July 4th Casa de Mousepod Screening©

[mousepod]

Hey all,

This Friday, on July 4th, I'll be watching 1776 (which is my annual tradition - as well as iSm's, I believe), along with (by overwhelming request) The Spirit of '76.

Hot dogs, Kool-Aid, chips 'n' dip etc.

Anyone interested?

[innerSpaceman]

Hmmm, I could be persuaded.


What time would the screening be? I kinda have a date for Disneyland fireworks in the evening. They don't do nuclear war anymore, but it's still fun. Sigh, Disneyland's nuclear war fireworks show was the best thing about once-upon-a-time public support for the Iraq occupation. Le Sigh.

I guess i'm glad the public's turned againt that ... but damn if that wasn't the best fireworks show ever put on by the hand of man. Shock and Awe in Anaheim!

[Ghoulish Delight]

Sold, American!

[Gemini Cricket]

Unfortunately, I already have 4th o' July plans already.
Yikes. I haven't been able to make the last few mousepod screenings... sorry, J.

[BarTopDancer]

What time?

[CoasterMatt]

I will be working myself into unconsciousness that day :(

[Tom]

Shoot! We won't be able to make it due to our being in Michigan at the time. If you want to switch the screening to Michigan, we'll totally be there.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

But we're in next year, for the sing-along reading of it...

[Chernabog]

I *will* make one of these again :p Unfortunately the 4th is not that day -- heading up to the Bay Area for a few days to visit with my Aunt (the good one, not the selfish one). Say hi to Benjy Franklin for me, yo!

[innerSpaceman]

I don't know whether this is sacrelige ... but might you consider having the screening on your usual night of Saturday, in this case the 5th???

I daresay most people have plans on the 4th ... and then not necessarily for the following two days of glorious post-4th weekend. There's no reason such a 3-day holiday cannot be a pean to freedom, liberty, independence and All-American fun!!






just a suggestion. :iSm:

[Kevy Baby]

That might work for us as we have plans on the 4th.

It will be nice to not have a gig on the 4th for once.

[mousepod]

I'm open to change it to Saturday... is this poll-worthy, or should we just see a show of hands? I'd like to confirm it by tomorrow, so people can make plans...

[Ghoulish Delight]

Friday would actually be better for us.

[mousepod]

Y'know what?

I'm going to stick with Friday. We can start early (noon-ish) and go late. If people want to drop in for one or both movies (there will be many other patriotic shorts etc), that's fine.

There'll be plenty of time to get to the fireworks and still have fun at our place.

(plus, it's my 22nd "birthday" - and it's fun to share the day with friends)

If anyone can't make Friday and wants to make alternate plans for the following day, I'm game for fun - but 1776 stays on the 4th this year.

[innerSpaceman]

Ok, Friday can work for me. I'm independent that way.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Y'know what?

I'm going to stick with Friday. We can start early (noon-ish) and go late. If people want to drop in for one or both movies (there will be many other patriotic shorts etc), that's fine.

There'll be plenty of time to get to the fireworks and still have fun at our place.

(plus, it's my 22nd "birthday" - and it's fun to share the day with friends)

If anyone can't make Friday and wants to make alternate plans for the following day, I'm game for fun - but 1776 stays on the 4th this year.I'll drink to that.

[JWBear]

If I come, can I point out all the historical errors in 1776 while we're watching it? :evil:

[innerSpaceman]

No, but we could discuss them afterwards. They are legion.

[€uroMeinke]

I've never seen 1776, is it any good?

[flippyshark]

I love 1776 - a musical that stops being a musical for a huge chunk of its middle - and a show that actually creates palpable suspense as to its incredibly well-known outcome.

I've been in three stage productions of 1776 - twice as South Carolina's Rutledge, and once as John Adams. I can recite pretty much the whole thing. The movie stands as a rare example of preserving almost the entire Broadway cast, and keeping close to line by line parity with the original script. (I should refer to it as the original book, but that's such a confusing term.)

[innerSpaceman]

No surprise, one of my favorite movies ever. OMG, when the Director's Cut came out on laserdisc, it was like an entirely different film.

Some of the restored stuff was a little lame (and not all of it is on the DVD), but most was great. Especially, of course, the fantastic and oh-so-freaking-bizarre musical number Cool Considerate Men ... which, legend has it, was removed from the film at the last minute at the request of then-President Richard Nixon, following a pre-release screening at the White House. The number is not incredibly flattering to the conservative cause ... but the show is so much weaker without it.

