But Mr. Adams! ("1776"--the movie) Quiz

Answer: John Adams

John Adams was portrayed by veteran actor William Daniels. Daniels has appeared as several characters on television including Kitt (voice only) in "Knight Rider" and Mr. Feeny on "Boy Meets World".

Adams is shown several times casting the vote for Massachusetts in the Congress. In the movie, Adams's prickly personality is shown as an obstacle to getting other delegates to support independence. In one of the songs, another delegate describes Adams as being "obnoxious and disliked". Unlike many of the other delegates, he usually addresses the others by their last name without any other title. The real life John Adams served as ambassador to France, Holland, and Great Britain (after the war). He was Vice President under George Washington and second President of the United States. He also served as defense counsel for the British soldiers on trial after the Boston Massacre.

Answer: Philadelphia

I always enjoy watching an angry John Adams, after he speaks to the building custodian, storming down several flights of stairs to the main meeting room as the overture plays. I think it is interesting to watch the stairwells and building grow fancier and fancier as he gets closer to ground level. Once in the main meeting room, the song "Sit Down, John" mentiond that "It's hot as hell in Philadelphia".

At this time in history, Independence Hall was known as the Pennsylvania State House. During the 1790s, four levels of government were headquartered in this building--the Federal Government, Pennsylvania State Government, Philadelphia County Government, and Philadelphia City Government.

Answer: He is having his portrait painted.

Adams says that he thinks Franklin's portrait is not very accurate. The irritated artist then leaves. Franklin defends the artist by saying that he (Franklin) is not particularly attractive. In contrast to Adams, Franklin gets along better with many of the delegates and has many of the funniest lines in the movie.

Benjamin Franklin was portrayed by Howard da Silva. Da Silva had originated the part on Broadway and was also the original Jud in "Oklahoma".

Answer: Franklin wants to go home to visit his wife.

In the movie, Franklin sings that his writing is usually "light" and he is not suited to something serious like the Declaration. Franklin, in real life, was a long time resident of Philadelphia and his common-law wife Deborah had been dead for about two years.

It was Jefferson who missed his wife, Martha. Thomas Jefferson was portrayed by Ken Howard, who also played the title role on the television show "The White Shadow". John Myers was Robert Livingston and Rex Robbins was Roger Sherman ("I don't know a participle from a predicate."). The humorous song "But Mr. Adams" comes at the end of a half-hour plus break in the music--a record for a Broadway or movie musical.

Answer: New Jersey

Rev. Witherspoon was portrayed by James Noble, who is perhaps known for his role as the Governor on the television show "Benson".

Earler in the movie, John Hancock complains that the New Jersey delegation is absent. When asked which state/colony he represents, Rev. Witherspoon answers New Jersey. Soon after, he is appointed the Chaplain of the Congress. The real-life Rev. Witherspoon was the President of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University). One of his most famous students was James Madison, father of the US Constitution.

Answer: George Washington

The dispatches are read to Congress by the Congressional secretary, who states that he feels sometimes that the general is writing to him personally. They are brought into the meeting room by one of Washington's military aides. George Washington had been a member of the Second Continental Congress briefly before being appointed by them to take control of the Continental Army.

In 1776, France was not yet an ally of the United States, so Marquis de Lafayette was not with the army. Benedict Arnold and Nathaniel Greene were with the Continental Army, but they are not mentioned in the movie.

Answer: Martha Washington

Abigail Adams is portrayed by Virginia Vestoff, who appeared in the stage version. Abigail "appears" in the movie in John Adams's imagination based on their correspondence. She and John discuss that the army needs saltpetre and the woman of Boston need sewing pins.

Martha Jefferson is portrayed by Blythe Danner, mother of Gwynneth Paltrow. She performs a number "He Plays the Violin" and dances with both Franklin and Adams. Martha Washington, like her husband, does not appear in the movie.

Answer: The Raven

Jefferson proposed the dove as a symbol of peace, but was quickly voted down. Adams proposed the eagle as a symbol of power. He wins the argument in the movie, though he is eventually voted down. I like Franklin's arguments for the turkey. He says that the turkey is a brave bird and native to the United States while the eagle is a coward and a symbol of centuries of exploitation by European kings.

Answer: Slavery

When the northern delegates want Jefferson's condemnation of slavery kept and southern delegates want it removed, Rutledge (John Cullum) sings "Molasses to Rum" about the complicity of both the north and south in slavery and the slave trade. This might be one of the most powerful moments in the movie. To bring the south in agreement with independence, Jefferson and Adams are forced to agree to removing the clause condemning the slave trade.

Answer: John Dickinson

All through the movie, James Wilson (Emory Bass) has been shown as Dickinson's subordinate. At the eleventh hour, when he is the swing vote between Franklin voting for independence and Dickinson voting against it, Wilson finally votes for independence.

At this point, John Hancock (David Ford) says that all members of Congress need to sign the Declaration. John Dickinson (Donald Madden) says that he cannot sign the Declaration but he will join the Continental Army instead, causing John Adams to lead a round of applause for him.