Point of Order (1964)

Point of Order is compiled from TV footage of the 1954 Army-McCarthy hearings, in which the Army accused Senator McCarthy of improperly pressuring the Army for special privileges for ... See full summary »

Director:

Emile de Antonio

Stars:

Roy M. Cohn, Joseph McCarthy, John L. McClellan

1 win.

Cast

Credited cast:
Roy M. Cohn	...	Himself (archive footage)
Joseph McCarthy	...	Himself (archive footage)
John L. McClellan	...	Himself - U.S. Senator, Arkansas (archive footage)
Karl E. Mundt	...	Himself (archive footage) (as Sen. Karl E. Mundt)
G. David Schine	...	Himself (archive footage) (as Pvt. G. David Schine)
Stuart Symington	...	Himself - U.S. Senator, Missouri (archive footage)
Joseph N. Welch	...	Himself (archive footage)

Storyline

Point of Order is compiled from TV footage of the 1954 Army-McCarthy hearings, in which the Army accused Senator McCarthy of improperly pressuring the Army for special privileges for Private David Schine, formerly of McCarthy's investigative staff. McCarthy accused the Army of holding Schine hostage to keep him from searching for Communists in the Army. These hearings resulted in McCarthy's eventual censure for conduct unbecoming a senator.

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Plot Keywords:

senator | congressional hearing | anti communist | senate hearing | cold war era | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 January 1964 (USA)

Also Known As:

Herr ordförande! En ordningsfråga

Company Credits

Production Co:

Point Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in Mr. Hoover and I (1989)

User Reviews

should be required viewing for all American students

The best thing about this documentary is that there is no narration, there is no commentary; clips of the Army-McCarthy hearings that finally brought an end to Joseph McCarthy and his era of bully politics that destroyed so many American lives. There are arguments both pro and con re: McCarthy and his basic premise (that Communists had infiltrated Hollywood and the American government, indeed, all the way to the Executive Branch). He may have had a valid point at one time or another, but it quickly became overshadowed by his ego and insatiable appetite for power.

Sound like anyone we've seen recently in Washington? I recommend viewing this riveting film as it is not partisan - it is McCarthy in all his egomaniacal ranting and raving against those who stood by their personal beliefs and held firm in their convictions that the Constitution of the United States of America would forever be their guide.