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Post by topbilled on Jun 21, 2023 17:17:05 GMT
I will list some films related to the U.S., but if there are other films related to Independence movements in other countries, please feel free to mention them as well!
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1776 (1972) is a must-see film. William Daniels, Ken Howard, Blythe Danner and Howard da Silva...such a great cast.
I don't remember much about the play...when I was five years old, my father appeared in a local theater staging of the play during the bicentennial year in our midwestern community. I know my mother dragged me and my baby sister to some performances, from what I've been told, but the only thing I remember is my father had to eat a whole pie every night because his character eats pie in the story. LOL
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The movie I watch every year on the 4th of July is STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER (1952). Such a corny feel-good musical from 20th Century Fox, but I love it. Yes, Clifton Webb is somewhat miscast as John Philip Sousa...but who cares. It's still fun to watch!
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Post by Guest on Jun 21, 2023 22:01:38 GMT
The Devil's Disciple (1959). Starting Burt Lancaster and Laurence Olivier. Set during the Revolutionary War.
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Post by jamesjazzguitar on Jun 22, 2023 1:22:50 GMT
The Devil's Disciple (1959). Starting Burt Lancaster and Laurence Olivier. Set during the Revolutionary War. I really like this film, but I'm surprised you didn't also mention Kirk Douglas, since Burt and Kirk were in so many films together. Anyhow, good choice for the 4th! |
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Post by BingFan on Jun 24, 2023 16:09:13 GMT
All very good recommendations for Independence Day!
TB, your mention of your father’s pie-eating experience while in a production of 1776 reminded me of something Rosemary Clooney said about a dinner scene in WHITE CHRISTMAS. She apparently made the mistake of eating something in the scene, which wasn’t required by the script, and then had to eat the same thing over and over in every other shot for that scene. She made it clear that she learned never to do that again!
For Independence Day, I’d suggest a couple of favorites that my wife and I watch pretty much very year:
- AH, WILDERNESS (1935) - Eugene O’Neill’s only comedy stars Lionel Barrymore, Wallace Beery, and Eric Linden, who are wonderfully supported by Aline MacMahon, Spring Byington, Cecilia Parker, Mickey Rooney, Charley Grapewin, Frank Albertson, and Bonita Granville. It’s a coming-of-age story focused on a young man (Linden) who’s just graduated from high school (with a very funny graduation scene), and there’s a subplot about his alcoholic uncle’s frustrating romance with his sister-in-law (Beery and MacMahon). Much of the movie takes place on or just after July 4th. Several cast members here were also featured in the first Hardy Family movie, A FAMILY AFFAIR (1937), which was apparently inspired in part by AH, WILDERNESS! (In addition, Rooney, who played the youngest brother here, later starred in Linden’s part in the musical version of AH, WILDERNESS!, SUMMER HOLIDAY (1948).)
- JUDGE HARDY AND SON (1939) - One of the best episodes in the Hardy Family series, it takes place in the days leading up to Independence Day, as Andy enters a patriotic essay contest, hoping to win a cash prize that will allow him to clear up some debts. He also helps Judge Hardy resolve the problems of an elderly couple who may lose their home.
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Post by Guest on Jun 24, 2023 18:38:31 GMT
The Devil's Disciple (1959). Starting Burt Lancaster and Laurence Olivier. Set during the Revolutionary War. I really like this film, but I'm surprised you didn't also mention Kirk Douglas, since Burt and Kirk were in so many films together. Anyhow, good choice for the 4th! Good point! My apologies to Mr. Douglas 😉 In this trailer, the billing goes Burt, Kirk and then Larry: |
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Post by Guest on Jun 24, 2023 18:51:12 GMT
Nice suggestions, Bingfan.
How about something like The Right Stuff? Not quite what TopBilled asked for but the subject, the beginning of the space race, is such a positive American subject. To me, at least.
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Post by I Love Melvin on Jul 2, 2023 11:38:21 GMT
Walt Disney's Johnny Tremain (1957) might be a good one. It was based on a "young adult" novel about a boy who became involved in events leading up to the Boston Tea Party and eventually the American Revolution. Disney originally filmed it for his weekly television series in two parts but released it to theaters, where it was fairly successful. Not sure how available it is but it can be rented on YouTube as a last resort.
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Post by topbilled on Jul 2, 2023 21:28:29 GMT
Walt Disney's Johnny Tremain (1957) might be a good one. It was based on a "young adult" novel about a boy who became involved in events leading up to the Boston Tea Party and eventually the American Revolution. Disney originally filmed it for his weekly television series in two parts but released it to theaters, where it was fairly successful. Not sure how available it is but it can be rented on YouTube as a last resort. |
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Post by topbilled on Jul 2, 2023 23:15:47 GMT
I don't think anyone's mentioned the classic Abbott & Costello farce THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES (1946). I watched this "colonial comedy" today and found it rather charming.
