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Home , Albert Hall (actor), Arnold Perl, Barry Alexander Brown, Cousin Bobby, Debi Mazar, Delroy Lindo

Online versions of the Goldenrod Handouts have color images : April 5, 2016 (XXXII:10) http://csac.buffalo.edu/goldenrodhandouts.html , (1992, 202 min)

Malcolm X (1992, 202 minutes)

Directed by Spike Lee Written by Malcolm X & Alex Haley (book "The Autobiography of Malcolm X") and Arnold Perl & Spike Lee (screenplay). And (uncredited). Produced by Spike Lee and Marvin Worth Music Cinematography Ernest R. Dickerson Film Editing Casting Production Design Wynn Thomas Art Direction Tom Warren Set Decoration Ted Glass Costume Design Ruth E. Carter Larry McCoy…Sammy Maurice Sneed…Cadillac , USA 1993 …Peg Nominated Phyllis Yvonne Stickney…Honey Best Actor in a Leading Role Scot Anthony Robinson…Daniel Best Costume Design Ruth E. Carter Sonny Jim Gaines…Cholly Joe Seneca…Toomer National Film Preservation Board, 2010 LaTanya Richardson Jackson…Lorraine …Thomas Hayer Cast Leonard L. Thomas…Leon Davis Denzel Washington…Malcolm X …Rudy …Dr. Craig Wasson…TV Host Albert Hall…Baines Bobby Seale…Speaker #1 Al Freeman Jr. … Al Sharpton…Speaker #2 Delroy Lindo…West Indian Archie …Chaplain Gill Spike Lee…Shorty Karen Allen…Miss Dunne Theresa Randle…Laura Peter Boyle…Captain Green Kate Vernon…Sophia William Kunstler…The Judge Lonette McKee…Louise Little Nelson Mandela…Soweto Teacher Tommy Hollis …Earl Little …Eulogy Performer (voice) James McDaniel…Brother Earl Ernest Thomas…Sidney Spike Lee (b. Shelton Jackson Lee on March 20, 1957, in Jean-Claude La Marre …Benjamin 2X , Georgia) moved at a very young age from pre-civil O.L. Duke…Pete rights Georgia, to , New York. Lee came from Lee—MALCOLM X—2 artistic, education-grounded Mini-Series documentary), (2006), background; his father was a jazz (2002), A Huey P. Newton Story (2001, TV Movie musician, and his mother, a documentary), The Original Kings of Comedy (2000, schoolteacher. He attended school Documentary), Pavarotti & 99 for Guatemala and in in Atlanta Kosovo (1999, TV Movie documentary), and developed his film making (1999), (1998), : HIStory on skills at . Film - Volume II (1997, Video documentary, video "They After graduating from Morehouse, Don't Care About Us"), (1996), Clockers (1995), Lee attended the Tisch School of (1994), Malcolm X (1992), (1991), Arts graduate film program. He Mo' Better (1990), (1989), made a controversial short, The Answer (1980), a (1988), She's Gotta Have It (1986), Joe's Bed- reworking of D.W. Griffith's The Birth of a Nation (1915). Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads (1983), Sarah (1981, In 1986, Spike Lee made the film, She's Gotta Have It Short), The Answer (1980, Short) and Last Hustle in (1986), a comedy about sexual relationships. The movie Brooklyn (1979, Short). was made for $175,000, and earned $7 million at the box office, which launched his career and allowed him to found Arnold Perl (b. April 14, 1914—d. December 11, 1971, his own production company, 40 Acres & a Mule age 57) briefly attended Cornell University, but did not Filmworks. His next movie was School Daze (1988), which graduate. He had written for the television series The Big was set in a historically black school, focused mostly on Story, Naked City, The Doctors and the Nurses, East the conflict between the school and the Fraternities, of Side/West Side and N.Y.P.D., which he created with David which he was a strong critic, portraying them as Susskind. Perl co-wrote the screenplay for Cotton Comes materialistic, irresponsible, and uncaring. With his School to (1970), actor Ossie Davis' film directing debut. Daze (1988) profits, Lee went on to make his landmark Perl also wrote the play Tevye and his Daughters. Perl also film, Do the Right Thing (1989), a movie based specifically wrote and directed the documentary film Malcolm X his own neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. The movie (1972). He was nominated posthumously for the Academy portrayed the racial tensions that emerge in the Bed-Stuy Award for Best Documentary Feature for his work on the neighborhood on one very hot day. The movie garnered film in 1973. Perl's script for the film was later re-written Oscar nominations for Best Original Screenplay, for Danny by Spike Lee for his 1992 film. His writing credits are: Aiello for supporting actor, and sparked a debate on racial Malcolm X (1992, screenplay), Malcolm X (1972, relations. Lee went on to produce the jazz biopic Mo' Documentary, screen adaptation) Fiddler on the Roof Better Blues (1990), the first of many Spike Lee films to (1971, adapted from Sholem Aleichem stories by special feature Denzel Washington, including tonight’s film. The arrangement with), The Sheriff (1971, TV Movie), Cotton pair would work together again on, He Got Game (1998), Comes to Harlem (1970, screenplay), N.Y.P.D. (1967- an excursion into the collegiate world showing the darker 1969, TV Series, creator - 49 episodes), Bob Hope Presents side of recruiting college athletes, as well as the 2006 film the Chrysler Theatre (1967, TV Series, 1 episode), Die Inside Man (2006). Spike Lee's role as a documentarian höhere Schule (1964, TV Movie), Espionage (TV Series) has expanded over the years, highlighted by his part in (1963, writer - 1 episode), The Doctors and the Nurses Lumière and Company (1995), the Oscar-nominated 4 (1963, TV Series, 2 episodes), Tevye and His Seven Little Girls (1997), to his Peabody Award-winning Daughters (1962, TV Movie), The World of Sholom biographical adaptation of Black Panther leader in A Huey Aleichem (1959, TV Movie), Jazz on a Summer's Day P. Newton Story (2001), through his 2005 Emmy Award- (1959, Documentary), and The Big Story (1949, TV Series, winning examination of post-Katrina New Orleans in When 2 episodes). He has also served as the producer on 3 the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (2006) and its projects, Malcolm X (1972, Documentary, associate follow-up five years later in If God Is Willing and da Creek producer), East Side/West Side (1963-1964, TV Series, Don't Rise (2010). This year he was to receive an executive producer - 7 