Happy Fourth of July to everyone.

I had decided to revisit a film that I saw years ago, but that fit perfectly in with the intention of the day.  1776 was a comedy/drama/musical that adapted a Broadway stage play of the same name.  I can remember seeing this as a younger man and not truly understanding what was going on.

The musical details the days proceeding the approval of the resolution of independence up until the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  Of course, the film takes plenty of liberties with the actual facts involved in the Continental Congress, but none of these historical inaccuracies should be worrisome.  This is not a documentary.  It is a piece of entertainment and thus is more concerned with the drama of the situation than the complete truth.

However, it was stated that much of the dialogue in the film came, over the years, from letters and correspondences from the individuals in the Congress.  Some of the characters were given traits and characteristics derived from these notes.

Our main characters involved here include John Adams (William Daniels), Dr. Benjamin Franklin (Howard Da Silva) and Thomas Jefferson (Ken Howard).  Adams, considered “obnoxious and disliked,” was the driving force behind the resolution for independence.  Adams and Franklin seemed to have a fascinating relationship played through the film with some good humor.

In opposition to the resolution was Pennsylvania Congressman John Dickinson (Donald Madden).  The film does a very good job of creating an air of conflict within the body that builds tension throughout.  I found myself unsure of the outcome despite clearly knowing my American history.

As a musical. I would venture to say that most, if not all, of the songs are catchy and entertaining, yet very unmemorable.  In fact, as I type this up, none of them are songs that remain in my head.  I did enjoy the humorous song “But, Mr. Adams”  as performed by Adams, Franklin, Jefferson, Roger Sherman (Rex Robbins), and Robert Livingston (John Myhers).

With today’s world as it is, the sequence involving the debate over the slave trade language in the Declaration of Independence was an uncomfortable section to watch.  The song, “Molasses to Rum” as sung by South Carolina Congressman Edward Rutledge (John Cullum) was legitimately tragic and spoke to the long time basis for the systematic racism included in the very birth of the USA.  While this is one of the scenes that the timing of in history is inaccurate, the movie scene is undoubtedly compelling and powerful and one where the general humor found throughout most of the movie is appropriately suspended.

1776 is engaging and light-hearted, until it isn’t.  It does a solid job of balancing these tones and keeping the movie moving at a solid pace.  Unfortunately, the music is pedestrian, especially when compared to other musicals (such as Hamilton, a film placed in the same general time frame).  Still, much of the film provides a smile and a fun time.

One more musical tonight before the big Hamilton release tomorrow is one that I had not seen before, but had a couple of great songs that I had always liked.  It was a multiple Oscar winning musical called Cabaret.

Berlin, 1931.  Weimar Republic.  Cambridge University student Brian Roberts (Michael York) arrived to complete his German studies.  He rents a room in an inexpensive rooming house where he can teach English.  At this rooming house, Brian meets Sally Bowles (Liza Minnelli), a performer at the Kit Kat Club, a cabaret club run by the all-knowing Master of Ceremonies (Joel Grey).  Brian and Sally hook up and drama ensues.

Liza Minnelli staked her claim in the lead role as she was just brilliant.  She showed such range and an unbelievable amount of talent.  Then, Joel Grey, who played his role on Broadway, is the Greek muse of the 1930 German with the MoC.

The film deals with a ton of topics as well, from abortion to Nazism to antisemitism.  Plus, all kinds of sexual issues.  The controversy was gigantic for Cabaret and it did not shy away from anything.

Bob Fosse directed the film in his defining style.  He did win the Academy Award for Best Director for his work.  Both Minnelli and Grey won Oscars too.  Cabaret won 8 Academy Awards and became the film to have won the most Oscars without winning the Best Picture.

I enjoyed the film considerably and I was really impressed with the talent involved.

I have been looking forward to the arrival of Hamilton on Disney +, which is coming tomorrow and, to get in the mood, I chose to pick out a musical to watch.  After scanning through the list of musicals on Vudu, I stopped at the Academy Award nominated Chicago from 2002.

I had enjoyed Chicago when I saw it when it first came out and I especially enjoyed much of the soundtrack.  Although I prefer the version performed on the stage by Bebe Neuwirth, All That Jazz is a centerpiece of the show, here sung by Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger) was a wannabe star who attempted to use her body and sex to get ahead.  On the night that headliner Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones) killed her sister and husband, Roxie began an affair with Fred (Dominic West), who said he had connections.  When she found out that he was lying about that, she ends up shooting him dead.

Roxie wound up on Death Row with Velma.  While there, she pilfered Velma’s famous attorney Billy Flynn (Richard Gere), as they battled with each other over which case could be more big time..

The music in Chicago is fantastic and the dance routines are amazingly choreographed.  The design of the sets and each musical number was spectacular.  The film has a definite feel of a stage show.  The costumes were stand out and worked in every scene.

The three main stars of the film were on fire.  Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Richard Gere were amazing together and entertaining as these over-the-top characters.  There was also a impressive performances from John C. Reilly as Roxie’s sad sack husband Amos and Queen Latifah as prison guard Matron “Mama” Morton.

I did not expect to like this as much as I did the first time I saw it and this time was just as entertaining.  It certainly Razzle Dazzled me.

The next film in the Studio Ghibli watch is one listed as a TV movie and it was one that did not have the English dub.  Ocean Waves was the first Studio Ghibli film that was directed by someone other than Hayao Miyazaki or Isao Takahata.  It was directed by Tomomi Mochizuki and, according to Wikipedia, it was meant to be done by the younger crowd at Studio Ghibli.

The story focuses on two friends, Taku and Yutaka.  They had been friends for years, but they both fell for the same transfer student, Rikako.  As the triangle progressed, the friends found themselves pitted against each other for Rikako’s affection.

I was not fond of this film.  Of course, the animation is beautiful as always, so that gives these animated films a plus no matter what.  However, the character of Rikako was unlikable and irritating.  I had a difficult time buying the fact that she would be someone that either of the boys would give two hoots about.

The story was simple, but I had a hard time investing into the relationship.  Since I did not accept the relationship within the triangle, there was not much else here for me to care about.

The music was nice as this was the first score that I was able to hear in the original form (since I have been doing the English dub versions of these films).  It was nothing that really stood out, but it effectively created the tone.

This was a fine film, but way under the level that I have come to expect from Studio Ghibli.  This feels like a typical Lifetime movie.