BY GREG GORMAN

In the hot and humid city of Philadelphia, representatives from 13 colonies met to debate the risks and benefits of declaring independence from the mother country of Great Britain, something that had never been done before at the time. This is the core of “1776”, a musical produced for the stage in 1969, and film in 1972.

Neither version can be depended on as accurate, but that won’t stop you from enjoying the film during Independence Day or any other time of year. “1776” is mainly set in Philadelphia’s Independence Hall where a condensed number of congressional delegates meet through the end of June and into July. While most colonies are represented by no more than three men in the film, even less are seen or heard from in the two hours and twenty-one minutes. Delegates offer their arguments favoring or opposing revolting from King George and the country he leads. As Maryland’s Samuel Chase (played by Patrick Hines) points out to John Adams (played by William Daniels), “A handful of drunk and disorderly recruits against the entire British Army. The finest musket men on earth. How can we win? How can we even hope to survive?”

The film opens with Adams hurrying down flights of stairs at night to admonish Congress for their lack of activity surrounding the debate over independence. This leads to the opening number, “Sit Down, John”, and establishes the theme of Adams being a disliked man for his tendency to be obnoxious and blunt. Adams storms out of the building and has one of his recurring “conversations” with his wife, Abigail (Virginia Vestoff). The conversations are culled from letters mentioned to and from each other throughout the course of the film and the scene ends with the duet “Till Then”.

Adams is seen storming the streets of Philadelphia the next morning for Benjamin Franklin (Howard da Silva) to admonish him for not being present the previous night for what Adam “suffered”. Franklin suggests another person, one more liked by Congress, should propose the option of Independence. As Adams storms off, Richard Henry Lee (Ron Holgate) gallops in and jumps off his horse before a visibly agitated Adams can escape. Lee offers his services to deliver a resolution from Virginia. This causes Adams to sarcastically declare, “We’re free, and he hasn’t even left yet.” Lee assures Adams he can deliver, singing “The Lees of Old Virginia”.

Back at Independence Hall, the first vote on independence is taken. New Jersey is not represented yet and the voting results in six votes for debating the issue, five for postponing, and New York “courteously” abstaining. While the vote for independence itself must be unanimous, Adams suggests something be written to explain to the world why the colonies are so eager to fight for their independence from Britain.

Congress President John Hancock (David Ford) agrees and calls for a committee to draft such a written work on behalf of the entire Congress. Adams lobbies for Thomas Jefferson (Ken Howard) to be included on the committee while Jefferson hopes to return home to his wife for a few days until Congress reconvenes. Hancock agrees with Adams, and Jefferson is unhappily included in the committee along with Adams, Franklin, Connecticut’s Roger Sherman (Rex Robbins) and New York’s Robert Livingston (John Myhers).

As the rest of the delegates leave for a recess while the committee drafts the expected declaration, each member of the committee offers his own reasons for not wanting the responsibility. In “But Mr. Adams”, Adams argues his work will be destroyed by other delegates based on their disdain for him. Franklin refuses to write about politics. Sherman, “A simple cobbler from Connecticut” couldn’t dream of writing such a profound work, Livingston recently made a father, wishes to return to his family, and Jefferson repeats his desire to see his wife. The responsibility ultimately falls on Jefferson after humorous and veiled threats of violence from both him and Adams.

One week later, Adams and Franklin visit Jefferson to see how he has progressed with the writing. Jefferson has divided his time between writing and practicing his violin and is surrounded by crumpled pieces of paper when Adams and Jefferson arrive. Adam reads what is on one of the crumpled scraps and asks, “Do you mean to tell me it’s not yet finished?” Jefferson responds, “No, sir. I mean to tell you it’s not yet begun.” Franklin, who fell asleep during the exchange, wakes up just in time to see Jefferson’s wife, Martha (Blythe Danner) enter the room, and urges John out so the Jeffersons can be alone. Danner later explains the charm and appeal of her husband with her rendition of “He Plays the Violin” before returning to the apartment, where Thomas is eagerly waiting for her.

Meanwhile, John Dickinson (Donald Madden) questions Hancock’s admiration for Adams and extols the virtues of his platform, including opposing independence, in “Cool, Cool Considerate Men”.

