Panther (I) (1995)

A dramatized account of the story of The Black Panther Party of Self-Defense.

Director:

Mario Van Peebles

Writers:

Melvin Van Peebles (novel), Melvin Van Peebles (screenplay)

Stars:

Kadeem Hardison, Bokeem Woodbine, Joe Don Baker

2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kadeem Hardison	...	Judge
Bokeem Woodbine	...	Tyrone
Joe Don Baker	...	Brimmer
Courtney B. Vance	...	Bobby Seale
Tyrin Turner	...	Cy
Marcus Chong	...	Huey Newton
Anthony Griffith	...	Eldridge Cleaver
Bobby Brown	...	Rose
Angela Bassett	...	Dr. Betty Shabazz
Nefertiti	...	Alma
James Russo	...	Rodgers
Jenifer Lewis	...	Rita
Chris Rock	...	Yuck Mouth
Roger Guenveur Smith	...	Pruitt
Michael Wincott	...	Tynan

Storyline

Panther is a semi-historic film about the origins of The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense. The movie spans about 3 years (1966-68) of the Black Panther's history in Oakland. Panther also uses historical footage (B/W) to emphasize some points.

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Plot Keywords:

traffic accident | fbi | fbi chief | police brutality | one word title | 

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Taglines:

From the director of "New Jack City" and "Posse"

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence and language

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 May 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

A fekete párduc

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$6,834,525 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gramercy Pictures (I), MVP Films, Polygram Filmed Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

124 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Angela Bassett also played Betty Shabazz in Malcolm X.

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Goofs

At a party, a Black Panther member is shown playing a cream colored guitar with a Floyd Rose tremolo and locking nut. Floyd Rose didn't invent the locking tremolo system until 1977. The film is set in the mid-'60s.

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Quotes

Cy: [to White Girls looking for drugs] Every Black man you lay eyes on ain't a dope dealer

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Connections

References Malcolm X (1992)

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Soundtracks

"I Got You (I Feel Good)"
Performed by James Brown

User Reviews

Flawed movie, a reply to a flawed comment

I am actually watching Panther as I write this. Thus far it has borne the flaw of every historical/political film dealing with complex issues, there is a lot of talking, a lot of montage and things are definitely simplified. However, looking through the comments by users there is at least one major error in a prior comment. Patty Hearst was kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army, a tiny ultra-left wing sect. As to Eldridge Cleaver, he indeed was not a pleasant person by all accounts. His failing do not mean that every Black Panther was so misogynistic or brutal. In many cases, the Panthers were more sinnned against than sinning-the major sin being the existence of a massive and legally and morally dubious COINTELPRO program which seeded the Party with agents provocateurs and informers, and which seems to have coordinated a number of violent incidents agianst Panther officials and supporters, including fatal shootings. That destroyed the Party, and destroyed the lives of many associated with it.