So many of the original Broadway cast did this film and no other film starting with Virginia Vestoff who died tragically before she could do more wonderful work. Though I must admit I prefer Buckely's singing in its amazing strength and purity. Thus, the role of Ben Franklin was assayed in the cast recording by Ray Everhardt.) Blythe Danner, mommy of the ever popular Gwyneth Paltrow and widow of Bruce Paltrow, director and producer, is a splendid Martha Jefferson replacing Betty Buckley from the original production. Interesting enough, and somewhat astonishing was that Da Silva was almost dropped from the show because of fears of his blacklisting during the dark days of the communist witchhunts. He also voiced Adams words along with his cousin Sam's and that of his son President John Quincy Adams in other PBS productions) And the perfect Ben Franklin in Howard DaSilva. (I was in a local production with a marvelous cast playing the part of Stephen Hopkins and would gladly play again and again.) William Daniels is one of my favorite character actors ever since I saw him in the movie "The President's Analyst" and he is the quintessential John Adams for me. With its telescoping and other modes of compression (John Adams himself is a composite of that man as well as his cousin Sam Adams - thus the fire in his oratory - and Eldridge Gerry the governor of Massachusetts) it still manages to be astonishingly accurate, and I am so proud to have been associated with this production. If you are a history buff like I am, then you will love this. If you are not a musical fan, I understand. Folks, If you have never seen this play or film before, you must.
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