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Adam Clayton Powell

  • 1989
  • Not Rated
  • 54m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
84
YOUR RATING
Adam Clayton Powell (1989)
Documentary

The Academy Award¨-nominated Adam Clayton Powell delves into the gripping life and career of the most influential and flamboyant civil rights leader in America in the Õ30s, Õ40s and Õ50s.The Academy Award¨-nominated Adam Clayton Powell delves into the gripping life and career of the most influential and flamboyant civil rights leader in America in the Õ30s, Õ40s and Õ50s.The Academy Award¨-nominated Adam Clayton Powell delves into the gripping life and career of the most influential and flamboyant civil rights leader in America in the Õ30s, Õ40s and Õ50s.

  • Director
    • Richard Kilberg
  • Writers
    • Phyllis Garland
    • Richard Kilberg
  • Stars
    • Julian Bond
    • John Brademas
    • Calvin O. Butts III
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    84
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Richard Kilberg
    • Writers
      • Phyllis Garland
      • Richard Kilberg
    • Stars
      • Julian Bond
      • John Brademas
      • Calvin O. Butts III
    • 2User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 2 wins & 2 nominations total

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    Top cast22

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    Julian Bond
    Julian Bond
    • Narrator
    • (voice)
    John Brademas
    • Self
    Calvin O. Butts III
    Calvin O. Butts III
    • Self
    • (as Rev. Calvin O. Butts III)
    Stokely Carmichael
    Stokely Carmichael
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    Shirley Chisholm
    Shirley Chisholm
    • Self
    John Henrik Clarke
    • Self
    • (as Dr. John Henrik Clarke)
    John Aubrey Davis
    • Self
    Hattie Dodson
    • Self
    James Farmer
    James Farmer
    • Self
    Lenworth Gunther
    • Self
    Charles V. Hamilton
    • Self
    • (as Charles Hamilton)
    Lyndon B. Johnson
    Lyndon B. Johnson
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    • (as Lyndon Johnson)
    J. Raymond Jones
    • Self
    Martin Luther King
    Martin Luther King
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    Julius Lester
    • Self
    Marian Logan
    • Self
    Adam Clayton Powell Jr.
    Adam Clayton Powell Jr.
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    Hazel Scott
    Hazel Scott
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    • Director
      • Richard Kilberg
    • Writers
      • Phyllis Garland
      • Richard Kilberg
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews2

    7.084
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    Featured reviews

    7lee_eisenberg

    a person can be ruthless and brilliant at the same time

    Born to an affluent black family, the outspoken Adam Clayton Powell Jr. became a preacher and leader of New York's black community. Eventually he got elected to congress, where he remained as defiant as ever. But he would also stop at nothing to stay the presumed leader of blacks in the US. Richard Kilberg's Academy Award-nominated "Adam Clayton Powell" focuses on this man whose boisterous flamboyance endeared him to a black community that was through with white people ignoring their grievances; they kept reelecting him no matter what happened! We get insight from a number of people who knew him, with narration from Julian Bond.

    Admittedly, Powell was probably more interested in promoting himself than in advancing his people, but you can't deny that he made a name for himself and drew attention to issues affecting the black community.

    I recommend it.
    5movieman-187

    A look at an early and controversial civil rights leader

    This documentary employs mostly talking heads and old still pictures to relay its message about the life and work of Harlem preacher and Congressman Adam Clayton Powell. As one of the first black Congressmen, Powell deserves a lot of credit for helping ignite the civil rights movement. He helped blacks get into the navy, obtain government jobs, and boycott racist businesses. However, after the rise of Martin Luther King, Powell faded, as a man who was only looking out for himself. He was no longer THE black leader so he retreated to the Bahamas to live in luxury. I admit that I was not alive during the Civil Rights Movement, but I find most of what Mr. Powell did to be only for Mr. Powell. I don't think he is or was ever a good symbol for black strive, and the movie fails because it tries to view his life through rose tinted glasses. It is not a balanced piece. The whole story is not accurately represented. In fact, out of all the people who gave insight about this man, only one was white, and everybody put a positive spin on anything he did. This was an interesting man in life, but a poor movie about it. 4/10

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    • Connections
      Referenced in 62nd Annual Academy Awards (1990)

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    Details

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    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      54 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
      • Color

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