Alas, a few of the changes to the DVD version are not so great, and kinda mess up one of the other musical numbers at the end of the film. I keep wanting to screen a stop-and-go version for myself that preserves the best of the DVD and laserdisc versions, but I've always been too lazy.


As JW points out, it's not precise history ... but it's a fantastic dramatization of this pivotal point in Americana - - and, as flippy points out, miraculously manages to convey suspense with an outcome known from the get-go ... and make dramatic what is essentially a parlimentary procedure story.


Great, Weird, and Frelling Fantastic Film.

[flippyshark]

I've got the laser and the DVD, and I've had similar thoughts, and even the means, to combine them. But, it may have to wait for another fourth.

I first saw this show in a really superior community theater production, and one of the cast became my stepfather many years later. (He still is) Anyway, the show made a big impression on my then nine year old self, and I quickly obtained the original cast album and memorized it. WOW was I ever a geek!

[innerSpaceman]

Haha. American History Musical Theater Geeks Unite!! :D

[mousepod]

I (obviously) love this movie, too. Several years ago, when H and I went back to New York for a visit, we were lucky enough to see a revival with Brent Spiner. Geek heaven.

[innerSpaceman]

The laserdisc featured one of the most bizarre extras ever ... faux "karioke" versions of most of the songs (with the vocals as muted as possible, and the orchestral mix maximized). So, ahem, I hereby announce for next year ... the dramatic reading AND singing version of LoT 1776.


I'm auditioning for the role of John Adams, a part I was BORN to play. Try outs will take place at random throughout the year.



Come to the screening Friday to see what you'll be getting yourself into. Fall in love with a role or a song, and join the cast of LoT 1776 for 2009!

[Kevy Baby]

So, ahem, I hereby announce for next year ... the dramatic reading AND singing version of LoT 1776.

I'm auditioning for the role of John Adams, a part I was BORN to play. Try outs will take place at random throughout the year.

Come to the screening Friday to see what you'll be getting yourself into. Fall in love with a role or a song, and join the cast of LoT 1776 for 2009!I would love to be the part of Ben Franklin. For all of his accomplishments, one that he was most proud of was to be a printer.

[flippyshark]

Given the number of male roles in the show, and the paucity of roles for women (there are exactly two), you may end up with some "drag" casting. I nominate NA for Richard Henry Lee.

[mousepod]

"The Lees! The Lees of old Virginia!"... I could see that.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

I (obviously) love this movie, too. Several years ago, when H and I went back to New York for a visit, we were lucky enough to see a revival with Brent Spiner. Geek heaven.

I saw that too! I was young enough to get his autograph. I have it in my old playbills somewhere, I think. Indubitab-lee.

Also, I want a part! I'd prefer to be Jefferson, but perhaps that's better-served as a male role. What about the soldier/messenger? Hey, mama...

[innerSpaceman]

"The Lees! The Lees of old Virginia!"... I could see that.


Who'll play her horse??

[flippyshark]

http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/2882/1776fa2.jpg

This is a rehearsal photo taken before I got the wig. This was a Celebration Players production in 2004. I've also been in a production that took place after hours at The Hall of Presidents. We built a platform stage in front of the main stage, and no, we didn't raise the curtain and use the animatronic presidents as our back-up singers.

[innerSpaceman]

OMG, a production of this at the Hall of Presidents??! How Unbelievably Awesome!!!



(Ok, but if you fly out here for our fly-by-night show, you'll have to fight me for Adams!)

[flippyshark]

I won't fight you - I'll be perfectly happy with either Rutledge or Dickinson.

[Kevy Baby]

http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/2882/1776fa2.jpg

This is a rehearsal photo taken before I got the wig. This was a Celebration Players production in 2004. I've also been in a production that took place after hours at The Hall of Presidents. We built a platform stage in front of the main stage, and no, we didn't raise the curtain and use the animatronic presidents as our back-up singers.Hmm... I always thought you were a guy. You do look fetching in that dress.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I've done musical theater in drag before.

[innerSpaceman]

I've done drag before, but no musical theater in drag. But I WON'T play Abigail, even though she a great song (in three parts).

[Kevy Baby]

I've been to drag races before. Does that count?

[Not Afraid]

I can be there for some of it.

[mousepod]

Cool. We got Yankee Doodle Dandy to throw in the mix...

