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Category:    Home > Reviews > Musical > Drama > Revolutionary War > Drama > 1776 (1972/Sony Blu-ray Mastered In 4K)

1776 (1972/Sony Blu-ray Mastered In 4K)


Picture: B Sound: C+ Extras: A Film: B



Now on Blu-ray, this is the digitally restored and extended version of Peter H. Hunt's musical 1776, from a new 4K transfer of the original 35mm camera elements. George Washington is fighting the British, while the Continental Congress debates on should they declare independence of the the colonies from British Empire or not. John Adams (William Daniels), Benjamin Franklin (Howard Da Silva) and Thomas Jefferson (Ken Howard) must convince the Continental Congress to take a stand, but in order to win their votes, they must create one of America's greatest document... the Declaration of Independence and the creation of the United States of America.


The Continental Congress is made up of the representatives of the wealthy land owners of the 13 colonies of the New World, but while they are colonies of the British Empire, they are tired of it's unfair rules, taxation and demand their rights to be heard. While some believe in independence, other representatives feel there is still the possibility to make peace with the British. Adams and Franklin believes the time to act is now, but must get a unanimous vote from all the Continental Congress in order to do so. Thomas Jefferson is charged with the task to write the Declaration ...but would rather spend time with his young wife.


From the Sherman Edwards/Peter Stone (the screenwriter of Charade and Arabesque) stage musical that Hunt originally directed there, Jack Warner actually produced this feature film version, but it joined Lost Horizon (see the Twilight Time Blu-ray elsewhere on this site) as money-losing musical duds for Columbia Pictures. Both versions are here for you to see and they both worked fir me, but this might not be for everyone, while the subject of the Revolutionary War has hardly ever been turned into a hit film (Columbia later released Roland Emmerich's The Patriot, which was) while some have a hard time with musicals of any kind. Blythe Danner and James Noble also star.


The 1080p 2.35 X 1 digital High Definition image is from the original 35mm film elements restored in 4K from the original anamorphic Panavision shoot by Director of Photography Harry Stradling, Jr. (The Way We Were, Bite The Bullet, McQ) lensed for a big screen and it shows. Issued in its native EastmanColor, it looks as good as it ever will, though both cuts of the film can show there age. The sound has been upgraded to lossless DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 from the original theatrical monophonic sound, but it still shows its age and we still get sonic limits, though this is better than flat mono throughout. Extras include commentary with actors and filmmaker, deleted and alternate scenes, screen tests, and trailers.



- Ricky Chiang


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