Just watched the movie on TCM, remember seeing this in 7th grade. My history teacher decided we should all see the movie and it was part of the school day for us. Still 40 years later, well done. As Roger Devry would say, "it's full of historical little goodies."
Agree. Just talked to my mom, who was watching it. She said something very similar. "When you get past all the singing, you learn some things." I'm one who loves the score so I always look forward to getting both from it.
The songs are often a little hokey and the book isn't entirely historically accurate but it's often amusing and riveting which is an accomplishment given the fact that we all know how it ends. The movie is also very faithful to the Broadway version. Maybe one of the most faithful movie musicals since they made so few changes. It's the perfect movie to watch on Independence Day.
The relationship between John and Abigail is historically sound, and based on their letters. Hooray for William Daniels, still the only John Adams. Wish I had seen him in the theater.