Spirit of '76 (1990 film)
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The Spirit of '76 is 1990 film that spoofs American culture of the mid-1970s. It is a comedy movie starring David Cassidy, Carl Reiner, Rob Reiner, Olivia d'Abo, Moon Unit Zappa, Tommy Chong, and the rock groups Redd Kross and Devo.
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[edit] Synopsis
By the year 2176, a magnetic storm has degaussed all recorded history, causing such valuable documents as the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence to be lost. Three time-travelers (Adam-11, Chanel-6, and Heinz-57) are sent back to July 4, 1776, to retrieve America's heritage, but due to an unnoticed time machine malfunction, end up in 1976 instead, during the United States Bicentennial. While pursuing their mission, the time travelers dress in period costume (e.g., tight bell bottom pants), and experience est, Pop Rocks, disco, long gas lines, the AMC Pacer and even drug paraphernalia shops.
They are in turn pursued by Rodney Snodgrass (Liam O'Brien), a science whiz and UFO buff, who thinks they are aliens, and plans to use them to win the Bicentennial Science Fair prize at his high school. His self-absorbed, disco-dancing brother, Eddie Trojan (Leif Garrett), pursues Chanel-6 for his own pleasure. Both are foiled by two dimwitted but good-hearted teenage friends (Tommy Sears and Chris Johnson), who help the time travelers repair their craft and return to 2176, with their 1970s artifacts and a copy of the Constitution, printed on a shirt which was bought from an est seminar attendee (Barbara Bain).
[edit] Availability
This movie is currently available on DVD. It was previously released on VHS videocassette, but is now out of print in this format.
[edit] Soundtrack
The soundtrack album features many songs which were very popular during the period, but practically banned from playlists of present day radio. Also on the album were two songs written for the movie: "Spirit of '76" and "1976," both by Red Kross and both heard during the closing credits.
[edit] Trivia
The time machine used in the film runs on a chemical that is found in Visine eye drops, tetrahydrozaline.
