The Bus (1965)

The struggle for civil rights has been one of the most important issues of American life for the last fifty years. In August of 1963, groups from all over the country journeyed to ... See full summary »

Director:

Haskell Wexler

Writer:

Haskell Wexler

Storyline

The struggle for civil rights has been one of the most important issues of American life for the last fifty years. In August of 1963, groups from all over the country journeyed to Washington D.C. for a massive demonstration, and this film is a fascinating document of this event. Celebrated filmmaker Haskell Wexler ("Medium Cool") traveled with the San Francisco delegation, photographing and conversing candidly with the participants. He has succeeded admirably in capturing the significance and drama of this historic trip.

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Plot Keywords:

civil rights | san francisco california | washington monument | rally | racism | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 August 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

El autobús

Filming Locations:

Washington, District of Columbia, USA

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in American Masters: No Direction Home: Bob Dylan (2005)

User Reviews

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This film is from the viewpoint of the grassroots people who came from all over the country to participate in the March on Washington in 1963. It rides "the bus" with a group from San Francisco and joins the people from everywhere as they arrive in D.C. and marches with them. The national celebrities are nowhere to be seen. The speakers on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial are neither seen nor mentioned. The People made that march and it is The People that fill this film -- the people who were the real makers of "The Movement". See this film for a look at history's real protagonists.

O.K. The "schoolpaper" rules of this site want more lines. So, I'll tell you a few highlight scenes. Along the way the San Francisco people meet 2 southern activists also on their way to D.C. and get a first-hand account of what it's like to work for Civil Rights in Alabama. They also meet a local white resident in the rural midwest and have dialog with him. Their white bus driver is a typical decent but ill-informed worker of the time. One of the passengers tells of being segregated on the train home from his WWII discharge and of fleeing for his life from a race riot in D.C.

The only problem with this film is that you probably can't find a copy. It's high time a commercial DVD release was undertaken.