The Martha Mitchell Effect

Here's The 4K Lowedown on "The Martha Mitchell Effect" (PG - 2022 - Netflix) Genre: Documentary/Biography

My Score: 6.3 Cast=6 Acting=6 Plot=7 Ending=6 Story=7 Interest=7 Cinema=4 Direct=6 History=10 Pace=4

The Cabinet wife who spoke out during Watergate and the Nixon administration's campaign to gaslight her into silence.

I knew about the Watergate scandal, but I didn't know about Martha Mitchell or her involvement. This intrigued me right off the bat and it did drop some knowledge on me that I didn't already have. The problem I had with this was the documentary was so dry that I had to wipe the dust off my TV twice in the 40 minutes it took to see it. If you are interested in Politics or Watergate specifically, I think this is worth a watch.

Wow -- what a surprise and a delight!

I knew the basic history of Watergate -- or rather, I thought I knew. "The Martha Mitchell Effect" reintroduced me to that past and made me question the relative simplicity of the story I'd learned previously.

With efficient storytelling that nevertheless dynamically develops its main character, the film presents a memorable story suggestive of contemporary connections without putting a fine point on them -- that is, it's faithful to its history, as a work of history should be, yet pushes the viewer to reexamine the present (again, as a work of history should!).

The restrained yet stylized use of motion and motion graphics with the archival images deserves special mention. It managed to elevate the work and give it a contemporary feel without once taking the viewer out of the era at the heart of the film. It's thoroughly historical, yet impressively fresh.

At only about 40 minutes running time this was a well done documentary which really told everything you need to know about the heroic loose cannon known as Martha Mitchell.

Lots of quality archival footage, interview segments and photos. If you've seen the film "All The Presidents Men" The Martha Mitchell Effect is a perfect dessert.

There are no spoilers to give since this is more of an historical documentary and we all know what happened with The Watergate scandal. At the time this was all going down, Martha became somewhat of a celebrity and too hot a pistol for Nixon or even her own husband, Attorney General and campaign manager John Mitchell. With Martha making the rounds on the talk show circuit and spilling whatever she had, Martha couldn't shut up and it was great!

A forty minute mini doc. John mitchell was nixon's attorney general, and his most trusted advisor. But mitchell's wife martha was loud and outspoken, to both her own husband, as well as to nixon's policies. She actually was a nixon supporter, but also believed in a strong, free press and transparency. Unfortunately, those were not nixon's strong suits. Discussion of how martha was detained and beaten, by "someone" in nixon's camp, because of her public, vocal opinions. A well done production. Lots of recordings presented, even by nixon himself. As a student of history, I was aware of the watergate hearings, but had not been aware of martha's role in having it exposed. Interesting stuff. Directed by anne alvergue, debra mcclutchy. Martha died of myeloma at age 57. Just two years after nixon resigned. More details at wikipedia dot org. This was nominated for best short documentary.

Nixon said it himself, if it hadn't been for Martha there wouldn't been a Watergate scandal.

She was not an alcoholic. She was not crazy. She simply told the truth.

This could have easily been a full length documentary. It should have been. Would have loved to have known about Martha's childhood. Also, her and her husband's relationship with their child. What was the Mitchell's life like before they went to Washington DC? How did they meet? I have so many questions that weren't addressed. This brief documentary is very well done and a perfectly adequate thumbnail sketch of this pivotal moment in history.