episodes), Deadline (1959, TV Honorary Award at the Oscars, which he boycotted due to Series, producer - 30 episodes). the lack of diversity amongst nominees. Lee has directed 65 films including Chi-Raq (2015), Jerrod Carmichael: Terence Blanchard (b. March 13, 1962 in New Orleans, Love at the Store (2014, TV Special documentary), Da Louisiana). A world-renowned trumpeter/composer/band Sweet Blood of Jesus (2014), Amex Unstaged Pharrell leader and Blue Note recording artist, maybe the most Williams Live at the Apollo (2014, Video), Oldboy (2013), prolific jazz musician to ever compose for motion pictures. (2012), If God Is Willing and da Creek Blanchard was born and raised in New Orleans where he Don't Rise (2010, TV Series documentary), Passing studied with the Marsalis brothers at the famed New Strange (2009), Shark (2006, TV Series,1 episode), When Orleans Center for the Creative Arts. In 1980, he won a the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (2006, TV scholarship to Rutgers University and immediately began Lee—MALCOLM X—3 performing in the Lionel Hampton Orchestra. Two years cinematographer on 26 projects, including Our America later, he succeeded Wynton Marsalis in the legendary Jazz (2002, TV Movie), Malcolm X (1992), Cousin Bobby Messengers before forming his own influential groups. (1992, Documentary), Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll (1991, Blanchard originally began performing on Spike Lee's Documentary), Jungle Fever (1991), Law & Order (1990- soundtracks, including Mo Better Blues in which he 1991, TV Series, director of photography, 6 episodes), Mo' ghosted the trumpet for Denzel Washington. He has also Better Blues (1990), Do the Right Thing (1989), Bruce performed the trumpet for the Val Kilmer character in The Springsteen: Video Anthology 1978-1988 (1989, Video Salton Sea (2002) and along with Awadagin Pratt, documentary,video "Born in the U.S.A."), Negatives Blanchard performed the piano for the Samuel L. Jackson (1988), School Daze (1988), : Raw (1987, character in The Caveman's Valentine (2000). Blanchard Documentary), Enemy Territory (1987), Tales from the has composed for over 60 films and TV shows, some of Darkside (1984-1986, TV Series, 8 episodes), She's Gotta which are Chi-Raq (2015, music score), Katrina 10 Years Have It (1986), Desiree (1984), The Brother from Another After the Storm with Robin Roberts (2015, TV Movie), Planet (1984) and Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Black or White (2014), (2012), Bunraku (2010), Heads (1983). If God Is Willing and da Creek Don't Rise (2010, TV Series documentary, 1 episode), Cadillac Records (2008), Miracle at St. Anna (2008), Talk to Me (2007), Who the #$&% Is Jackson Pollock? (2006, Documentary), : A Requiem in Four Acts (2006, TV Mini-Series documentary), Waist Deep (2006), Inside Man (2006), Their Eyes Were Watching God (2005, TV Movie), (2004), 25th Hour (2002), Dark Blue (2002),People I Know (2002), Barbershop (2002), : All American (2002, TV Movie documentary), Glitter (2001), Original Sin (2001), Bojangles (2001, TV Movie), A Girl Thing (2001, TV Movie), The Caveman's Valentine (2001), Summer of Sam (1999), The Tempest Denzel Washington (b. December 28, 1954 in Mount (1998, TV Movie), Eve's Bayou (1997), Vernon, New York) has won two Oscars, once in 2002 for (1997, Documentary), (1996), Clockers Best Actor in a Leading Role for Training Day (2001) and (1995), Trial by Jury (1994), Crooklyn (1994), The Inkwell once in 1998 for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Glory (1994), Assault at West Point: The Court-Martial of (1989). He has been nominated four times, three for Best Johnson Whittaker (1994, TV Movie), Sugar Hill (1993), Actor in a Leading Role for Flight (2012) in 2013, The Malcolm X (1992) and Jungle Fever (1991). Hurricane (1999) in 2000, and Malcolm X (1992) in 1993. He has also been nominated once in 1998 for Best Actor in Ernest R. Dickerson (b. on June 25, 1951 in Newark, New a Supporting Role for Cry Freedom (1987). He has acted in Jersey) Graduated from Howard University in Washington, 54 films and television series including, The Equalizer 2 DC, and later met filmmaker Spike Lee while both of them (2017, announced), The Magnificent Seven (2016, filming), were attending 's Film School. The Equalizer (2014), 2 Guns (2013), Flight (2012), Safe Dickerson frequently worked on many of Lee’s early films House (2012), Unstoppable (2010), The Book of Eli before transitioning later in his career to directing for (2010), The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009), The Great television. He has also taught film classes at Howard Debaters (2007), American Gangster (2007), Deja Vu University's School of Communications. Dickerson has (2006), Inside Man (2006), The Manchurian Candidate directed 59 films and TV shows: State of Affairs (2015, TV (2004), Man on Fire (2004), Out of Time (2003), Antwone Series, 1 episode), The Walking Dead (2015, TV Series, 11 Fisher (2002), John Q (2002), Training Day (2001), episodes), Under the Dome (2014, TV Series, 1 episode), (2000), The Hurricane (1999), The Revolution (2014, TV Series, 1 episode), Treme (TV Bone Collector (1999), The Siege (1998), He Got Game Series) (6 episodes), Last Man Standing (2011,TV Movie), (1998), Fallen (1998), Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Treme Musical Performances: My Indian Red (2010,Video Every Child (1995-1997, TV Series), Mother Goose: A short), Law & Order (2009, TV Series,1 episode), The Rappin' and Rhymin' Special (1997, TV Movie), (2003-2008,TV Series, 6 episodes), Weeds (2007, TV Preacher's Wife (1996), Courage Under Fire (1996), Devil Series, 2 episodes), ER (2005-2006, TV Series, 3 in a Blue Dress (1995), Virtuosity (1995), Crimson Tide episodes), CSI: (2006, TV Series, 1 episode), The L (1995), Philadelphia (1993), The Pelican Brief (1993), Word (2005, TV Seriesm 1 episode) Ambushed (1998), (1993), Malcolm X (1992), Great Bulletproof (1996), Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight Performances (1992, TV Series), Ricochet (1991), (1995) and Juice (1992). He has worked as a Mississippi Masala (1991), Mo' Better Blues (1990), Heart Lee—MALCOLM X—4

