“Now you got to have friends. You know the feeling’s oh so strong. You got to have friends. To make that day last long!” (Buzzy Linhart, Mark Kingman, 1973).

As we open the guidebook and continue our journey through friendship in the movie musical, we find Ben Franklin (1776) and Jeff Douglas  (Brigadoon) providing the voice of reason to a pair of dreamers (John Adams and  Tommie Albright) as they face a crossroad in their life. 

Welcome to the February – March 2020 Edition: The Influence of Friends

Together these films illustrate that the best friend, the person you turn to for fun and adventure (a hunting trip Scotland and the discovery of a land that isn’t there  -- Brigadoon) or support in a cause (“Vote for Independency!” - 1776) is also the person who will tell you the truth. (“John, you’re obnoxious and disliked. No one listens to you!”)

When Adams is angered at the prospect of deleting the slavery clause of the declaration, it is Franklin who becomes the calming voice of truth. (“Consider what you’re doing. We are men, no more no less, trying to get a nation started against greater odds than a more generous God would allow.”)

Similarly, when Tommie professes his feelings for Fiona (“I believe in her! I believe in this place, and I can’t leave!”), it is Jeff who provides a reality check. (“I don’t know what goes on around here, but it’s got nothing to do with me or you!  You want to give up your family, your friends, your whole life for this!”)  

With these words, Tommie begins to question his commitment to Fiona. (“I’m sorry Fiona, to stay I had to have no fears, no doubts.  Goodbye”)

While fears and doubts place these characters at a crossroad:

If the declaration is not signed, the future of the new nation is in jeopardy, (“Independence first, America -- if we don’t secure that what difference will the rest make?”)

“Why do you have to lose things to find out what they really mean?”

How will Jeff’s life be affected by the loss of Tommie? Are his motives selfish?

They can provide you with an opportunity to ask some thought-provoking questions of all your clientele.

Can there be too much honesty in a friendship?

Is a friend always the best person to direct your choices? (Franklin to Adams regarding the Declaration: “Mr. Adams, I say you should write it!  To your legal mind and brilliance, we defer.   Adams: “If I'm the one to do it They'll run their quill pens through it. I'm obnoxious and disliked, you know that sir!”)

How can the introduction of a loving partner change the dynamics of a friendship?  (Fiona, Brigadoon)

And Finally:

What elements of your client's friendships are mirrored in these films?

What elements of friendship make them long-lasting?

The answers to these questions can be found when you gather your clientele around the DVD and spend some quality time with classic characters that by now are old friends!

Enjoy!

~~Lori

References: Yauch, L (7 March 2015). Believe in Brigadoon {Blog Post}. Retrieved from www.moviesandmusic.biz

References: Yauch, L (4 February 2019). 1776 – The Promiseland {Blog Post}. Retrieved from www.moviesandmusic.biz