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Évocateur: The Morton Downey Jr. Movie

  • 20122012
  • RR
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
999
YOUR RATING
Évocateur: The Morton Downey Jr. Movie (2012)
Long before Bill O'Reilly and Glenn Beck, Morton Downey, Jr., was tearing up the talk-show format with his divisive populism. Between the fistfights, rabid audience, and Mort's cigarette smoke always in your face, "The Morton Downey Jr. Show" was billed as 3-D television, "rock and roll without the music." Évocateur meditates on the hysteria that ended the '80s and ultimately its most notorious agitator.
Play trailer2:14
1 Video
7 Photos
DocumentaryBiography
Before entire networks were built on populist personalities; before reality morphed into a TV genre; the masses fixated on a single, sociopathic star: controversial talk-show host Morton Dow... Read allBefore entire networks were built on populist personalities; before reality morphed into a TV genre; the masses fixated on a single, sociopathic star: controversial talk-show host Morton Downey, Jr.Before entire networks were built on populist personalities; before reality morphed into a TV genre; the masses fixated on a single, sociopathic star: controversial talk-show host Morton Downey, Jr.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
999
YOUR RATING
    • Seth Kramer
    • Daniel A. Miller
    • Jeremy Newberger
    • Daniel A. Miller
    • Chip Miller(contributing writer)
  • Stars
    • Morton Downey Jr.(archive footage)
    • Glenn Beck
    • Victoria Jackson
    • Seth Kramer
    • Daniel A. Miller
    • Jeremy Newberger
    • Daniel A. Miller
    • Chip Miller(contributing writer)
  • Stars
    • Morton Downey Jr.(archive footage)
    • Glenn Beck
    • Victoria Jackson
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 10User reviews
    • 31Critic reviews
    • 70Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos1

    Theatrical Version
    Trailer 2:14
    Watch Theatrical Version

    Photos7

    Morton Downey Jr. and Al Sharpton in Évocateur: The Morton Downey Jr. Movie (2012)
    Sally Jessy Raphael in Évocateur: The Morton Downey Jr. Movie (2012)
    Curtis Sliwa and Herman Cain in Évocateur: The Morton Downey Jr. Movie (2012)
    Morton Downey Jr. in Évocateur: The Morton Downey Jr. Movie (2012)
    Morton Downey Jr. in Évocateur: The Morton Downey Jr. Movie (2012)
    Jeremy Newberger, Seth Kramer, and Daniel A. Miller in Évocateur: The Morton Downey Jr. Movie (2012)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Morton Downey Jr.
    Morton Downey Jr.
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    Glenn Beck
    Glenn Beck
    • Self - TV Host
    Victoria Jackson
    Victoria Jackson
    • Self - Comedian
    Bob Pittman
    • Self - MTV Founder & Media Mogul
    Joe Pyne
    • Self - TV Host
    • (archive footage)
    Joshua D. Rothman
    • Self - History Professor & Fan
    Michael Rosen
    • Self - Advertising Executive & Fan
    Pat Buchanan
    Pat Buchanan
    • Self - Conservative Commentator
    Ron Paul
    Ron Paul
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    Joey Reynolds
    • Self - Radio Host & Friend
    Peter Goldsmith
    • Self - Senior Producer
    Thomas DiBenedetto
    • Self - Business Owner & Fan
    Jim Langan
    • Self - Writer
    Richard Bey
    Richard Bey
    • Self - TV Host
    Sally Jessy Raphael
    Sally Jessy Raphael
    • Self - TV Host
    Lyndon LaRouche
    • Self - Guest
    • (archive footage)
    Chris Elliott
    Chris Elliott
    • Self - Comedian & Fan
    Angi Metler
    • Self - Guest
    • (archive footage)
      • Seth Kramer
      • Daniel A. Miller
      • Jeremy Newberger
      • Daniel A. Miller
      • Chip Miller(contributing writer)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Al Sharpton was approached to be interviewed in this documentary, but turned said offer down.
    • Connections
      Features Syncopation (1929)
    • Soundtracks
      Hey There Mr. Dealer
      Written by Lloyd Schoonmaker

      Performed by Morton Downey Jr.

      Courtesy of Compose Records

    User reviews10

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    A Decent Doc about the Father of Shock-Talk
    Before reality television allowed just about anybody to say just about anything in front of just about any audience AND before polarizing radio/television personalities such as Howard Stern, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Bill Maher and Sean Hannity proved there is an audience that craves shock-talk when it involves putting-down and insulting others, the world had one person who did this on a regular basis and who was actually different than all who followed as he was an honest, equal-opportunity offender who spoke his mind and was not earning tens of millions of dollars from corporate sponsors by manipulating those dumber than himself to believe everything he said. Yes, sorry, but if the shoe fits one's left OR right foot ... wear it.

    Morton Downey Jr. was a foul-mouthed, bug-eyed, chain-smoking hothead who had hoped to follow in his father's footsteps as a crooner; but as the intelligent man's talent wasn't in music he found a place for himself on television as a host of a short-lived yet notorious and controversial talk show that bore his name -- The Morton Downey, Jr. Show -- that aired in syndication from 1987 to 1989.

    It was called "3-D television" by some because of the numerous quasi-violent outbursts -- flinging chairs! fistfights! shouting matches! -- that occurred on the show between the verbally volatile frequent and not-so-frequent guests such as Rev. Al Sharpton, Gloria Allred, Pat Buchanan, Ron Paul, Curtis Sliwa, Allen Dershowitz and some (ignorant) random klansmen. His show was also described as "rock and roll without the music" because of its attitude, pacing and aggressive format. Downey Jr. was "in your face" and rarely apologized and always had an opinion which turned off plenty of viewers although it revolutionized the television format/genre. It could be compared to Jerry Springer; but Downey Jr. emphasized politics and race and hot-button issues and did not openly embrace trashy topics like promiscuous married bed-hoppers or naughty male nurses or stripper mothers. He believed his show was important.

    Downey Jr. had a very quick rise to his infamous fame but also had a very fast fall as a stunt of his backfired and he lost much support. Evocateur is at its best when it showcases the man's career rise and fall but also provides a bit of touching, human reality by including the man's late health scare and battle with lung cancer (he claimed to have smoked upwards of 3 packs a day at the height of his career and he openly chronicled much of his early cancer battle with various television audiences). The doc falters a bit when it mentions his late-life love story with his third wife that wasn't necessary for the film but perhaps the filmmakers wanted to show he had a heart and was capable of loving another.

    His show aired in the late 80's and I remember it being on and hearing some of his more shocking claims ... that probably are not as shocking to an audience today as they once were. Evocatuer is an adequate tribute to a man who did revolutionize television even if the man never knew to what extent.

    Without doubt, he did take things too far but he did speak his mind openly and honestly which is more than can be said about so many that have followed him and are doing so for larger paychecks (as it has become ALL about the $).
    helpful•6
    2
    • twilliams76
    • Nov 1, 2013

    Details

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    • Release date
      • April 21, 2012 (United States)
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official Facebook
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Secaucus, New Jersey, USA
    • Production company
      • Ironbound Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 30 minutes
      • Color

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