The Times of Harvey Milk (1984)

Director:

Rob Epstein

Writers:

Judith Coburn (narration writer) and
Carter Wilson (narration writer)
(more)

Release Date:

20 September 1985 (Finland)

Genre:

Documentary | Biography | History

Plot:

A documentary of the successful career and assassination of San Francisco's first elected gay councilor.

Plot Keywords:

Gay | Assassination | Harvey Milk | Gay Rights | Politician

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 8 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Harvey Milk	...	Himself (archive footage)
Harvey Fierstein	...	Narrator (voice)
Anne Kronenberg	...	Herself
Tory Hartmann	...	Herself
Tom Ammiano	...	Himself
Jim Elliot	...	Himself
Henry Der	...	Himself
Jeannine Yeomans	...	Herself
Bill Kraus	...	Himself
Sally M. Gearhart	...	Herself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Briggs	...	Himself (archive footage)
Jerry Brown	...	Himself (archive footage)
Jimmy Carter	...	Himself (archive footage)
Dianne Feinstein	...	Herself (archive footage) (as Mayor Dianne Feinstein)
David Fowler	...	Himself - TV Interviewer of Dan White (archive footage)
Joseph Freitas	...	Himself (archive footage)
Terence Hallinan	...	Himself (archive footage)
George Moscone	...	Himself (archive footage)
Dan White	...	Himself (archive footage)

Directed by
Rob Epstein		(as Robert Epstein)

Writing credits
Judith Coburn		(narration writer) and
Carter Wilson		(narration writer)
Rob Epstein		written by (uncredited)

Produced by
Gregory W. Bex	....	associate producer
Rob Epstein	....	producer
Richard Schmiechen	....	producer

Original Music by
Mark Isham

Cinematography by
Frances Reid

Film Editing by
Rob Epstein		(as Robert Epstein)
Deborah Hoffmann

Production Design by
Michael McNeil

Sound Department
John Benson	....	sound editor
Sara Chin	....	additional sound (as Sarah Chin)
Sarah Chin	....	additional sound
Lee Dichter	....	sound mixer
Dan Gleich	....	sound recordist
Michael Levin	....	additional sound
Elizabeth Stevens	....	additional sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Peter Adair	....	additional camera operator
Arthur J. Bressan Jr.	....	additional camera operator
Doug Dunderdale	....	assistant camera
Jon Else	....	additional camera operator
Nancy Morita	....	assistant camera
Thomas O'Shea	....	assistant camera
Emiko Omori	....	additional camera operator

Animation Department
Gary Becker	....	animator
Jeffrey Friedman	....	animator
Chris Kogler	....	animator

Editorial Department
Crystal Chan	....	second assistant editor
Greg Chapnick	....	negative cutter
Pip Karmel	....	apprentice editor
Thomas O'Shea	....	assistant editor
Brenda Sowa	....	apprentice editor

Music Department
Randy Sellgren	....	music recordist

Other crew
Peter Adair	....	consultant
Teresa Bergman	....	production assistant
Allan Bérubé	....	consultant
Randall Coleman	....	production assistant (as Randal Coleman)
Cheryl Drake	....	production assistant
Robert Galloway	....	production assistant
Tracy Gary	....	consultant
Kennan P. Gault	....	consultant
Ellen Gelger	....	consultant
Anne Gorfinkle	....	production secretary
Robert Hawk	....	print media archivist
David Hollander	....	consultant
Mary Ann Hutson	....	production assistant
Melissa Katsus	....	assistant phot research
Jonel Larson	....	production assistant
Terry Lawler	....	consultant
Peter Lowy	....	consultant
Ellen Martin	....	production assistant
Dennis McGowan	....	production assistant
Dolores Neuman	....	consultant
Dick Pabich	....	consultant
Vito Russo	....	consultant
Tony Russomanno	....	consultant
Scott Thomas Smith	....	consultant
John Wright	....	consultant
John Wright	....	production assistant
Wendy Zheutlin	....	photo researcher

Production Companies

• Black Sand Productions
• Pacific Arts
• UCLA Film and Television Archive

Distributors

• TC Films International (1984) (USA) (theatrical)
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (1985) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• New Yorker Films (2000) (USA) (all media) (re-release)
• Gaudeamus Elokuva (1985) (Finland) (theatrical)
• UPLINK Company (2009) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Criterion Collection, The (2011) (USA) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2011) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Homescreen (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Salzgeber & Company Medien (2009) (Germany) (all media)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1987) (2009) (Finland) (TV)

Other Companies

• Cinematte  opticals
• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix

Also Known As:

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:S | Netherlands:12 | UK:15 | Australia:PG | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade) | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

Black Sand Productions

Quotes:

[first lines]
Dianne Feinstein:As president of the board of supervisors, it's my duty to make this announcement. Both Mayor Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk have been shot and killed. The suspect is Supervisor Dan White.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Boys Life: Three Stories of Love, Lust, and Liberation (1994)

Best documentary ever made

STUNNING. That's the only word to describe this film. If you haven't seen it, prepare to be amazed. Clear the room and remove any distractions because you won't want to miss a second of this remarkable recounting of the Harvey Milk story. Prepare to cry and scream, because you will do both.

"The Times of Harvey Milk" covers a bit of American history that almost NO Americans seem to know about, and this is a tragedy. Everyone should know about these events, and the astonishing, beautiful people who participated in them. Perhaps the most stunning moment to me comes when a red-haired straight woman, who became a frequent customer in Harvey Milk's camera & film-processing shop, recalls the night after Milk and Mayor Mosconi were killed. Her description, her face, and her tears make me cry every time I see it. And when Dan White was given a slap on the wrist for murdering Milk and Mayor George Mosconi... because the jurors thought he was under the influence of too many TWINKIES... the city erupted. The film of these riots is stunning, and you may find yourself wishing that you could be there with the rioters who STOOD UP to this historic injustice and demonstrated their rage.

People of all ages and all political persuasions will find this film a remarkable document of an important bit of American history. I believe it is essential viewing for all.