From concerts to ‘Star Wars,’ TV helps America celebrate July 4th
Day pass without showing this 1942 gem, featuring the dazzling performance by James Cagney as master showman George M. Cohan that earned the actor an Oscar.
“Rocky” (AMC): Since the original, Oscar-winning 1976 movie — written by title star Sylvester Stallone — is about a Bicentennial boxing match, there’s a good dose of patriotism bundled into Rocky Balboa’s bout with champ Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). The entire series up to “Rocky Balboa” will be shown on this day.
“1776” (Turner Classic Movies): The screen version of the hit musical about the signing of the Declaration of Independence is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. William Daniels, Ken Howard and Howard Da Silva reprise their respective Broadway roles as John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin.
“Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope” (TNT): Though this 1977 movie milestone is labeled the fourth chapter of the George Lucas-generated franchise now, devotees know it actually was the first ... and here, it launches a festival of the first three films, also including “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi.”
“The Music Man” (Turner Classic Movies): Hugh Jackman has a Broadway hit with the current revival of the Meredith Willson musical, but in the 1962 screen version, role originator Robert Preston still is Professor Harold Hill to many devotees.
“The Twilight Zone” (Decades): Marathons of Rod Serling’s much-revered fantasy-drama series are holiday traditions, upheld this time by a “Decades Binge” event being extended past the usual Saturday-Sunday scheduling through Monday.