The Fourth of July
If you’re like me, there are three times of the year that you don’t travel; Memorial Day weekend, Fourth of July weekend and Labor Day weekend. For too many people, it is an excuse to drink too much and act foolish. Not a good time to be on the road and if we are not already traveling, we just stay home. For me, those three weekends are for celebrating America’s past, present and future. Of course not everyone agrees.
Since I’m home and the city is partly closed down, it’s a good time to just veg and take in a movie or several or maybe grill a few veggies, or for you carnivores, burgers, hot dogs or ribs and listen to some music. Here’s my suggestions for some entertainment for your weekend.
Movies
The 4th is inextricably tied to freedom and because of that, to the U.S. Armed Forces, so war movies are usually on my plate as well as other historical pieces. These aren’t always rah rah go America movies. Some are tragic, some sad, some uplifting and others, infuriating.
The Last Rifleman-2023 Starring Pierce Brosnan as a 92 ¾ year old veteran who escapes from the nursing home in Ireland and travels to France for the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion. Smart, funny, inspiring, sentimental and romantic. I defy anyone to not shed a tear as the end credits roll and The Pipe Band plays Amazing Grace plays. John Amos in his last fim performance is inspiring in his 10-minute segment.
Taking Chance-2009 Kevin Bacon Plays Lt. Col. Michael Strobl, a volunteer military escort officer, accompanies the body of 19-year-old Marine Chance Phelps back to his hometown of Dubois, Wyoming. At every step of the journey, Americans show their respect for a fallen soldier and Strobl learns a lesson in how we treat our heros.
Midway-1976 An all-star cast headed by Charleton Heston about the sea battle that turned almost certain defeat after the bombing of Pearl Harbor into victory for the Americans.
The Patriot-2000 Roland Emerich tells the story of one man’s reluctant entry into the revolutionary war. Mel Gibson is Benjamin Martin, a man who loses two sons, his home and more while battling the British. With all the talk of “millionaires who fought for freedom so they could be slave owners” many forget that most lost everything.
Roots-1977 and Roots The Next Generation-1979 Based on the book by Alex Haley, the two mini-series trace Haley’s family history from Africa all the way until Haley himself travels to the homeland to meet the distant relatives whose ancestors gave birth to his family. Infuriating at times but also inspiring with a cast of wonderful characters.
The Boys in Company C-1978 Unknown actors went through basic training with real life drill instructors to make this Vietnam era movie a very real experience. R. Lee Ermy was one of the DI’s who went into acting full-time in a string of movies including Full Metal Jacket.
The Longest Day-1962 John Wayne heads up an all star “cast of thousands” in the dramatic retelling of D-Day.
Saving Private Ryan-1998 Another all star cast beginning with D-Day and the aftermath as a platoon of soldiers search for the last surviving son of a family to bring him home. Gritty and often hard to watch.
Band of Brothers-2001 This limited series take off where Saving Private Ryan began, except this is the dramatized true story of Easy Company, the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment as they train for war and fight across Europe during World War II.
The Dirty Dozen-1967 Another bang up cast and an action film that, while not a true story, takes you on an action-packed adventure that is funny, explosive and even heartbreaking. Lee Marvin and Charles Bronson star.
The Right Stuff-1983 All about the can do spirit of America and based on the historical novel by Thomas Wolfe, this film launched or helped to launch the careers of quite a few youn actors including Scott Glenn, Jeff Goldblum, Lance Hendrikson, Levon Helm and Ed Harris.
Hidden Figures-2016 We always seem to tell the truth about our history decades too late. This tells the story of the women, specifically Black women who figured out mathematically how to get us to the moon.
Woodstock-1970 Three days of peace, love & harmony…..and chaos. After the first day, the fences were down and the music rolled on. Behind the scenes, they were so far behind schedule some artists left in a huff, one band, Crosby, Still and Nash, was playing their second gig together, 2 people died and 742 overdosed and Hendrix played the Star Spangled Banner. Oh, and there was the infamous “FISH” cheer.
Easy Rider-1968 Just two guys traveling across country on their bikes looking to sell their drugs and find America. Written by Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper and Terry Southern and directed by Hopper and sort of adlibbed most of the way through, the film brings the counterculture of the late 60s into focus. It doesn’t end well for the boys.
Patton-1970 George C Scott is the warrior who loved war and believed himself to be a reincarnated Sparton. Everything works here; the acting, the action, the score, the dialogue and the history. Dramatic, funny and real.
There are bunches more. Many of them just for entertainment like Raiders of the Lost Ark, Independence Day, Men in Black, Team America, Air Force One, Patriot Games and more. There are gripping historical dramas like Lincoln, Glory, Norma Rae, Malcolm X, Raging Bull, The French Connection and A Complete Unknown. Most, if not all of these are American films and for me, American films are the best.
And while we’re at it, let’s put together a playlist for that BBQ. There are tones and tones that you might not think are about America, but they are all about the American experience. Here are some of my favorites.
Wasn’t Born to Follow-The Byrds
Sky Pilot-Eric Birdon & the Animals.
Living in America-James Brown
Centerfield-John Fogerty
America the Beautiful by Ray Charles.
Only in America-Brooks and Dunn
America-Neil Diamond
Man in Black-Johnny Cash
Back in the USA-Chuck Berry
Working Man Blues-Merle Haggard
El Paso-Marty Robbins
Truckin’-Grateful Dead
What’s Going On-Marvin Gaye
A Song About Baseball-Bob Bennett
Chimes of Freedom-Bob Dylan
Chicken Fried-Zac Brown Band
Sunday Morning Coming Down-Kris Kristofferson
Ballad of John Henry-Woody Guthrie
America-Simon & Garfunkle
Lift Every Voice and Sing-Melba Moore
American Pie-Don McClean
City of New Orleans-Arlo Guthrie
Heart of Saturday Night-Tom Waits
R.O.C.K in the USA-John Mellencamp
America from the Musical West Side Story
California Girls-The Beach Boys
The Star Spangled banner-Jimi Hendrix
This Land is Your Land-Woody Gutherie
The Weight-The Band
I Can’t Write Left Handed-Bill Withers.
Copyright 2026 by Jose Antonio Ponce