I doubt that people who aren't necessarily into history, especially the Revolutionary War aside from all the build-up it got in Hetalia, would enjoy watching a movie about it. However, I only have to drop the name of the lead actor in this production (original stage play and movie) to give you the chance to change your minds: William Daniels. Or to those of us who grew up watching Boy Meets World, Mr. George Feeny of John Adams High (see what they did there?). And when Mr. Feeny speaks, we listen, dammit. Expertly scored and written by Sherman Edwards and Peter Stone, it's hard not to, in any case.
The seven-act play begins with Adams becoming increasingly frustrated that none of the other delegates will take him seriously on the issue of bringing about a motion to vote on whether or not they should declare independence from the British Crown. This leads into the song "Sit Down, John" as his fellow delegates either try to calm him down or brush him off entirely, which leads to him storming out of the congress and into the street. There he continues with the song "Piddle, Twiddle, and Resolve" to further express his frustration and now outrage at what small, unimportant matters they're picking at while the colonies are being oppressed. He is interrupted by the voice of his wife; this happens a total of three times throughout the play, representing an exchange of letters while the two are on stage together singing them out. The first is titled "Till Then," which accomplishes little outside of giving him an update on how everyone back home is doing and encouraging him to get the matter of independence settled quickly so he can come home.
In Act II we are introduced to Benjamin Franklin, who is sitting for a portrait. Adams hunts him down and asks him what they should do about the question of independence. Franklin suggests that Adams is "obnoxious and disliked" and that's the reason no one is listening to him. His solution is to get somebody well-liked to introduce it, particularly someone from Virginia as everyone respects the opinion of someone from the first colony. Enter Richard Henry Lee, one such person who could possibly get the job done and pledges to do so in the song "The Lees of Old Virginia."
Lee returns in Act III with his task accomplished and it's put to a vote. Not a vote on whether or not to be independent, but on a vote to discuss the possibility of independence. The motion barely passes, with the provision that a committee be assembled to draft a document detailing why the colonies should be free and independent. Adams and Franklin are on the committee, as well as Roger Sherman and Robert Livingston. Lee was originally supposed to be on it but says he has to go right back to Virginia as he has been named governor there. He chooses an unhappy Thomas Jefferson to take his place, even though he had already told Jefferson that his wife had been asking for him. No one wants to be the one to write the document however, and try to push it off on one another in the song "But Mr. Adams." In the end, Jefferson gets stuck writing it alone.
The days pass, and in Act IV Adams and Franklin check on Jefferson only to discover that he's accomplished nothing. Expecting this but still unable to believe it, Adams brings in Jefferson's wife to see him, explaining to Franklin that as soon as Jefferson's problem was solved, theirs would be as well. They leave the two alone and Adams gets another song between himself and his wife titled "Yours, Yours, Yours," which isn't that much different from "Till Then." The next morning they're still waiting for Jefferson when his wife opens the window and they call out to her asking for news. He's still asleep, so she comes down to talk to them. They ask what he's like as a lover and she tells them in the song "He Plays the Violin." She goes back upstairs and Jefferson emerges, leaving a note for Adams and Franklin telling them to go away.
In Act V we hear more from the congressional side of things as people still need convincing to join the cause. The situation is not helped much by the letters delivered by General George Washington's messenger boy, which do not paint a bright picture of the chances his army has against the British army. Those against independence decide to wash their hands of the matter so as not to risk the destruction of their property in the controversial song "Cool, Cool Considerate Men," which was cut from the original movie production by President Nixon. As a counterpoint to it, what follows immediately after is the song "Mama, Look Sharp." It's sung by the messenger boy to the two other working-class men at the congress describing what the war has been like for ordinary people who have lost loved ones fighting against the British soldiers.
In Act VI Jefferson is standing in the hall outside the congress room while the document he drafted is being read. Adams and Franklin return from New Brunswick where the troops there had finally learned to work together. Their adventures there were originally supposed to take place in this scene, but they couldn't do it on stage and it wasn't included in the movie. Instead we get a song called "The Egg" sung by the three of them as they wait.
In Act VII the reading of the document is finally concluded and the floor is opened to amendments and suggestions, which pour in like a flood. Jefferson allows most of them but objects to the word "tyrant" being scratched out as it refers to King George. Edward Rutledge asks him to clarify his mention of slavery, and Jefferson explains that not only should they be free but they should free their slaves as well. Rutledge calls him a hypocrite as Jefferson is a slave-owner too, but Jefferson says he's already resolved to release his slaves. In the eerie and powerful song "Molasses to Rum," Rutledge calls all of the northern colonies hypocrites because they benefit from the slave trade as well. After he's sufficiently shamed them, the whole southern delegation walks out. Adams is adamant that the clause remain in the declaration, but Franklin and Jefferson say they must concede it if they want the south to remain with them. Adams points out the hypocrisy of freeing themselves but not the slaves, but Franklin says that he'd only make more enemies if he pushed the issue. Adams storms off and has another exchange with his wife, "Yours, Yours, Yours (Reprise)." It turns out that she has sent the saltpeter he'd asked for to make gunpowder, which means Adams must send her pins in return. Washington's messenger boy walks in with another letter, but Adams takes it and gives it to the congressional secretary Charles Thomson himself and asks him where he stands. Thomson says he's on no one's side but the general's and reads the latest letter but cannot get through to the signature and walks out sadly. Adams picks it up and continues singing "Is Anybody There?" by himself. By the time he's finished, Lyman Hall walks in and answers him. He has decided to follow his own instincts rather than the will of his constituents because he feels they are better served that way. The next morning Jefferson and Franklin have managed to win over more southern delegates to their side, and with the return of Caesar Rodney all that's left is a divided Pennsylvania, including Franklin, Adams' nemesis John Dickinson, and his toadie James Wilson. Not wanting to be remembered for being the one vote standing in between the colonies and independence, Wilson betrays Dickinson and votes with Franklin. Dickinson leaves, saying he couldn't in good conscience sign the thing but would fight in the army anyway. The movie ends with the signing of the Declaration of Independence by one representative from each colony, knowing full well they could hang if they lost the war. Fortunately for us, we know this did not occur.
The best song in my opinion is "But Mr. Adams" because you wouldn't have expected such historical figures trying to get out of the very task they're so well-known for doing. The worst song is definitely "The Egg" simply because it was drawn up as a placeholder, but it was at least based off the picture on the program cover.
There is a book called Decision in Philadelphia: The Constitutional Convention of 1787, but outside of a Peanuts cartoon has never been adapted into movie let alone musical form. That being said, it would be easier to digest if it had been. Alas, Edwards is deceased and I'm not sure who else could do it.
And if you listen to the commentary track on the DVD or read the screenplay book, you'll find it's mostly all true.
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