Happy
Independence Day!! For whatever reason, 4th of July doesn’t have a
great deal of specials or movies based on it. I mean we sort of have
Peanuts specials focused on America, documentaries on the presidents and
founding of our nation, and Disney specials in the past which were hit
or miss. And yeah there’s the New York City fireworks on every year, but
that’s not the same (and I favor Boston Pops for obvious reasons). And
some movies which are considered patriotic don’t work for me, the stuff
in them like wearing a flag while one races across field, an action
president spouting one liners, or a boxer giving a lame speech about
world piece isn’t really what I have in mind.
What I mean are moments which intentional evoke patriotism with songs, a speech, or some other kind of imagery. And there are actually lots of moments that do this, but the funny thing is that sometimes the things they appear have very little if anything to do really with the holiday! The scene just is just kind of, there. And it’s a great moment but…why is it here? Here are some examples of what I mean. These are in no particular order but are things that I have seen, so don’t be surprised if some obvious one’s aren’t here.
10.Rudolph’ Shiny New Year
How weird is this, that the coolest 4th of July moment comes from a Christmas/New Year’s special? I get why Rankin/Bass never made a real special based on ths holiday, and maybe that’s the reason this is here. I could be here all day explaining context so suffice to day, there’s the island where it’s always 1776 and as a result it’s always 4th of July because I guess that’s all that happened in 1776? I don’t know this special is weird but that’s a topic for another day.
9.All in the Family
Is it possible to patriotic for the wrong reason? This is scene is probably the most famous from the series (aside from the one featuring Sammy David Jr). It’s so iconic that I’ve even seen it a million times. Just watch and enjoy.
8.Yankee Doodle Dandy
This a James Cagney movie (that I saw in color), the only Cagney movie I ever saw, and it’s about George M.Cohan who was known as “The Man Who Owned Broadway”. Going by the title you would think the whole movie is patriotic, but it isn’t. Like any life story there are parts that have nothing to do with patriotism, and the movie can be boring. But man when it does start flag waving man is it fun. this one scene sure is. Bu the way George M Cohan published over 300 songs including “Over There”, “Give My Regards to Broadway”, and “You’re a Grand Old Flag” which I once poorly played on a trumpet. And regarding the video below, it also features a clip of Yankee Doodle Dandy performed by Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney in the Ghost Theater Sequence of the film Babes on Broadway.
7.Frasier
The one that first came to mind was from a very late in the series episode where we see Frasier dressed as Uncle Sam for a 4th of July parade. But it’s a small part of the episode and I couldn’t find a clip. I did however find this clip, where Frasier’s trying to get Niles Mother in Law out to see America. His brief speech is very patriotic and ends up getting some unexpected help.
6.Captain America
Captain America? Hell Yeah! Actually I never cared much for him as a kid. But as I’m older I admit he does kick seven kinds of ass. The movie that came out a few years handled the characters beautifully, and even remembered the corny side. Because let’s be honest, that outfit he wears is a a little silly. Even Wonder Woman shows more restraint. So it’s only fair to acknowledged how goofy this character can be, This one scene handles that, and it is so corny and so silly….that it’s marvelous!
5.Family Ties
Maybe this shouldn’t count but when else am I going to talk about this? Family Ties did an episode where Alex dreams he is back in 1776 helping Thomas Jefferson write the Declaration of Independence. Yep. I could only find two clips so I shared the one I thought was the best. This is one episode you can almost tell Michael J.Fox was doing Back to the Future at the same time. He pulls off exhausted Alex very well. The patriotism is understated, gut it’s there.
4.Star Trek-“The Omega Glory”
This is a crappy episode. I mean, a really crappy episode. Even though it was almost the pilot! The plot? Kirk, Spock and McCoy find a parallel Earth planet where a war is going on between “Yangs” and “Kohms”. Subtle huh? The solution to the conflict comes with some very obvious parallels to American history. Actually a little to obvious as this planet has it’s over version of The Constitution (with “we the people” and everything) and an American Flag. Roddenberry pushed it with his “parallel Earth” crap but this episode really stretched it thin! Kirk’s speech here tries to explain the document isn’t to meant to be worshiped, it’s meant to help people live free. Yeah the episode is stupid and makes no sense. But if you forget the idiocy of the story, the final speech Kirk gives is nice and full of patriotism. God love Shatner who hams this up to the fullest!
