Enjoy your Independence Day!

A high of 107 is predicted for the 4th of July in my part of the world.  Actually, it was 110 today, so I guess 107 represents a cool wave.  Anyway, I will be taking a pass on going outside to celebrate.  No standing over a hot grill, attending a parade or watching fireworks ... but, I can still get in an appropriate patriotic mood by watching some of my favorite movies. 

TCM will be showing two of my favorite movies overall, which just happen also to be excellent movies for stirring up patriotic fervor.  Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) is a great musical with plenty of flag-waving, and, in my opinion, one of the few black and white movies that would have been even better if filmed in Technicolor.  But a hoofing Cagney is still a joy to watch in glorious black and white.  The other film is The Music Man (1962), another great musical that just oozes Americana, with a marching band, a barbershop quartet, Marian the librarian, Harold Hill the world's best traveling salesman, the residents of River City, Iowa,  and a wonderful musical score. 

The movie I always make it a point to watch on the 4th is 1776 (1972).  Great score, a fantastic book and superb cast ... such a joy to watch.  And the dramatic last scene, when the Declaration of Independence is finally agreed to and the roll call is read of the assembled signers ... WOW.