Episode 66 – '1776' - a podcast by Phi Phenonenon

We may be through with the Fourth of July for this year, but the Fourth of July, to quote the phrase, isn’t through with us. On this episode, Ted Haycraft is joined by AJ and Lani Gonzalez to discuss this 1972 musical, and:

- If this movie deserve its reputation as an earlier musical-production companion to Hamilton;
- why are there so few films about America’s Revolutionary War and formation;
- what sophistication and complexity this roadshow-esque adaptation of a 1969 stage musical has to offer;
- and what is the sweet-spot of historical accuracy between myth-making pomp and mud-slinging “realism”?

Also:

- Why this G-rated film is surprisingly naughty;
- the movie’s fair representation of the two sides of American political bipartisanship;
- how this movie creates tension over well-known American history and a ticking clock towards July 4;
- and why we should double-down on calling July 4 Independence Day.

Lani and AJ Gonzalez both write about film on their blog Cinema Then and Now. AJ also co-hosts The Directors’ Wall podcast and Lani also writes about film for Book and Film Globe.

1776, in its extended and directors cuts, is available on VOD, occasionally on Turner Classic Movies (around July 4), and from Sony on Blu-ray and Digital.

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