10 Movies to Help You Celebrate the 4th of July

Feel the Spirit of '76 with These Patriotic Movies

When we think of the ways we celebrate the 4th of July, we usually conjure up images of picnics, fireworks, barbecues, and parades. How about also watching a movie that suits the holiday spirit, films such as “The Patriot,” starring Mel Gibson or “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” with James Stewart?  Here are 10 other 4th of July movie picks that are sure to get you into a patriotic mood. Not only are these movies entertaining, they also celebrate many of the ideals of our founding fathers. With the exception of one, all are available on DVD:

1. Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
James Cagney portrays the legendary Broadway songwriter and performer George M. Cohan in this rousing,  flag-waving classic. This was Cagney’s favorite film role, and it shows; he’s obviously having a blast...singing, dancing and cracking wise. He burns up the screen like a two-legged firecracker and deservedly won the Best Actor Oscar. The toe-tapping score includes the title tune, “Harrigan,” “Give My Regards to Broadway,”  “Over There,” and “Grand Old Flag.” Pay particular attention to the final scene as Cagney dances down the White House staircase after being awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. His dance was completely improvised and is absolutely brilliant.

2. 1776 (1972)
This movie version of the Broadway musical depicts the events leading up to the drafting of the Declaration of Independence and our nation’s first 4th of July.  Ken Howard plays a handsome, stately Thomas Jefferson,  Williams Daniels is an irascible John Adams, and Howard da Silva is the witty, proverb-spouting Benjamin Franklin. Many of the song lyrics are based on actual correspondence of the time and include “ The Lees of Virginia,” “But Mr. Adams,”  “He Plays the Violin,” and “Molasses to Rum.” American history has never been so much fun.