The U.S. vs. John Lennon (2006)

A documentary on the life of John Lennon, with a focus on the time in his life when he transformed from a musician into an antiwar activist.

Directors:

David Leaf, John Scheinfeld

Writers:

David Leaf, John Scheinfeld

Stars:

John Lennon, Stew Albert, Tariq Ali

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Lennon	...	Himself (archive footage)
Stew Albert	...	Himself
Tariq Ali	...	Himself
Carl Bernstein	...	Himself
Robin Blackburn	...	Himself
Chris Charlesworth	...	Himself
Noam Chomsky	...	Himself
Walter Cronkite	...	Himself
Mario Cuomo	...	Himself
Angela Davis	...	Herself
John Dean	...	Himself
Felix Dennis	...	Himself
David Fenton	...	Himself
Bob Gruen	...	Himself
Ron Kovic	...	Himself

Storyline

After background about the childhood and youth of John Lennon (1940-1980) and the birth of Vietnam-War protests, the film plunges into Lennon's quest for world peace: compositions such as "Give Peace a Chance", the lie-in following his marriage to Yoko Ono, appearances at concerts, "War Is Over" posters, and plans for a series of concerts in 1972 in U.S. presidential primary states reach newly-enfranchised young voters. This plan for concerts, in particular, led a prominent Senator, the FBI's J. Edgar Hoover, and Nixon's White House to initiate a concerted and illegal effort to deport Lennon. Thirty talking heads, led by Yoko, comment on Lennon and these events.

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Plot Keywords:

concert | peace | activist | poster | white house | 

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Taglines:

Musician. Humanitarian. National Threat.

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some strong language, violent images and drug references

Details

Official Sites:

Lions Gate Films [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 December 2006 (Netherlands)

Also Known As:

Akte USA vs. John Lennon

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$69,143 (USA) (15 September 2006)

Gross:

$1,102,937 (USA) (22 November 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lionsgate, VH1 Rock Docs, Authorized Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Gore Vidal: Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel.

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Connections

Features CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite (1962)

User Reviews

Austin Movie Show Review (inspiring!!!)

Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. If "The U.S. vs. John Lennon" is anything, it's an examination of the similarities between the Nixon Administration and the national debacle that was the Vietnam War, compared to the current Bush Administration and the national debacle that is the Iraq War. The difference, of course, is that Nixon had John and Yoko Lennon to contend with. Who do we have to lead our protests and write our anthems? Michael Moore? Not good enough.

When Lennon moved to New York City in 1970, the Nixon Administration was terrified that he had the power to organize the anti-war protesters and affect the outcome of elections (particularly Nixon's 1972 run for re-election). Lennon was wiretapped and followed by the FBI (which was being used at that time to "quell decent"). The Immigration and Naturalization Service tried for five years to deport him, but he got a lawyer and fought back, and in 1976, on his birthday, on his son Sean's birthday, he learned that he and Yoko had won their case, and they could stay.

"The U.S. vs. John Lennon" makes you want to take a stand, organize a protest, demand peace, and stick it to the man!