Benjamin Franklin In Popular Culture
Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America, has appeared in popular culture as a character in novels, films, musicals, comics, and video games. His experiment, using a kite, to prove that lightning is a form of electricity has been an especially popular aspect of his biography in fictional depictions. Media about Franklin Biographical: Film, television, and theater *'' Ben Franklin in Paris'', 1964 theatrical musical. *'' The Lives of Benjamin Franklin'', 1974 miniseries. *'' Benjamin Franklin (2002 TV series)'', 2002 PBS documentary series. *'' Benjamin Franklin (film)'', 2022 Ken Burns documentary. *'' Franklin'', a 2024 Apple TV+ miniseries with Michael Douglas as Franklin. It depicts the eight years Franklin spent in France attempting to convince King Louis XVI to support the American Revolutionary War. As a supporting figure Film, television, and theater *Franklin appears in '' Janice Meredith'' (1924), played by Lee Beggs. *Franklin appear ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Royal Affairs In Versailles
''Royal Affairs in Versailles'' (French title: ''Si Versailles m'était conté'') is a 1954 French-Italian historical drama directed by Sacha Guitry. Described as "a historical film showing Versailles from its beginnings to the present day", it tells some episodes through portrayal of the personalities who lived in the Palace of Versailles. Its sister films are '' Napoléon'' (1955) and '' If Paris Were Told to Us'' (1956). The film is notable for the presence of a great number of well-known French actors, often appearing in short parts. One unknown actor playing a major character is Gilbert Bokanowski (credited as Gilbert Boka) portraying Louis XVI. Bokanowski was actually the film's production manager and was cast because of his strong resemblance to the monarch. Its English translation title is ''If Versailles Were Told to Me''. Despite French production, the film is best known by its English title ''Royal Affairs in Versailles''. Plot Historical human stories in connection w ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Running Gag
A running gag, or running joke, is a literary device that takes the form of an amusing joke or a comical reference and appears repeatedly throughout a work of literature or other form of storytelling. Though they are similar, catchphrases are not considered to be running gags. Running gags can begin with an instance of unintentional humor that is repeated in variations as the joke grows familiar and audiences anticipate reappearances of the gag. The humor in a running gag may derive entirely from how often it is repeated, but the underlying statement or situation will always be some form of joke. A trivial statement will not become a running gag simply by being repeated. A running gag may also derive its humor from the (in)appropriateness of the situation in which it occurs, or by setting up the audience to expect another occurrence of the joke and then substituting something else ('' bait and switch''). Running gags are found in everyday life, live theater, live comedy, televi ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Jay Leno
James Douglas Muir Leno ( ; born April 28, 1950) is an American television host, comedian, and writer. After doing stand-up comedy for years, he became the host of NBC's ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Tonight Show'' from 1992 until 2009 when Conan O'Brien took over as host. Beginning in September 2009, Leno started a primetime talk show, ''The Jay Leno Show'', which aired weeknights at 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time Zone, ET, also on NBC. O'Brien turned down NBC's offer to have Leno host a half hour monologue show before ''The Tonight Show'' to boost ratings amid reported viewership diminishing, which sparked the 2010 Tonight Show conflict, 2010 ''Tonight Show'' conflict that resulted in Leno's returning to hosting the show on March 1, 2010. He hosted his last episode of his second tenure on February 6, 2014. That year, he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame. From 2014 to 2022, he hosted ''Jay Leno's Garage,'' and from 2021 to 2023, hosted the revival of ''You Be ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Billy West
William Richard Werstine (born 1952), known professionally as Billy West, is an American voice actor, comedian, radio personality, impressionist and musician. His voice roles include Bugs Bunny in the 1996 film ''Space Jam'', the title characters of ''Doug (TV series), Doug'' and ''The Ren & Stimpy Show'', and several subsequent projects. He also voiced Disney characters, including Ellyvan the Elephant in ''Jungle Junction'', Bashful in ''The 7D'', and the ''Futurama'' characters Philip J. Fry, Professor Farnsworth, Dr. Zoidberg, Zapp Brannigan, and many more. In commercials, he voices the Red M&M's, M&M and formerly voiced Buzz for Honey Nut Cheerios. West also voices other established characters such as Elmer Fudd, Popeye, Shaggy Rogers, Rocket Raccoon, Muttley, and Woody Woodpecker. He was a cast member on ''The Howard Stern Show'', during which time he was noted for his impressions of Larry Fine, Marge Schott, George Takei, and Jackie Martling. Early life William Richard Wer ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Histeria!
''Histeria!'' is an American animated series created by Tom Ruegger and produced by Warner Bros. Television Animation. Unlike other animated series produced by Warner Bros. in the 1990s, ''Histeria!'' was an explicitly educational program created to meet FCC requirements for educational/informational content for children. ''Histeria!'' aired on Kids' WB from September 14, 1998 to March 31, 2000, and continued to air reruns until August 30, 2001. The show was presented as a ''Saturday Night Live''-style sketch comedy, with its cast often filling the roles of historical figures. It was to be WB's most ambitious project since ''Animaniacs''. Like the aforementioned series, 65 episodes were originally going to be made, but due to being $10 million over budget, only 52 episodes were completed before production of the series was canceled in March 2000. Due to the high production costs, footage from previous episodes was often re-used and re-timed to match newly recorded audio, a ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Liberty!
