4 Little Girls (1997)

A documentary of the notorious racial terrorist bombing of an African American church during the Civil Rights Movement.

Director:

Spike Lee

Stars:

Maxine McNair, Walter Cronkite, Chris McNair

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 9 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Maxine McNair	...	Self - Mother of Denise McNair
Chris McNair	...	Self - Father of Denise McNair
Helen Pegues	...	Self - Denise's Aunt
Queen Nunn	...	Self - Neighbor of Denise McNair
Arthur Hanes Jr.	...	Self - Defense Attorney for Bob Chambliss
Howell Raines	...	Self - New York Times Editor
Harold McNair	...	Self - Denise's Uncle
Carole C. Smitherman	...	Self - Denise's Childhood Friend (as Carole C. Smitherman Esq.)
Wamo Reed Robertson	...	Self - Carole's Aunt
Dianne Braddock	...	Self - Carole's Sister
Carolyn Lee Brown	...	Self - Carole's Childhood Friend
Alpha Robertson	...	Self - Mother of Carole Robertson
Wyatt Tee Walker	...	Self - Former Executive Director of SCLC
Fred Lee Shuttlesworth	...	Self - Pres. of the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights
Florence Terrell	...	Self - School Teacher

Storyline

This film recounts the people and events leading up to the one of the most despicable hate-crimes during the height of the civil-rights movement, the bombing of the 16th Street Church in Birmingham, Alabama. In that attack, four little African-American girls lost their lives and a nation was simultaneously revolted, angered and galvanized to push the fight for equality and justice on.

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Plot Keywords:

national film registry | civil rights | civil rights movement | bombing | church | 

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Taglines:

The story of four young girls who paid the price for a nation's ignorance.

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Genres:

Documentary | History

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Certificate:

TV-14

Did You Know?

Trivia

It cost approximately $1 million to make.

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Quotes

Tommy Wrenn: I used to be afraid of Bull... until I discovered he was crazy. When I discovered he was crazy my whole attitude changed. Al Hilber was at a Trailways bus depot on the corner. Ah, they were gonna' put us in the paddy wagon and take us to jail. Al Hilber was standing next to the building like this. Bull looked over at us and said, "... hey, go over and get that blind nigga' and bring him over here.
[raucously laughing]
Tommy Wrenn: . This man was insane. He's hollering across the street, "... bring that blind ...

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Connections

Referenced in Late Night with Seth Meyers: Spike Lee/Elizabeth Warren/Rhea Seehorn (2018)

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Soundtracks

Untitled Blues
Written by Ernie Fields
Used by permission of The Ernie Fields Estate
Performed by Ernie Fields
Courtesy of Collectibles Records Corp.

User Reviews

One tight piece of work

Spike Lee has done us all a favor in the production of his documentary 4 LITTLE GIRLS, which chronicles the events around the bombing of 16th Avenue Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, on September the 15th, 1963. The families of three of the victims Denise Mcnair, Cynthia Wesley and Carole Robertson are interviewed for this film. Some information is offered up on the fourth victim, Addie Mae Collins. The history is also presented in the context of the Civil Rights movement, and several witnesses of the period- Fred Shuttlesworth, James Bevel, and Wyatt Tee Walker among others appear here.

The film also offers some coverage of the trial of Robert Chambliss as ringleader/lead conspirator in the case, which took place fourteen years later. Apparently Chambliss had a long history in the series of bombings which took place in Birmingham between 1949 and the 16th Street Bombing, which itself galvanized sections of the country in the struggle for civil rights as few events ever would. Typical of Spike Lee, some small focus is lent to the fact that violent harassment of the black church continues in this country to this day.

In summation, 4 LITTLE GIRLS offers a tight glimpse at a chapter of history whose impact is (amazingly enough) largely forgotten by all too many of our fellow citizens. And Spike Lee, in his completion of this ambitious project, has finally demonstrated the depth of his commitment to a richer representation of African American political and cultural struggle.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 July 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

4 Little Girls

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,528, 13 July 1997

Gross USA:

$130,146

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$130,146

Company Credits

Production Co:

40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, Home Box Office (HBO)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1