The film was not a hit on original release, but like so many films, it developed a following in the ensuing years and has been an oftrequested title for bluray and. Franklin did this, and franklin did that, and franklin did some other. Featuring a book by peter stone and a score by sherman edwards, 1776 spans the two months ahead of the signing of the declaration of independence as john adams persuades. June 25july 1 ken howard as thomas jefferson, left, howard da silva as benjamin franklin and william daniels as john adams in the 1972 movie 1776. After finishing his acting training, da silva went to work for eva le gallienes theatrical troupe. Youll be seeing stars and stripes as the most fascinating leaders in american history come to life in 1776, a musical about the birth of a nation. Overview the first independent production of former studio mogul jack warner, 1776 was adapted from the hit 1969 broadway musical by peter stone and sherman edwards.
Ken howard comes across as a scholarly southern aristocrat who is forced to write the declaration of. The principal cast included william daniels, howard da silva, paul hecht, clifford david, ronald holgate, david ford, virginia vestoff and ken howard. It features a book by peter stone and an score by sherman edwards featuring some of the most iconic songs ever written for the stage including sit down john, he plays the violin, mama look sharp, is anybody there, and more. When actordirector howard da silva was cast as benjamin franklin.
William daniels as john adams ma howard da silva as benjamin franklin pa ken howard as thomas jefferson va donald madden as john dickinson pa john cullum as edward. It has also been announced that the 1776 concert will feature nontraditional casting. With a book by peter stone and music and lyrics by sherman edwards, 1776 starred william daniels as john adams, howard da silva as benjamin franklin and ken howard as thomas jefferson. Actor howard da silva as benjamin franklin in a publicity shot for the broadway musical 1776. Feb 18, 1986 howard da silva, the actor, director, producer and author, whose showbusiness career spanned more than 55 years, died of lymphoma sunday at his home in ossining, n. Fifty years of the broadway musical choral director. Circa 1969, daniels specialized in meek, ineffectual, and prematurely middleaged characters, while da silva was best known as a nasty villain like jud in the original oklahoma. Da silva always thought that 1776 would be his to direct.
Howard da silva stars as the notorious boss tweed, new york political boss of a century ago in stop, thief. Hunt directed the original production, which starred william. With a score by sherman edwards and a book by peter stone, 1776 tells the story of americas founding fathers and the signing of the declaration of independence. Celebrate 50 years of broadways 1776, starring betty. Howard da silva, the actor, director, producer and author, whose. Martha jefferson blythe danner, her own vocal, not dubbed leads franklin howard da silva and adams william daniels in sherman edwards song about her husband tom, in 1776, 1972. Jan 16, 2019 a not very well remembered film version of the musical appeared in 1972, featuring william daniels, howard da silva and ken howard, with blythe danner as martha jefferson and virginia vestoff as. Howard da silva, actor who was blacklisted orlando. William daniels, howard dasilva, ken howard, blythe danner, peter h.
Howard da silva, the actor, director, producer and author, whose showbusiness career spanned more than 55 years, died of lymphoma sunday at his home in ossining, n. New york new york public library digital collections. Apr 16, 2020 featuring a book by peter stone and a score by sherman edwards, 1776 spans the two months ahead of the signing of the declaration of independence as john adams persuades. Howard da silva worked the steel mills of pennsylvania to pay his way through carnegie institute. Henry le clair, howard da silva, and david vosburgh in 1776. Virginia vestoff played abigail adams and betty buckley played martha jefferson. A talented ensemble of culturally diverse performers has already been assembled that promises to make the concert a highlight of the year. Well, ill never appear in the history books anyway. Hunt repeating his stage duties captures the essence of its source with a top notch cast mostly returning from the broadway stage, including william daniels as john. With the boston harbor still stained from overtaxed british tea, a revolution is brewing in the colonies. Both william daniels and howard da silva were cast wildly against type. The screenplay by peter stone was based on his book for the. Also joining hunt were edwards, stone and several members of the original cast, including daniels, howard da silva, ken howard, holgate and virginia vestoff.
Benjamin franklin howard da silva and john adams william daniels discuss the prospect of american independence, and the true meaning of obnoxious and disliked. Biography for howard da silva turner classic movies. William daniels, ken howard and howard da silva are among the many actors who recreate their broadway roles. When actordirector howard da silva was cast as benjamin franklin, sherman edwards promised him that he would direct the musical. When 1776 opened on broadway in 1969, no one seemed to be waiting for it. Howard da silva as benjamin franklin, ken howard as thomas jefferson, holgate as lee, and virginia vestoff as abigail. William daniels, howard da silva, ken howard, virginia vestoff, blythe danner, john cullum, donald madden studio. Based on the musical play 1776 produced on the new york stage by stuart ostrow. Featuring a witty book by peter stone and a smart score by sherman edwards, 1776 was the toast of broadway, winning three tony awards. A not very well remembered film version of the musical appeared in 1972, featuring william daniels, howard da silva and ken howard, with blythe danner as martha jefferson and virginia vestoff as. Actor howard da silva as benjamin franklin in a publicity. He was cast in dozens of productions on the new york stage, appeared in more than two dozen television programs, and acted in more than fifty feature films.