''Liberty! The American Revolution'' is a six-hour documentary miniseries about the Revolutionary War, and the instigating factors, that brought about the United States' independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. It was first broadcast on the Public Broadcasting Service in 1997. The series consists of six hour-long episodes. Each episode is introduced by Forrest Sawyer and narrated by Edward Herrmann. Period photographs and location filming are intercut with stage and screen actors in appropriate period costume reading as figures of the time, including Campbell Scott (Thomas Jefferson), Philip Bosco (Benjamin Franklin), Victor Garber ( John Dickinson), Alex Jennings ( King George III), Roger Rees ( Thomas Paine), Philip Seymour Hoffman ( Joseph Plumb Martin), Terrence Mann ( Gen. John Burgoyne), Colm Feore (Alexander Hamilton), Sebastian Roché (The Marquis de Lafayette), Donna Murphy ( Abigail Adams), Austin Pendleton ( Benjamin Rush) and Peter Donaldson (Joh ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
A More Perfect Union (film)
''A More Perfect Union: America Becomes a Nation'' is a 1989 American feature film dramatizing the events of the U.S. Constitutional Convention of 1787. The film was produced by Brigham Young University to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the drafting of the United States Constitution, and many professors from BYU's School of Fine Arts and Communications were involved in its production either as actors or in other capacities. After its release, the film was officially recognized by the Commission on the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution as "of exceptional merit". Plot summary The film depicts events surrounding creation of the United States Constitution, and is focused mainly on James Madison, who wrote most of that document and took extensive notes during the convention's discussions and proceedings. The period immediately following the American Revolutionary War was marked by intense political unrest, owing to huge debts, the interruption of trade and busines ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
The Adams Chronicles
''The Adams Chronicles'' is a thirteen-episode miniseries by PBS that aired in 1976 to commemorate the American Bicentennial. Synopsis The series chronicles the story of the Adams political family over a 150-year span, including John Adams (drafter and signer of the Declaration, accomplished diplomat, and the 2nd President of the U.S.), his wife Abigail Adams, his son John Quincy Adams (acclaimed Secretary of State, the 6th President, and prominent abolitionist Congressman), grandson Charles Francis Adams, Congressman and Ambassador to Great Britain during the Civil War, and much-heralded members of the fourth generation Henry Brooks Adams, the historian and author of the novel ''Democracy'', and Charles Francis Adams II, the industrialist. The most prominent role in the series is John Adams, played by George Grizzard. His views dominate the series even after his death on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the passage of the United States Declaration of Independence. As ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
1776 (film)
''1776'' is a 1972 American historical musical drama film directed by Peter H. Hunt and written by Peter Stone, based on his book for the 1969 Broadway musical of the same name, with music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards. Set in Philadelphia in the summer of 1776, it is a fictionalized account of the events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The film stars William Daniels, Howard da Silva, Donald Madden, John Cullum, Ken Howard and Blythe Danner. Portions of dialogue and some lyrics were taken directly from the letters and memoirs of the actual participants of the Second Continental Congress. Plot John Adams, representing Massachusetts in the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia, laments the body's refusal to debate his motion to declare the colonies' independence from Great Britain and instead to discuss more trivial matters. Disliked by most of his fellow Congressmen, he frequently seeks advice and comfort from his wife, Abigail. Be ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
1776 (musical)
''1776'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards and a book by Peter Stone. The show is based on the events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, telling a story of the efforts of John Adams to persuade his colleagues to vote for American independence and to sign the document. The show premiered on Broadway in 1969 where it received acclaim and won three Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The original production starred William Daniels as Adams, Ken Howard as Thomas Jefferson, and Howard Da Silva as Benjamin Franklin. In 1972, it was made into a film adaptation. It has received three New York revivals: on Broadway in 1997, an Encores! concert in 2016, and a 2022 Broadway production in which the racially diverse cast was entirely made up of people who identify as female, trans, or non-binary. History In 1925, Rodgers and Hart wrote a Broadway musical about the American Revolution called '' Dearest Enemy''. Green, Stanley. ''Encyclop ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
La Fayette (film)
''La Fayette'' is a 1961 French-Italian epic biographical film directed by Jean Dréville and starring Michel Le Royer, Pascale Audret, Jack Hawkins and Orson Welles. The film depicts the life of Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, in particular his role in the American War of Independence. Cast * Michel Le Royer - La Fayette * Howard St. John - George Washington * Orson Welles - Benjamin Franklin * Pascale Audret - Adrienne de La Fayette * Jack Hawkins - General Cornwallis * Liselotte Pulver - Marie Antoinette * Folco Lulli - Le Boursier * Wolfgang Preiss - Baron Kalb * Edmund Purdom - Silas Deane * Georges Rivière - Vergennes * Rosanna Schiaffino - Comtesse de Simiane * Vittorio De Sica - Aaron Bancroft * Jacques Castelot - Duc d'Ayen * Jean-Roger Caussimon - Maurepas * Jean-Jacques Delbo - L'exempt Critical reception Allmovie wrote, "the story of a Frenchman who fought to liberate the American colonies from British rule is colorfully brought to th ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |