The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till (2005)

Never-before-seen testimony is included in this documentary on Emmett Louis Till, who, in 1955, was brutally murdered after he whistled at a white woman.

Director:

Keith Beauchamp (as Keith A. Beauchamp)

Stars:

Mamie Till, Wheeler Parker, Simeon Wright

3 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mamie Till	...	Herself (as Mamie Till Mobley)
Wheeler Parker	...	Himself (as Rev. Wheeler Parker)
Simeon Wright	...	Himself
Ruthie Mae Crawford	...	Herself
Al Sharpton	...	Himself
Charles Evers	...	Himself
Raymond Lockett	...	Himself (as Dr. Raymond Lockett)
Roosevelt Crawford	...	Himself
Mose Wright	...	Himself (archive footage)
Roy Bryant	...	Himself (archive footage)
J.W. Milam	...	Himself (archive footage)
Willie Reed	...	Himself
Mary Johnson	...	Herself
H. Clarence Strider	...	Himself (archive footage) (as Sheriff H. Clarence Strider)
George Smith	...	Himself (as Sheriff George Smith)

Storyline

Never-before-seen testimony is included in this documentary on Emmett Louis Till, who, in 1955, was brutally murdered after he whistled at a white woman.

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Plot Keywords:

teenage boy | social injustice | racial tension | family tragedy | deep south | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some violent images

Details

Official Sites:

Till Freedom Come Productions, LLC

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 August 2005 (USA)

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,165, 21 August 2005, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$202,481, 19 February 2006

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Version of Till

User Reviews

Powerful documentary of a turning point in the civil rights movement

Tremendously powerful, straightforward documentary about the horrific lynching of a black teen in 1955 Mississippi for whistling at a white woman, and the pathetic lack of justice that followed. The incident itself helped launch the modern civil rights movement.

The film is mostly simple interviews with Till's surviving family and friends, and a few other witnesses to the events , interspersed with some stills and bits of news footage from the time. But a story this strong doesn't need a lot of gloss, and if the film feels almost amateurish at moments, that pales before its heartrending, infuriating, and terrifying story, made real by the memories of those who were there.

The film was responsible for re-opening a federal investigation of the crime, 50 some odd years after the fact, with the hope of finally bring some justice and closure to the noble and brave Till family, and to all African-Americans, for whom this crime represents the worst of America.

An important moment in recent history that should never be forgotten