Howard da silva is credited as director, performer, writer, conception and producer. Hunt repeating his stage duties captures the essence of its source with a top notch cast mostly returning from the broadway stage, including william daniels as john adams, howard da. He brought attention to himself by staging a oneman show, ten million ghosts, which led to several years work with orson welles mercury theatre. Product description youll be seeing stars and stripes as the most fascinating leaders in american history come to life in 1776, a musical about the birth of a nation. The work is a companion to mcculloughs earlier biography of john adams, and focuses on the events surrounding the start of the american revolution. With restored version out, 1776 director recalls politics behind cuts.
Character actor supreme of 1776, the lost weekend, david and lisa and more another of my alltime faves, howard da silva was born may 4th, 1909 in cleveland, ohio. Benjamin franklin howard da silva is a wise and sophisticated diplomat with a penchant for food and pretty girls in this case, he does a dance with thomas jeffersons lovely wife played by blythe danner. With william daniels, howard da silva, ken howard, donald madden. The film version of 1776 marked the first time da silva s vocals were recorded to disc. The story is set during the second continental congress, when the declaration of independence. Cast of broadwaybound 1776 revival meets online for a zoom. Howard da silva, geboren als howard silverblatt cleveland, ohio, 4 mei 1909. Mayer in mommie dearest 1981, angelo dokakis in garbo talks 1984, and benjamin franklin in 1776 1972.
With restored version out, 1776 director recalls politics. The film stars william daniels, howard da silva, donald madden, john cullum, ken howard and blythe danner. Jun 09, 2015 with restored version out, 1776 director recalls politics behind cuts. William daniels, howard da silva, ken howard, john cullum, blythe danner, virginia vestoff, roy poole writers. Howard da silva was an american actor, director and musical performer on stage, film. Hunt directed the original production, which starred william daniels, virginia vestoff, howard da silva, ken howard, and paul hecht. Mar 16, 2020 1776 starred william daniels as john adams, clifford david as edward rutledge, paul hecht as john dickinson, roy poole as stephen hopkins, howard da silva as benjamin franklin, emory bass as james. Cast of broadwaybound 1776 revival meets online for a. Adams from the musical 1776, music and lyrics by sherman edwards, book by peter stone. At last available on bluray, 1776 is sherman edwards and peter stones unique musical on the signing of the declaration of independence. While revolving mostly around the leadership and often.
Originally was a steelworker before making his stage debut at age 20 in new york. The mostly male cast featured william daniels as john adams, ken howard as thomas jefferson and howard da silva as benjamin franklin. Howard da silva was one of 324 actors, writers and directors who fell victim to the hollywood blacklisting of the early 1950s, and had his career halted in the blink of an eye. Howard da silva reprising his stage role of benjamin franklin. The straightforward columbia film version, directed by peter h. Da silva also played meyer wolfsheim in the great gatsby 1974, louis b. It works better than it should, however, in that it gives life and character to these immensely famous names whom everyone has learned about in history class. In 1972, a movie version of 1776, starring william daniels, howard da silva, donald madden, john cullum, ken howard and blythe danner, hit the big screens around the country. Just before the original broadway cast album was recorded, he had suffered a heart attack, and his. Howard da silva, 76, a veteran actor, director, producer and author who was blacklisted for his political beliefs in the 1950s, died sunday of lymphoma. The film version of 1776 marked the first time da silvas vocals were recorded to disc. The show is based on the events leading up to the signing of the declaration of independence, telling a story of the efforts of john adams to persuade his colleagues to vote for american independence and to sign the document.
He appeared in two different film adaptations of f. Howard da silva died of lymphoma at the age of 76 in ossining, new york. Celebrate 50 years of broadways 1776, starring betty buckley. William daniels, howard da silva, ken howard, donald madden, blythe danner. In 1969, da silva originated the role of benjamin franklin in the musical 1776. The screenplay by peter stone was based on his book for the 1969 broadway musical of the same name.
Hunt repeating his stage duties captures the essence of its source with a top notch cast mostly returning from the broadway stage, including william. Howard da silva born howard silverblatt, may 4, 1909 february 16, 1986 was an american actor, director and musical performer on stage, film, television and radio. The musical 1776 debuted on broadway on march 16, 1969 at the 46th street theater renamed the richard rodgers theater. The first independent production of former studio mogul jack warner, 1776 was adapted from the hit 1969 broadway musical by peter stone and sherman edwards. What peter stone was able to write into the book were two things that were. A musical retelling of the american revolutions political struggle in the continental congress to declare independence. Jul 03, 2011 benjamin franklin howard da silva and john adams william daniels discuss the prospect of american independence, and the true meaning of obnoxious and disliked. He made a name for himself on broadway before going to hollywood, but kept up his stage. In 1974 zou hij opnieuw te zien zijn in een boekverfilming, deze keer als meyer. Illustrator jeff yorks rendition of daniels, da silva and howard drawn exclusively for my book up in the cheap seats.
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