With All Deliberate Speed

Peter Gilbert's "With All Deliberate Speed" could have gone off in any of many interesting directions in its examination of the inadequacies of schools in America's black communities. A wonderful film could have been made about the the heroic, trailblazing efforts of the people who sparked the debate over the "seperate but equal" policies of American education and the eventual landmark case of Brown v. Board of Education. A thought-provoking movie could have been made about how, more than 50 years after the Supreme Court's ruling in that case, schools in black neighborhoods are still poorly equipped and staffed by comparison with those in white communities. A bold film could have been made about how the actions of the people involved with Brown are seemingly lost on many of today's youngsters who are benefiting from the dues paid by their ancestors. But director Peter Gilbert can't seem to decide which one of these independently interesting movies he wants to make, and the resulting picture feels like a rambling history lecture without the benefit of a central idea to keep the film focused. The information contained within "With All Deliberate Speed" is undoubtedly important, but watching the film is like reading the Cliff Notes to a great novel and missing all the richness and meaning behind the story.