[katiesue]

Cool. We got Yankee Doodle Dandy to throw in the mix...

This is Maddy's new favorite movie. I think she's watched it about 30 times in the last two months.

[Kevy Baby]

Even though I cannot make it, I keep reading this thread hoping somehow that I can. This sounds like a lot of fun. But we are double booked for that day already :(

[mousepod]

OK... here's the final word on tomorrow. If you're coming (you don't need to RSVP), we're going to start watching movies around noon-ish. We have 1776, The Spirit Of 76 and Yankee Doodle Dandy. We've got hot dogs, potato chips, popcorn and Coke (the real kind, with sugar). If you want anything else... feel free to bring it with you. If you have a favorite short film or cool music that you think will fit the bill... bring it along.

Look forward to seeing you on the 4th!

[Morrigoon]

I may have plans, but if that falls through, I'll try to head up there.


....Pins!

[innerSpaceman]

Heheh, it being 11:25 now, my noonish arrival is lookin' more like a oneish arrival ... but I'll be there!

[Morrigoon]

Looks like I won't be making it - but have fun everyone! :)

[innerSpaceman]

Is there gonna be an everyone?


I hope for a some folks, at least. FouRtH of JuLY!!

[Not Afraid]

I'm still at home at the moment. I have to feed the kittens first before I leave.

[BarTopDancer]

I'm still home as well. It's not looking good for me.

[Not Afraid]

Well, kittens got fed and we got to visit for a least a little bit. I had 2 andouille sausage dogs, lots of potato chips and dip and strawberries with whipped cream (fresh from a can) and we got to watch the first half of 1776. Fun, but much too short of a visit.

[innerSpaceman]

And then we who remained got to watch the 2nd half of 1776, and a great panorama of fireworks from the upstairs deck ... but I never made it to the Park.


Sorry, zapppop.


But a really fun fourth of July, and I love watching 1776 with new people, and people who haven't seen it before.


Next year, zapppop. You cannot escape 1776 much longer!

[€uroMeinke]

And we'll at least have to come for the second half

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Yay! :) Fun time was had. It was cool meeting Jeff, meeting the cool neighbors (totally jealous on that front) and getting to see the chihuahua gang, however barky and nippy. ;) I'm going to miss that house when you guys find a place to purchase.

1776 was awesomeness. :snap: I fell in love with Jefferson in high school and his portrayal as tall, quiet loverboy was really fun. Also loved all the other characterizations, some amazing talent there on all fronts. Hey, did Ed Wynn ever play Ben Franklin? That guy was totally channeling Wynn.

Yankee Doodle Dandy continues to be a window onto a culture completely foreign to me. All those odd vaudevillian shows with woman in shiny matching dresses and gentlemen in top hats and tailcoats smiling and linking arms as they sing generic songs about pleasant afternoons....such a weird form of entertainment. The fact that the title song is from a play about horseracing is so beyond bizarre.

Plenty of explody goodness on the drive home. Looks like the law is getting more lax on fireworks all the time - hooray for freedom. :cheers:

Bummed we missed Spirit of '76, but it's bedtime for me now, as I have to work tomorrow.

[BarTopDancer]

I wish all the cool peoples (and events) didn't live (and happen) so far away. :(

Sorry I missed it. Totally sorry.

[innerSpaceman]

I'm sorry I couldn't stay alert for Spirit of '76 either. Heheh, till I arrived at the scene, I thought the third film was going to be the Jimmy Stewart bio of Charles Lindbergh!



Ah well. Good times, good times.



What's on for Bastille Day??

[€uroMeinke]

Marie Antoinette
Quills
The Dreamers

[BDBopper]

Sounds like a fun time was had by all who attended. Gld everyoneh ad fun. Wish I could have been there.

[mousepod]

Another wonderful day. Great movies, better company. Thanks to everyone for showing up.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I'm sorry I couldn't stay alert for Spirit of '76 either. Today I looked up the film we were supposed to see. Perhaps I'm glad we missed it. (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100670/) Is there any way that could be good?? :p

[innerSpaceman]

uh .... huh.


Well maybe not. But I've been wondering what a good second bill feature might be for a 4th of July movie fest, if I don't want a war movie (and that includes 'Born on the Fourth of July').

[Not Afraid]

Yes, it's good, in a really bad way. Or, bad for all of the good reasons.

I really want to do a Bastille Day event.