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
