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Mandela

  • TV Movie
  • 1987
  • TV-14
  • 2h 15m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
251
YOUR RATING
Mandela (1987)
Drama

Nelson Mandela (1918-2013) become South Africa's first Black President, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his leadership in negotiating a bloodless revolution in that country.Nelson Mandela (1918-2013) become South Africa's first Black President, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his leadership in negotiating a bloodless revolution in that country.Nelson Mandela (1918-2013) become South Africa's first Black President, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his leadership in negotiating a bloodless revolution in that country.

  • Director
    • Philip Saville
  • Writer
    • Ronald Harwood
  • Stars
    • Danny Glover
    • Tam Mpofu
    • Priscilla Mundawarara
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    251
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Philip Saville
    • Writer
      • Ronald Harwood
    • Stars
      • Danny Glover
      • Tam Mpofu
      • Priscilla Mundawarara
    • 1User review
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 6 wins & 5 nominations total

    Photos6

    Mandela (1987)
    Mandela (1987)
    Danny Glover in Mandela (1987)
    Danny Glover in Mandela (1987)
    Mandela (1987)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Danny Glover
    Danny Glover
    • Nelson Mandela
    Tam Mpofu
    • Young Man
    Priscilla Mundawarara
    • Angry Mother
    Mike Davey
    • Police Officer
    Peter Joyce
    • Police Sergeant
    Mbuso Pityana
    • African Policeman
    Dudley Dickin
    • Minister
    Andy Nimmo
    • 1st Civil Servant
    Bryan MacKenzie
    Bryan MacKenzie
    • 2nd Civil Servant
    Julian Glover
    Julian Glover
    • Senior Police Officer
    Niel Nativel
    • Sergeant Van Niekerk
    Doug Wilson
    • Sergeant Naude
    Hans Woolfe
    • Sergeant Louw
    Warren Clarke
    Warren Clarke
    • Swanepoel
    John Matshikiza
    John Matshikiza
    • Walter Sisulu
    John Indi
    • Oliver Tambo
    Peter Cartwright
    Peter Cartwright
    • Court Judge
    John Matthews
    • Lawyer Joffe
    • Director
      • Philip Saville
    • Writer
      • Ronald Harwood
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      A TV movie for the HBO network.
    • Quotes

      South African Prime Minister D. F. Malan: [1948 opening narration; South African police raid & bulldoze a Black shantytown] Mr. Speaker, today South Africa belongs to us. Where we shall be introducing legislation to implement our policy which we call Apartheid-the separation between the races. Races will live and travel separately. Education will be separate for all groups at all levels. Native reserves will become Black homelands. Work fitting for the White man will be reserved for him and him alone. Apartheid rests on three unarguable foundations - Afrikaner Experience - OUR experience, Scientific Proof that the White man is a superior being, and Biblical Witness. Apartheid represents divine will.

    • Connections
      Featured in The 40th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1988)

    User reviews1

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Informative without the happy ending
    There are many actors who have portrayed Nelson Mandela through the years. If you want to see Danny Glover play the famous South African leader while he was still imprisoned (that's right; this movie was made in 1987), try to find a copy of the 3-hour tv-movie Mandela. There is a certain suspense lost when you go back and watch it now, because you know about the happy ending in real life. But try to put on your 1987 goggles for better appreciation of this movie.

    This does feel a little lengthy, so don't expect a PBS one-hour docudrama. You'll see Danny/Mandela age decades, with a great deal of attention paid to more than a few life events. We see his introduction to his future wife (played by Alfre Woodard), as well as their courtship and strength through the difficult years of their marriage. Both Danny and Alfre nail the difficult South African accent, and if you like their chemistry together, check them out in 1991's Grand Canyon. Some of this movie might feel like a repeat of history class, but to reiterate: remember when it was made. Just imagine how it would feel to watch a biopic of Barack Obama that was made and released in 2006. Informative, but a little anticlimactic, right? But if you like Danny Glover (and who doesn't), you can give this one a shot to see him portray one of the great leaders of our time.
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    • HotToastyRag
    • Oct 18, 2021

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 20, 1987 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Nelson Mandela
    • Filming locations
      • Zimbabwe
    • Production companies
      • HBO Pictures
      • Polymuse Productions
      • Titus Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      2 hours 15 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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