Ten Movies with Which to Celebrate Independence Day

Some Movie Suggestions for the 4th of July

After a day full of parades, picnics and fireworks, how better to wind down than with a great Independence Day movie? Here are a few July 4^th favorites to help make it a Yankee Doodle Day!

1. 1776 - This is the 1972 made for the cinema version of the musical that tells the story of our founding fathers and the writing of the Declaration of Independence. It is very much in the spirit of day in that it is very upbeat and patriotic and our favorite founding fathers are portrayed as singing and dancing guys with whom you wouldn't mind sharing an icy cold Samuel Adams, a hamburger and tater salad.

2. The Patriot - Here I am referring to the Mel Gibson adventure flick from 2000 where he plays a politically neutral farmer who joins up with the revolutionaries because the evil, wicked, baby-killing British kill off his family. I will cede that the portrayal of the British is a bit over the top in this picture, but it is full of great costumes and patriotic feeling and it just makes you want to stand up and sing the national anthem.

3. Yankee Doodle Dandy - The life and adventures of George M. Cohen via Hollywood, and starring the inimitable James Cagney. After the premier, George Cohen was heard to say, "It was a good movie. Who was it about?" OK, to be fair, it has very little to do with any historical facts, but it is a fun romp filled with patriotic music that was, in fact, written by George M. Cohen.

4. She Wore a Yellow Ribbon - Or any of the John Ford/John Wayne cavalry trilogy. They are completely politically incorrect by 21^st century standards, but they will make you stand up and cheer for the U.S. Cavalry. She Wore a Yellow Ribbon is probably the best movie, over all, but Rio Grande has the most music, and is well worth watching too.

5. The Stars and Stripes Forever - Like Yankee Doodle Dandy this is a biopic of a composer, in this case the immortal John Philip Sousa. It is not a great movie, but it has a simple and pleasant story of Sousa's creation of the Marine Band. Clifton Webb is pleasant, and the all Sousa soundtrack will have you marching around the house.