Jefferson completes his first draft and presents it to Congress. The Declaration is read aloud. Absent from the reading are Jefferson, Adams, and Franklin, who instead convene in the lobby and debate what bird will symbolize the new nation. Adams goads the others into agreeing on the eagle as the symbol, and the three men break into “The Egg” to describe the chick breaking through, “the shell of the egg that England laid.” Proud of the accomplishment that will be the Declaration of Independence, Adams, Franklin, and Jefferson stride into the main chamber where delegates are waiting to offer their edits, additions, and omissions to the document.

Congress’ suggestions appear to be minimal and cosmetic until South Carolina’s Edmund Rutledge (John Cullum) insists Jefferson’s clause calling for the abolition of slavery be entirely removed. Jefferson and Adams defend the clause. Adams stating, “They are people, and they are here (in America),” therefore entitling them to the rights and benefits outlined. Jefferson further states the slaves, “are people being treated as property” and should be released from their bondage. Rutledge then sings “Molasses to Rum”, pointing out the northern colonies’ hypocrisy regarding slavery and how they have profited from the Triangle Trade just as much as the south.

Rutledge storms out of the room following the number and is followed by all the southern delegates in a show of solidarity. Franklin urges Adams to make a concession on slavery. This angers Adams and prompts an argument between the two where both are accused of putting their personal egos and desires before the issue of independence. Adams leaves the room and climbs up the steeple where he imagines another conversation with Abigail, who asks why she wasn’t considered when John was sending for delegate’s wives to visit Philadelphia. Adams is called downstairs by the custodian, Andrew McNair (William Duell) for a delivery of saltpeter. Adams had asked his wife at the beginning of the film to organize women in Massachusetts to make saltpeter for the Continental soldiers to use in lieu of gunpowder. Adams is energized by the gift and sends McNair out to find all the sewing pins he can find for the women as Abigail had complained to her husband of the shortage of pins in the colony, complicating the chore.

A final vote is taken on the Declaration. Franklin asks that Pennsylvania be given more time before being called on to vote as he and Dickinson continue to debate amongst themselves. When South Carolina is called, Rutledge and Adams have a final showdown over slavery and the Declaration itself. Rutledge pledges his colony, “will bury, now and forever, your dream of independence.” Adams asks Jefferson to say something on the matter since he was the one who wrote the passage. Jefferson reminds Adams he, “wrote all of it” before personally crossing it out.

With eleven colonies voting in favor and New York continually abstaining. Pennsylvania is called again. Franklin asks the secretary to poll the delegation. Franklin votes “Yea” and Dickinson votes “Nay” leaving the deciding vote to James Wilson (Emory Bass). Dickinson attempts to sway Wilson to voting against the Declaration, but Adams reminds him that he will be the one remembered for preventing independence if he sides with Dickinson. Wilson does not want to be remembered in the way and votes in favor. Hancock reminds all delegates that no one should be allowed to sit with the others if he doesn’t sign it. Dickinson says he can not sign such a document, and instead will fight with the Continental Army for American Independence. Adams leads the Congress in sending Dickinson off with a standing ovation. On July 3, Hancock signs his name to the Declaration. Morris, despite not receiving specific orders from New York, announces he will sign.

A courier from the Continental Army arrives and presents a dispatch from George Washington. The dispatch reads there are 5,000 Continental soldiers that will fight against 25,000 British soldiers. On July 4, the delegates sign their names.

The movie follows the original stage production religiously, but not historical facts. Dickinson, in reality, laid out reasons for independence, chief of which was Britain’s “Taxation without Representation”. Adams was not the resented figure the film would have you believe, but a man respected by all delegates. Wilson was originally cautious when it came to voting for independence but had no such reservations when the final vote was actually called. Finally, Rutledges stance on slavery was one shared by southern and northern delegates, but there was not attempt to hold up the voting because of it, and the entire declaration was written and approved when it came for the final vote.

While “1776” may come up short in fact and accuracy, it shouldn’t prevent anyone from watching it, no matter how versed and steeped the viewer is in American History. The musical scores range from humorous (But, Mr. Adams), to energizing, to reflective (“Momma Look Sharp”). There is tension and humor in the dialogue at different parts of the film, and you’ll have favorite songs that you will go to more often than the others.