What could be more soul-curdling than a Broadway folk operetta featuring the founding fathers, and double-entendres, and national tragedy? The movie version.

With "1776," political struggles that took place nearly two-and-a-half centuries ago feel as fresh and immediate as the political struggles of today.

Every American should watch this once a year.

Though it may have seemed an anachronism at the time it came out, this musical look at the messy beginnings of our nation still stirs the heart and tickles the funny bone.