Revolt at the Colonies (1990)

Revolt at the Colonies is a 1990 American animated musical historical film produced by Magnus Animations and released by Magnus Pictures. The film is the 1st Magnus animated feature film. It was produced and directed by Peter Stone and John Katzenberg, and is based on the musical (also made by Peter Stone) 1776, using some songs from it. The voice cast features Robin Williams, Jack Nicholson, James Woods and Frank Sinatra.. The film follows the Founding Fathers through the American Independence War.

Cast

 * Jeremy Irons as John Adams. One of the three protagonists, has a rivalry with Jefferson that he learns to overcome through the course of the movie.
 * George Washington as Robin Williams. Acting as a buffer between Adams and Jefferson, is conflicted about the revolution and of destroying his relationship with the king.
 * James Woods as Thomas Jefferson. Intellectual, quiet and snarky; learns to put away his differences with Adams to fight for the greater good.
 * Frank Sinatra as Benjamin Franklin. Comic relief, close friend to Adams and frequent supporter of him.
 * Rowan Atkinson as Alexander Hamilton. Comic relief, kind of like Timon from the Lion King.
 * Sean Connery as John Paul Jones. Absolute drunk, Scottish pirate hired to fight for the Americans.
 * Jack Nicholson as King George. The villain of the movie, gluttonous, coward, infantile yet incredibly menacing.

Act 1
The movie begins in London, 1776; a trans-continental ambassdor arrives in the Royal Palace and is taken to the presence of the great King George III, the menacing monarch asks the ambassdor about the situation in the colonies, the ambassdor, too terrified to talk, decides to sing the situation ( Let's Just Say ), King George is infuriated by this and orders the ambassdor's execution.

Meanwhile in Pennsylvania, in the Continental Congress, it is decided that the 13 colonies will declare independence from the United Kingdom after several years of tyranny. John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and Alexander Hamilton are about to go to celebrate, but the issue of who should write the Declaration of Independence appears ( But Mr. Adams ). Suddenly, several men burst into Congress, screaming that the British are coming. Thomas Jefferson retires to his chamber to reflect on his hife, who he hasn't seen in months ( Martha ), suddenly, George Washington arrives from his military training, he greets Adams and Jefferson (who can't stand eachother) and tells them about the British's oppression to the American people, and begrudgindly convinces Jefferson to write the declaration of Independence. Next night, the Continental Congress gathers for the signing of the Declaration ( Tonight, fourth of July ).

King George is informed of this by his many generals about this, and furiously orders a counter-attack ( We will tread ).

Act 2
It's winter; our protagonists visit a military camp set up in an offensive position waiting for the British to show up, when suddenly British Troops attack, Washington crosses the Delaware River and prepares for an attack while Adams and Jefferson make a run for it, but Jefferson trips and is captured by British troops, Adams refuses to help him and runs away, while Washington succesfully wins the battle. That night, Jefferson confronts Adams, who lies to him, telling him that he didn't see him get tripped and that he would've helped him otherwise.

A montage of successful battles is shown, where Washington tries to get Jefferson and Adams to make peace ( We're forging a nation here ), that night at camp, Franklin announces his departure to France, to try and get them into the war ( Les vins d'amoureux ) as Jefferson reflexes about Martha, Adams tells him that he also has a wife, Abigail, still waiting for him in Boston. A couple weeks later, John and Jefferson are about to begin another session of Congress, when suddenly, the Redcoats storm the door, announcing that they have captured Philadelphia. Before their execution, Adams admits having seen Jefferson when he was about to die, and apologizes to him, however, they're saved by John Paul Jones ( It's JPJ ), who takes Philadelphia back, leading both congressmen to the exit where they reunite with Washington and the rest.

Thomas Jefferson can't stand being in this madness no more, saying that he should've never written down that declaration in the first place, and leaves for Virginia; most American politicians surrender, but Washington pleads them to not do so, Adams himself goes away to Massachussets. Both reunited with their spouses, they can't feel happiness, they can't feel completion ( Now what ), the American army suffers defeat after defeat, and eventually, they take Virginia, and Jefferson is captured. Jefferson is brought to the presence of King George, who has travelled to the Americas. He is requested to write a farewell note before his execution, thanks to the pristine writing he's been hiding the entire movie, the Loyalists in Virginia rebel against King George, chasing him out of the South.

Act 3
Adams, thinking Jefferson had died, gains the courage to fight back, reuniting with George Washington in Philadelphia. John is filled with emotion to see Thomas Jefferson alive and well, and apologizes to him, Adams reveals he's brought several volunteers from Boston to help. Jefferson accepts his apology, preparing a plan to drive the British forces out of York. ( The Final Push ) However, Adam says that he has something left to do.

He travels to France, meeting up with Ben Franklin who's partying with King Louis, he drags Louis back along with a gigantic French army. The American Army meets up with the British Army in Yorktown, leading to a gigantic battle ( Star Sprangled Banner ) where the British are succesfully defeated. Officially recognizing the United States as a nation, and giving them their territories in the region. The Founding Fathers reunite and decide on what kind of country the US should be ( Let's Just Say - Reprise ), and they finally agree on a democracy, George Washington is appointed the president of this newly founded country, and Jefferson and Adams finally make peace.

Around 207 years later (at the 4th of July) the portrait of the Declaration of Independence is seen inside the White House, the figures in the portrait have a chat, as the camera pans away to modern day Washington D.C as a reprise of  Tonight, fourth of July  plays.

Songs

 * Let's Just Say: Sang by the trans-continnental ambassdor, a summary of the British-American tensions due to the stamp acts.
 * But Mr. Adams: The founding fathers (except Washington) about who should write the declaration; one by one, each member gives a reason why he cannot do it, until all eyes turn to Jefferson. He tries to wriggle out, pleading that he has not seen his wife in six months. Adams is unmoved (he misses his own wife) and quotes a passage of Jefferson's Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms, bluntly telling Jefferson that he is the best writer in Congress. Jefferson agrees to draft the document.
 * Tonight, fourth of July: The founding fathers express their ambiguity on the future of the United States as they sign the Declaration of Independence.
 * We will Tread: King George's 'villain song'; he sings it along his royal subjects, while planning strategies for the war.
 * We're forging a nation here: Sang by George Washington in a montage of battles, includes solo parts with Jefferson and Adams.
 * Les vins d'amoureux: Sang by Benjamin Franklin, about the wonderful land of France, and the women that inhabit it. Jefferson and Adams get to partake in, to sing about their wives.
 * It's JPJ: Sang by John Paul Jones as he takes Jefferson and Adams out of British-controlled Philadelphia, a typical pirate shanty, with several Scottish-inspired parts.
 * Now What: A distance duet between Adams and Jefferson after they both see their families.
 * The Final Push: Sang by the Founding Fathers (except Ben Franklin), JPJ and the American army, strateging a raid on British-occupied York to get rid of them for once and for all.
 * Star-Spranged Banner: Sang by practically every main character, everyone gets their solo/duet part, has several references to all past songs, while also having the subtle melody of the American Anthem (+ some lyrics inspired by it).
 * Let's Just Say (Reprise): Sang by the Founding Fathers, discussing what type of country the United States of America should be, has several parts inspired by 'But Mr. Adams' as well. Unlike its First Act counterpart, the song isn't a summary of past events, but foreshadowing of future ones.
 * Today, Fourth of July: Sang by the Founding Fathers, in counterpart to its First Act version, the song explains the resolved doubts and ambiguities the Founding Fathers had about the United States' existence (while inside the Declaration of Independence painting)