Product Details

• Actors: Jay Thomas, Mike Church, Michael Weingartner, Jean Hetherington
• Directors: Mike Church
• Format: NTSC, Widescreen
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Number of discs: 1
• Studio: Founding Father Films
• DVD Release Date: December 3, 2009
• Run Time: 167 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (90 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B002V0PKA2
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,877 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you're expecting Pixar you should probably buy a copy of Cars, December 12, 2009

By 

Brutus Cassius "Brutus Cassius" (Folsom, LA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Spirit of 76 - Final Edition DVD (DVD)

First of all, some of the comments on this films animation are ridiculous considering that it is the first EVER, American made - full length animated documentary! It therefore is creating its own genre. If you are purchasing this film to be dazzled by Big Studio special effects, you will be disappointed. If you expect that this documentary, which I am told was made for a mere $50k, is going to change the physical impression you have of the founders and they way they were painted, sketched or engraved you will also be disappointed. Now on to this wonderful films high points.

First of all, the soundtrack is amazing! The detail poured into the moving of chairs, the bustling and rustling of boot-steps across the sets and the reverb of the halls is as well done as any film I can recall shot in similar locations. The voice characterizations are also outstanding including a surprisingly entertaining performance by veteran actor Jay Thomas (Cheers, Mr. Holland's Opus) who plays Ben Franklin. Thomas brings Franklin to life in a way that Tom Wilkinson (John Adams) will truly be jealous of. The narration by Mr. Church is passionate when it needs to be, commanding but not preachy at times and jocular when needed too. Quite a feat for an actor with no other screen credit save for his own documentaries.

Steve Cook delivers a believable James Madison and Michael Weingartner nearly steals the show with his portrayal of Alexander Hamilton. Patrick Henry is played by Jean Hetherington and is the star of the 3rd act. Hetherington's performance should get him a Grammy as he delivers a more spirited defense of the American values fought for and gained in the Revolution than Hollywood has attempted since "Mr. Smith goes to Washington". The rest of the cast is outstanding and since their are no professional casting agents listed, I will assume that Mr. Church handled the task. Those that question Mr. Church's directorial skills and negatively compare him to Ken Burns should consider the enormous task and responsibility that casting the voices of our Founders entailed. Yet upon this films conclusion you will most assuredly relate the voices heard on the screen with references to the Founders in your daily life.

The story begins in the office of a newspaper publisher in Richmond VA (Thomas Ritchie I believe) and in the opening scene the stage is set for what will follow: The Framers created the Constitution to handle some tasks it was deemed individual states were -as James Madison puts it in the movie- incompetent at. Anything that the Supreme Court or Congress tackles outside those tasks is unconstitutional. We are then introduced to Mr. Church who stands on the Spirit of 76 background set for most of the rest of the film as our narrator. The real stars show up toward the end of the prologue: the Church twins: Madison and Reagan. Their questions about the Constitutions framing guide us through the rest of the "Timeline". Church deftly incorporates the twins into the storyline as they seem to popup when the story gets a tad esoteric (and what documentary doesn't?!).

The illustrations in this movie are handsome, vivid, and well done. Again, these are illustrations, drawn by the talented art director Craig Holloway. If you are expecting perfectly rounded and smoothed edges on every item drawn for the movie than the look of actual artwork may be disappointing. The interior of Independence Hall is recreated as it must have looked and here again Church's directorial skills shine. You can make out famous Founders, surrounded by other Founders from their own states suggesting that someone must have taken the time to draw a seating chart. I especially like the angle used where the camera starts outside Independence Hall and then zooms through the windows into the hall.

Each Founder is drawn as they appeared to the men who painted their portraits. At the end of the movie there are segues between Holloway's illustrations and surviving paintings of the Founders, the resemblances are spot on. Great care is taken in some scenes to illustrate the weather conditions during that summer of 1787, again, this attention detail is encouraging for a first time director.

In the story we quickly learn that some Founders desired to erect a monarchy in place of the one the states had just freed themselves from and short of that we are shocked to learn that James Madison wanted a central government that would eliminate the role of the states. Madison is portrayed in a light I was never aware of, that of the BAD GUY for most of the film though it is obvious from Church's narration that we won't leave the theatre with an impression of Madison the tyrant king!

The opposite side of this debate is taken up by George Mason, Luther Martin -played by XM talker Andrew Wilkow - Elbridge Gerry and Charles Pinckney, played by the multitalented Weingartner. in one scene, if you watch closely, Weingartner actually debates himself (Pinckney vs Hamilton). These men, led by Mason, defend the independence of the states with a fervor and eloquence few alive in America today could match and Church wisely allows them to argue it out and adds commentary to fill in the narrative gaps.

The most surprising part of the story happens in the 3rd act where we learn of a plot to influence New York and Virginia's ratification that was left out of my high school history books. Church guides the story through this intrigue as we meet New York governor George Clinton (no, he didn't start Parliament) who was a profound proponent of the Constitution. Most of the 3rd acts action takes place in Richmond VA in a building called the New Academy. Here, Hetherington brings Patrick Henry to life as he and Mason desperately try to stop ratification. Henry even resorts to the supernatural as we see in the films finale sequence. This scene would have been nice to see animated by Pixar or Dream Works but you'll get the point.

Church then ties the stories elements together with Masons reading of the VA ratification statement which will come as a shock to most audiences.

All things considered, the Spirit of 76 will keep you interested for the entire run-time and packs more historical insight and fact than what many of us have learned in an entire life. This is American history like you've never seen it before and it comes along not a moment too late as many today feel that the Constitution you will watch the drafting and ratification of is dead. Hopefully the Spirit of 76 will at the least, stir up enough interest in the fabled document to save its relevance.
-Brutus Cassius

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A reminder that the Founders did have clear timeless goals for our Republic., September 22, 2009

By 

M. Cooke (Kentucky) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Spirit of '76 (DVD)

My wife and I were in attendance for the premier of this film at XM studios in Washington, D.C.; this production was much more then we expected going in.

Between the narration by Mike Church, the convincing performances by the films participants, and the cameos by the Church daughters, Reagan and Madison this film provides entertainment, meticulously researched information and shocking revelations that settle the debates of our time.

I thought I was fairly well educated on the founding of our great Republic before seeing this film and I have to admit that there were a lot of holes in my memory that were never filled in by my formal education.

The Articles of Confederation were lacking in sufficient coverage for the issues of the time, specifically the threat to commerce by the Spaniards who were claiming title to the Mississippi river and excise being imposed by the States on commerce. This film will fill in the blanks and dispel tall tails spoken for many years by many about the true heroes of the Constitution.

You will meet Thomas Pinckney, Patrick Henry, William Paterson and the other true voices behind what we know today to be our Constitution; they presented the main decent to the Virginia plan constructed by James Madison, this plan was known as the New Jersey plan.

The reluctant leadership by George Washington of this gathering and passionate speeches by the attendees will stir in you the passion for freedom our founders had just recently fought to attain from the English monarchy.

The Federalists fortunately lost their plea for a new king to be coronated, lifetime appointments to Senate and the stripping of States rights.

The founders knew the woes of too much power being bestowed upon a central authority and delivered a Republic to the States.

This very foundation is being threatened today by others who would rather do for you then allow you to do for yourself.

Get this movie, watch it, show it to your children, your friends and anyone else you can think of; it is the obligation of all Americans to know your history or you shall be doomed to repeat it.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, September 17, 2009

By 

D. Mosher (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Spirit of '76 (DVD)

I listened to The Spirit of '76 on this morning's Mike Church show. Very interesting, very educational, very entertaining, very well done. Five stars for Mike Church.