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Post by I Love Melvin on Jul 3, 2023 12:45:53 GMT
For pure, unadulturated Americana Henry Hathaway's Home in Indiana (1944) would be a contender. The bucolic setting (including the old swimmin' hole) looks great in Technicolor and it's the old story of a troubled kid finding meaning and fulfillment when thrust into the company of everyday Americans. Lon McCallister ends up falling in love with both Jeanne Crain and harness racing and proves his worth in his own eyes as well as those of the people who've supported him. Walter Brennan and Charlotte Greenwood play his uncle and aunt and it's a reminder of what great actors each could be apart from comic sidekick roles. It's a beautiful package and was later remade as April Love (1957) with Pat Boone and Shirley Jones. The full movie has been posted on YouTube, so there's easy access.  |
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Post by topbilled on Jul 4, 2023 5:31:31 GMT
For pure, unadulturated Americana Henry Hathaway's Home in Indiana (1944) would be a contender. The bucolic setting (including the old swimmin' hole) looks great in Technicolor and it's the old story of a troubled kid finding meaning and fulfillment when thrust into the company of everyday Americans. Lon McCallister ends up falling in love with both Jeanne Crain and harness racing and proves his worth in his own eyes as well as those of the people who've supported him. Walter Brennan and Charlotte Greenwood play his uncle and aunt and it's a reminder of what great actors each could be apart from comic sidekick roles. It's a beautiful package and was later remade as April Love (1957) with Pat Boone and Shirley Jones. The full movie has been posted on YouTube, so there's easy access. |
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Post by I Love Melvin on Jul 4, 2023 11:45:04 GMT
For pure, unadulturated Americana Henry Hathaway's Home in Indiana (1944) would be a contender. You're right but I haven't seen it posted lately. Another one from Fox from around the same time would be State Fair (1945), which was also a gorgeous slice of Middle America. A lot of people point to the 1950's as being the embodiment of the "American Dream" and American values, but to my mind that's the 1940's, especially post-war. I admire the restraint of fashion, architecture and design during that time more than anything which came later. |
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Post by kims on Jul 4, 2023 19:34:16 GMT
Looked at TCM's lineup for today and found the schedule of Musicals unusual and the expected fare relegated to late this evening and early Wed a.m. 1776, THE DEVIL'S DISCIPLE (both are favs) THE SCARLET COAT and AH WILDERNESS. Thank you for the invention of recorders. I am curious that there are so few films about the Revolutionary War. I'd like MAD KING GEORGE and George Arliss in ALEXANDER HAMILTON as July 4th fare. As I think of it, are there theatrical films about Washington, Adams ( I'd love to see that film with Abigail hanging laundry inside the White House) Jefferson,etc.
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Post by kims on Jul 4, 2024 14:37:36 GMT
Watching THE DEVIL'S DISCIPLE. Still a great film for the Fourth. Lancaster and Douglas always generate great energy/animation when working together.
Adore Olivier's interpretation of the British commander. Love the scene with the British troops being delayed by Patriots chopping down trees to block the road. Olivier, positively unflappable, sits patiently eating as his troops clear the road. His under officer guarantees that there will be no more trouble from the Patriots for the rest of their journey-just as another tree falls. Olivier remains unflappable.
And I'm staying tuned for 1776. After my high school history, refreshing to see an humanistic view. "Sit down, John (Adams)" and won't "someone shut that man up". Franklin telling Adams history will clean up the story when Jefferson is with his wife instead of writing the Declaration.
Interesting note: In 1776, the NY rep states he can't get specific instructions to vote for or against independence because the members of the NY legislature all talk very fast, no one listens to the other with the result that nothing ever gets decided. That line is from a letter from Adams to his wife Abigail.
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Post by topbilled on Jul 4, 2024 19:08:00 GMT
Watching THE DEVIL'S DISCIPLE. Still a great film for the Fourth. Lancaster and Douglas always generate great energy/animation when working together. Adore Olivier's interpretation of the British commander. Love the scene with the British troops being delayed by Patriots chopping down trees to block the road. Olivier, positively unflappable, sits patiently eating as his troops clear the road. His under officer guarantees that there will be no more trouble from the Patriots for the rest of their journey-just as another tree falls. Olivier remains unflappable. And I'm staying tuned for 1776. After my high school history, refreshing to see an humanistic view. "Sit down, John (Adams)" and won't "someone shut that man up". Franklin telling Adams history will clean up the story when Jefferson is with his wife instead of writing the Declaration. Interesting note: In 1776, the NY rep states he can't get specific instructions to vote for or against independence because the members of the NY legislature all talk very fast, no one listens to the other with the result that nothing ever gets decided. That line is from a letter from Adams to his wife Abigail.
Recently I watched THE UNDERWORLD STORY (1950) in which Howard Da Silva has a role as a gangster. It was right before he was blacklisted and he would remain off screen for over a decade. Watch Da Silva in any of his early roles, then compare it to what we see of him later in 1776, by which point he had become a seasoned character actor. It's interesting to see how he evolved with that large gap in between. |
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