idiot" at one point :-) Obviously, I think the degree to which Lee comes across as a fool (or not) depends largely on the performance. |
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| re: '1776' film reviews: Historically applauded or panned? | |
| Posted by: JereNYC (JereNYC@aol.com) 09:33 am EDT 07/06/17 | |
| In reply to: re: '1776' film reviews: Historically applauded or panned? - Michael_Portantiere 01:05 pm EDT 07/05/17 | |
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| As MikeR points out below, I've always thought that Adams referring to Lee as an idiot was more a reflection of Adams' short temper and dissatisfaction than his actual feelings about Lee. There's a reason Adams is considered "obnoxious and disliked" and it's not because he's a charming guy with a good word for everyone all the time. | |
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| re: '1776' film reviews: Historically applauded or panned? | |
| Posted by: MikeR 01:02 pm EDT 07/05/17 | |
| In reply to: re: '1776' film reviews: Historically applauded or panned? - JereNYC 01:01 pm EDT 07/05/17 | |
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| Adams refers to him as "that idiot Lee" at least once. But of course Adams was obnoxious and disliked. | |
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