Opened: November 17, 1972

Directed by: Peter H. Hunt

Starring: William Daniels, David Ford, Ken Howard, Ron Holgate, Howard da Silva, Donald Madden, Emory Bass, John Cullum, Jonathan Moore, Roy Poole, Howard Caine, John Myhers, Rex Robbins, William Hansen, Ray Middleton, Leo Leyden, James Noble, Charles Rule, Patrick Hines, Daniel Keyes, Virginia Vestoff, Ralston Hill, William Duell, Stephen Nathan & Blythe Danner

Once a different and interesting way to learn about US History, 1776 doesn’t fare well in a post-Hamilton world with its dull blocking and low-energy songs.

John Adams (William Daniels) is pushing for America’s independence from England in the Second Continental Congress. With Adams an unlikable figure, Benjamin Franklin (Howard da Silva) helps convince Thomas Jefferson (Ken Howard) to write the Declaration of Independence.

The two high points of the film come from characters who are seen briefly and then disappear. Ron Holgate has a fantastic early number as Richard Henry Lee and Blythe Danner has an upbeat song as one of the two women in the film.

While the content is interesting – and you’ll probably learn more from this than you would a history book – there’s just no exciting moments to grab your attention.

Final say: Not aging well. ★★★☆☆