Eagles soar, and fireworks fly! It’s July 4th, the day we celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain and the creation of the United States. But, did you know, only 2 of the 56 signatories of the Declaration of Independence actually signed it on July 4th.
When ID4 was screened at the White House, Director Roland Emmerich had actor Bill Pullman (who played the president) sit next to then President Bill Clinton. His thought being that should the President become angry at the imagery of the White House being destroyed that he would have to take it up with another president.
Most of the signatures added to the Declaration of Independence were not signed until August 2nd.
The scene where President Whitmore gives his rousing speech was shot in an airplane hanger that once housed the Enola Gay. The Enola Gay dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6th, 1945. The scene was shot August 6th, 1995.
John Adams, the first Vice President and second President of the United States believed that the national holiday should have been on July 2nd as this was the day the Continental Congress actually declared independence.
Despite wearing long pants, most of the cast including Will Smith was frustrated to find that they had sunburns on their legs from filming scenes in the Bonneville Salt Flats. The white surface of the salt reflected back up and burned the actors and crew.
Though credited with writing the document in full, Thomas Jefferson actually only wrote the first and second draft. It was redrafted by a committee and then rewritten again by the Continental Congress before being signed.
Robert Loggia while filming, refused to come to set. Producer Dean Devlin had told him to watch the movie Airport for inspiration for his character. Instead the actor rented Airplane! and was revolted when he thought that ID4 was a comedy.
John Hancock infamously wrote his name first and largest on the document. The crown had placed bounties on the heads of the founding fathers and Hancock said “The British ministry can read that name without spectacles; let them double their reward.”
According to the producers, Judd Hirsch improvised about half of his dialogue in the film.
The first fireworks celebration on Independence Day was in 1777, before the war had been won. It was to commemorate the first anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
According to Producer Dean Devlin, the film was supposed to be supported by the U.S. Military, with scenes planned on being filmed at actual bases and real military hardware but when the producers refused to remove references to Area 51 from the film, access was denied.
There is in fact something written on the back of the Declaration of Independence but it is not a map or part of a mystery.
It says “Original Declaration of Independence dated 4th July 1776.”
The annual Nathan’s hotdog contest was rumored to have begun to end an argument between four men about who was the most patriotic.
Production Designer Patrick Tatopoulos made 2 designs for the aliens in the film. The director loved them both so much that they were both used. One as the alien and one as the alien’s shell.
The 4th of July did not become a federal holiday until 1938, but was first celebrated by the White House by Thomas Jefferson.
The film was banned in Lebanon because it depicted scenes of Israeli and Iraqi soldiers working together.
When the Declaration of Independence was signed the population of the United States was 2.5 Million. Though this did not include slaves or native Americans.
To give the aliens their slimy appearance they were doused in KY Jelly.
The 30th President of the United States, Calvin Coolidge, was born on July 4th 1872.
While promoting his film, Stargate, Director Roland Emmerich was asked why he made a film about aliens when he had said he didn’t believe in them. Emmerich responded by saying that he was still fascinated by the concept but didn’t like the way it was approached in other films and asked the reporter to imagine what it would be like if a spaceship 15 miles wide appeared one day. He then turned to his producer and said “I think I have an idea for our next film.”
Harry Connick Jr. replaced Matthew Perry as Will Smith’s wingman. Perry had been cast in the role originally.
Three of the first five presidents of the nation died on July 4th. John Adams, James Monroe, and Thomas Jefferson all died on Independence Day. Jefferson and Adams even on the same day, the country’s 50th anniversary.
The name for the film was originally ID4. Warner Bros. owned the right to the name Independence Day and it was not clear while filming if Fox would be able to use the title.
The original ending to the film showed Randy Quaid’s character stealing, and strapping a nuke to his cropduster and then flying it into the mothership. Test audiences couldn’t stop laughing at the ridiculous imagery so the scene was reshot with a jet.
July 4th is celebrated all over the world as most of the United States was made up of Immigrants at the time. It is most celebrated in the Philippines who also declared independence on July 4th, be it in 1946.
Happy Independence Day everyone!
