"The American Experience" Malcolm X: Make It Plain (1994)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Orlando Bagwell

Writers:

Orlando Bagwell (writer)
Steve Bagwell (writer)

TV Series:

"The American Experience" (1988)

Original Air Date:

26 January 1994 (Season 6, Episode 5)

Genre:

Documentary | Biography | Crime | History | War

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Malcolm X | Nation Of Islam | Independent Film | Character Name In Title | Public Media

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Alfre Woodard	...	Narrator (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sharon 10X	...	Herself (Nation of Islam)
Benjamin 2X	...	Himself (Nation of Islam)
Mohmaed Al-Faysal	...	Himself (Prince of Saudi Arabia)
Maya Angelou	...	Herself (author)
Peter Bailey	...	Himself (Harlem resident)
John Henrik Clarke	...	Himself (friend, historian) (as John Henrick Clarke)
Ella Collins	...	Herself (half sister)
Ossie Davis	...	Himself (Harlem resident) (also archive footage)
William DeFossett	...	Himself (NYC patrolman)
Peter Goldman	...	Himself (journalist)
Alex Haley	...	Himself (biographer)
Malcolm 'Shorty' Jarvis	...	Himself (friend, 'Shorty')
Yvonne Jones	...	Herself (youngest sister) (as Yvonne Little)
Yuri Kochiyama	...	Herself (Harlem activist) (as Mary Kochiyama)
Robert Mangum	...	Himself (Deputy Commissioner, NYC Police)
Cyril McGuire	...	Himself (childhood friend)
Wallace D. Muhammad	...	Himself (son of Elijah Muhammad)
Ahmed Osman	...	Himself (Dartmouth College student)
Gordon Parks	...	Himself (LIFE photographer)
Gloria Richardson	...	Herself (Southern civil rights leader)
Gene Roberts	...	Himself (bodyguard, undercover policeman) (also archive footage)
Sonia Sanchez	...	Herself (Harlem activist)
Attallah Shabazz	...	Herself (daughter)
Betty Shabazz	...	Herself (wife) (also archive footage)
Yusuf Shah	...	Himself (Harlem Fruit of Islam) (also archive footage) (as Captain Joseph X)
Mike Wallace	...	Himself (NYC anchorman) (also archive footage)
Philbert X	...	Himself (brother) (also archive footage) (as Philbert Little)
Wilfred X	...	Himself (eldest brother) (also archive footage) (as Wilfred Little)

Runtime:

150 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Blackside

Movie Connections:

Features The Hate That Hate Produced (1959) (TV)

A brilliant documentary for anyone (dare I say "Must-See"?)

This is a great doc. It is clear, direct, pretty comprehensive and does justice to a remarkable man. Whether you love or hate him, know nothing or a lot about him, whether you're black or white, you *will* appreciate this film. As has been said before, the ending is truly tragic and left me on the verge of tears. It needs not be said that I am a follower of Malcolm and his wisdom, but regardless this is the best documentary I have ever seen. It even throws up profound thoughts relating to the man that the (excellent) film did not, or at least did not to my knowledge. For example, the idea that Malcolm was drawn to Elijah Muhammed, among other reasons, on a subconscious level because he saw him as a father figure. The brilliance of this film really shines when it subtly connects this to the tale of the father who would turn away his son if he renounced Islam, and would not care for his wellbeing. Thus, the appearances of Elijah Muhammed following Malcolm's departure from the NOI really do pull on the heart strings. 10/10