King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis

I'm not sure this is an actual documentary. It has no editorial or narrative structure per se, what it presents us with is as comprehensive a chronology of Dr. Martin Luther King as it is possible to get. From his humble beginnings in an Alabama ridden with bigotry and strife, through to his assassination in 1968, this uses a phenomenal amount of archive research to illustrate the power of his oratory. His speeches are powerful and emotional, but they never come across as angry or provocative of violence. His strength of character and purpose in the face of a long-established racial belligerence is really quite well captured as the film includes the large scale "I Have a Dream" set-pieces to far more intimate and poignant comments to smaller groups, churches or even just to his aides and friends as he travels the length and breadth of the country extolling the virtues of freedom for all. That all isn't just for folks of colour, but those being persecuted for their religious beliefs too, or being disadvantaged because of their sex or social status. It's hard to imagine who might actually watch all of this now, it is a long haul, but it goes quite some way to testifying just how effective oratory can be when delivered confidently and proudly to an audience eager to engage. There is enough annotation to help advise on the locations and timelines, and there are a few - slightly unnecessary, I felt - staged readings from the likes of Charlton Heston and James Earl Jones to help, as does the latter archive footage, demonstrate that his optimism wasn't just inspiring those African Americans, but plenty from the descendants of it's European immigrant population too. It doesn't attempt to analyse the man, his motives or his personal life but I don't think that was anyone's plan. It's a vehicle for his passion, and it works powerfully.

We just passed what would've been Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 90th birthday, so I decided to watch this documentary. You've heard about Martin Luther King, Jr. You've probably seen footage of some of his speeches. But to truly understand him, you have to see Sidney Lumet's Academy Award-nominated "King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis". Originally screened as a one-night event, it's now available for home viewing. The documentary consists of footage of King starting with the bus boycott in Montgomery until his funeral, emphasizing how he called upon the United States to live up to the ideals that it professed. Whether addressing racial and class issues or coming out against the Vietnam War, he was on the front lines of justice every step of the way.

The documentary includes footage of people (Harry Belafonte, Ruby Dee, Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, etc) quoting King. It emphasizes the diversity of people who stood on the side of morality. In an era when we see racism coming back to the fore - pushed by the current demagogue-in-chief - it's more important than ever to understand King's legacy. Definitely see this documentary.

More than half a century after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was murdered, I finally looked at this movie. It is a collection of Dr. King's appearances and the events around him, interspersed with celebrities of the day speaking in admiration, edited by two of the leading film makers of the day with the assistance of two editors, attempting to make coherent sense of what, half a century later, is a senseless and evil situation and the effort to remedy it.

It's a huge effort, and brilliantly produced. "How Did We Get Here?" is a question that needs to be examined, if only for its cautionary value.

I looked at this off a TV presentation, skipping the commercial interruptions. I did notice the note "Viewer Discretion Warranted." I suppose people think truth is something people need to be discreet about. Recent events indicate that people have let the lessons I learned as a child drop out out their thoughts, and thereby permitted these hateful actions return. Yes, discretion is required. Otherwise people might remember, and remain silent about them.

11/18/17. A bit on the long side, but at least you get the chance to listen to the entire "I have a dream." No denying that King was a force to be reckoned with. His oratory style is reminiscent of the fiery preacher of past, and still quite effective in inspiring its listeners to bigger and better things.

Compiled from newsreel footage and interspersed with celebrity commentary, this film has a heavy impact, showing Rev. King, not as a saint, but as a compassionate man of God with great goals for all people. The film quality is rather rough at times, and the racial slurs shouted are harsh, but the film is powerful. Recommended for those who seek an insight to the man behind the dream.