Before we head out for a picnic and a fireworks show (plus three days of watching Yankee Doodle Dandy, 1776, Glory, Saving Private Ryan, and other patriotic favorites), MovieFanFare would like to wish all our readers a happy and safe Fourth of July weekend.
When it comes to Independence Day-themed films, one title naturally comes to mind. And that title is (surprise!) Independence Day, Roland Emmerich’s 1996 sci-fi blockbuster about an extraterrestrial invasion of Earth and the heroic resistance fighters from America and around the world who rally to fend off the attack. One of the key moments in the movie is the inspirational July 4th speech made by fighter pilot-turned-U.S. president Thomas Whitmore (Bill Pullman) as he prepares to lead a squadron into battle against the alien fleet:
“Good morning. In less than an hour, aircraft from here will join others from around the world. And you will be launching the largest aerial battle in the history of mankind.”
“‘Mankind.’ That word should have new meaning for all of us today. We can’t be consumed by our petty differences anymore. We will be united in our common interests.”
“Perhaps it’s fate that today is the Fourth of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom … Not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution … but from annihilation. We are fighting for our right to live. To exist. And should we win the day, the Fourth of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day the world declared in one voice: ‘We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight! We’re going to live on! We’re going to survive!’ Today we celebrate our Independence Day!”
Fun Fact: Producer/co-scripter Dean Devlin–who said he composed the speech in about five minutes–ended with the words “Independence Day” because he and Emmerich were trying to convince 20th Century-Fox to make that the film’s title (the studio was favoring either Doomsday or the abbreviated ID4).
Get ready to be moved again by Pullman’s rousing address here:
Now get out there and celebrate your own Independence Day!