3.Mad About You/Chrstmas Vacation
I know this isn’t a “Top 10” but I decided to lump these together since they cover the same thing, making a gag out of the national anthem.
First, Mad About You. All rise for our national anthem…sung very badly! Sitcoms always seem to need something usless on the set that never gets touched by anyone on the show. Seinfeld had the famous bike, Friends had the back closet that never got used, and King of Queens had a piano. Speaking of pianos, Paul and Jamie always had one also. Why? Who knows, but it gets featured in this funny teaser to one episode.
Yeah, two Christmas specials in a 4th of July article? Normally never but how could I ignore one of the funniest scenes of the movie, when Aunt Bethany sings the national anthem while Clark’s bunring Santa flies into the sky. It actually turns into a stirring, patriotic scene!
2.Independence Day
There was simply no way I could leave this one off. There was a time when I watched this movie on the 4th. Now I just watch the Nostalgia Critic review, it saves time. As I have said many time this was a serious guilty pleasure for me. It’s just a silly movie and the 4th of July stuff is still there, despite the death and destruction. The speech given here is cheesy, corny..and one of my favorite movie speeches ever.
1.The Muppet Movie
This is such a short but beautiful scene as only The Muppets can brings. I don’t even have to describe it, just watch
Got a couple more for ya:
Nostalgia Critic
One of my favorite bits of his was the one he did on the Denny’s commercial. What does a Denny’s commercial have to with America? As pointed out by the Nostalgia Critic, everything!
Superman II
when I think of the American flag the image that almost always comes to my mind is the scene at the end of Superman II when Superman flies the flag to the White House :
The American President
here is one of my all time favorite movie president speech’s ever!
And finally, in the 80’s Disney did a couple 4th of July specials. They were ok, they were long and clearly just commercials for the parks and whatever hit movies were out at the time. But they were unique and I kind of miss them. I was going to dedicate a whole article to them, but couldn’t find a copy of the 1989 special so scrapped the idea. But I wanted to at least mention them and since it is the 4th of July weekend, this is the perfect note to end on….
I’m sure I have left off many others, feel free to comment and let me know what I missed. Happy 4th of July my friends.
What I mean are moments which intentional evoke patriotism with songs, a speech, or some other kind of imagery. And there are actually lots of moments that do this, but the funny thing is that sometimes the things they appear have very little if anything to do really with the holiday! The scene just is just kind of, there. And it’s a great moment but…why is it here? Here are some examples of what I mean. These are in no particular order but are things that I have seen, so don’t be surprised if some obvious one’s aren’t here.
10.Rudolph’ Shiny New Year
How weird is this, that the coolest 4th of July moment comes from a Christmas/New Year’s special? I get why Rankin/Bass never made a real special based on ths holiday, and maybe that’s the reason this is here. I could be here all day explaining context so suffice to day, there’s the island where it’s always 1776 and as a result it’s always 4th of July because I guess that’s all that happened in 1776? I don’t know this special is weird but that’s a topic for another day.
9.All in the Family
Is it possible to patriotic for the wrong reason? This is scene is probably the most famous from the series (aside from the one featuring Sammy David Jr). It’s so iconic that I’ve even seen it a million times. Just watch and enjoy.
8.Yankee Doodle Dandy
This a James Cagney movie (that I saw in color), the only Cagney movie I ever saw, and it’s about George M.Cohan who was known as “The Man Who Owned Broadway”. Going by the title you would think the whole movie is patriotic, but it isn’t. Like any life story there are parts that have nothing to do with patriotism, and the movie can be boring. But man when it does start flag waving man is it fun. this one scene sure is. Bu the way George M Cohan published over 300 songs including “Over There”, “Give My Regards to Broadway”, and “You’re a Grand Old Flag” which I once poorly played on a trumpet. And regarding the video below, it also features a clip of Yankee Doodle Dandy performed by Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney in the Ghost Theater Sequence of the film Babes on Broadway.
7.Frasier
The one that first came to mind was from a very late in the series episode where we see Frasier dressed as Uncle Sam for a 4th of July parade. But it’s a small part of the episode and I couldn’t find a clip. I did however find this clip, where Frasier’s trying to get Niles Mother in Law out to see America. His brief speech is very patriotic and ends up getting some unexpected help.
6.Captain America
Captain America? Hell Yeah! Actually I never cared much for him as a kid. But as I’m older I admit he does kick seven kinds of ass. The movie that came out a few years handled the characters beautifully, and even remembered the corny side. Because let’s be honest, that outfit he wears is a a little silly. Even Wonder Woman shows more restraint. So it’s only fair to acknowledged how goofy this character can be, This one scene handles that, and it is so corny and so silly….that it’s marvelous!
5.Family Ties
Maybe this shouldn’t count but when else am I going to talk about this? Family Ties did an episode where Alex dreams he is back in 1776 helping Thomas Jefferson write the Declaration of Independence. Yep. I could only find two clips so I shared the one I thought was the best. This is one episode you can almost tell Michael J.Fox was doing Back to the Future at the same time. He pulls off exhausted Alex very well. The patriotism is understated, gut it’s there.
4.Star Trek-“The Omega Glory”
This is a crappy episode. I mean, a really crappy episode. Even though it was almost the pilot! The plot? Kirk, Spock and McCoy find a parallel Earth planet where a war is going on between “Yangs” and “Kohms”. Subtle huh? The solution to the conflict comes with some very obvious parallels to American history. Actually a little to obvious as this planet has it’s over version of The Constitution (with “we the people” and everything) and an American Flag. Roddenberry pushed it with his “parallel Earth” crap but this episode really stretched it thin! Kirk’s speech here tries to explain the document isn’t to meant to be worshiped, it’s meant to help people live free. Yeah the episode is stupid and makes no sense. But if you forget the idiocy of the story, the final speech Kirk gives is nice and full of patriotism. God love Shatner who hams this up to the fullest!
3.Mad About You/Chrstmas Vacation
I know this isn’t a “Top 10” but I decided to lump these together since they cover the same thing, making a gag out of the national anthem.
First, Mad About You. All rise for our national anthem…sung very badly! Sitcoms always seem to need something usless on the set that never gets touched by anyone on the show. Seinfeld had the famous bike, Friends had the back closet that never got used, and King of Queens had a piano. Speaking of pianos, Paul and Jamie always had one also. Why? Who knows, but it gets featured in this funny teaser to one episode.
Yeah, two Christmas specials in a 4th of July article? Normally never but how could I ignore one of the funniest scenes of the movie, when Aunt Bethany sings the national anthem while Clark’s bunring Santa flies into the sky. It actually turns into a stirring, patriotic scene!
2.Independence Day
There was simply no way I could leave this one off. There was a time when I watched this movie on the 4th. Now I just watch the Nostalgia Critic review, it saves time. As I have said many time this was a serious guilty pleasure for me. It’s just a silly movie and the 4th of July stuff is still there, despite the death and destruction. The speech given here is cheesy, corny..and one of my favorite movie speeches ever.
1.The Muppet Movie
This is such a short but beautiful scene as only The Muppets can brings. I don’t even have to describe it, just watch
Got a couple more for ya:
Nostalgia Critic
One of my favorite bits of his was the one he did on the Denny’s commercial. What does a Denny’s commercial have to with America? As pointed out by the Nostalgia Critic, everything!
when I think of the American flag the image that almost always comes to my mind is the scene at the end of Superman II when Superman flies the flag to the White House :
The American President
here is one of my all time favorite movie president speech’s ever!
And finally, in the 80’s Disney did a couple 4th of July specials. They were ok, they were long and clearly just commercials for the parks and whatever hit movies were out at the time. But they were unique and I kind of miss them. I was going to dedicate a whole article to them, but couldn’t find a copy of the 1989 special so scrapped the idea. But I wanted to at least mention them and since it is the 4th of July weekend, this is the perfect note to end on….
I’m sure I have left off many others, feel free to comment and let me know what I missed. Happy 4th of July my friends.
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