Condition (1990), Glory (1989), The Mighty Quinn (1989), Anatomy (2006, TV Series), The Young and the Restless St. Elsewhere (1982-1988, TV Series), For Queen & (2004, TV Series), 24 (2004, TV Series), Ally McBeal Country (1988), Cry Freedom (1987), The George (1998-2002, TV Series), Ali (2001), Beloved (1998), The McKenna Story (1986, TV Movie), Power (1986), A Tiger Woods Story (1998, TV Movie), Get on the Bus Soldier's Story (1984), License to Kill (1984, TV Movie), (1996), Courage Under Fire (1996), The Great White Hype Carbon Copy (1981), Coriolanus (1979, Video), Flesh & (1996), Devil in a Blue Dress (1995), Malcolm X (1992), Blood (1979, TV Movie) and Wilma (1977, TV Movie). : The Next Generation (1989, TV Series), The He has produced six films including, The Equalizer (2014), Fabulous Baker Boys (1989), Fame (1986, TV Series), Safe House (2012), The Book of Eli (2010), Antwone Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones (1980, TV Fisher (2002), Half Past Autumn: The Life and Works of Movie), (1979), Roots: The Next Gordon Parks (2000, TV Movie documentary) and Hank Generations (1979, TV Mini-Series), Leadbelly (1976), Aaron: Chasing the Dream (1995, Documentary). He has Kojak (1975, TV Series), Sanford and Son (1975, TV directed two films, The Great Debaters (2007) and Series), Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970) and One Life to Antwone Fisher (2002). Live (1968, TV Series).

Angela Bassett (b. August 16, 1958, , New Al Freeman Jr. (b. York) has built her career around playing some of the most March 21, 1934 in San celebrated real-life, pioneering black women of the Antonio, Texas—d. twentieth century. She was Oscar-nominated and won both August 9, 2012, age 78, in the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Washington, District of Motion Picture-Comedy/Musical and the NAACP Image Columbia) was the first Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture African American to win for her star-making performance as Tina Turner/Anna Mae a Daytime Emmy Award Bullock in What's Love Got to Do with It (1993). She won for acting. His most an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting famous role was that of Actress in a Motion Picture for her work as the late-Dr. Police Captain Ed Hall in Betty Shabazz in Spike Lee's Malcolm X (1992). Has the One Life to played Muslim activist Betty Shabazz in two different Live (1968), which movies: Malcolm X (1992) and Panther (1995). Bassett has brought him the Emmy in acted in over 83 films and TV series including, American 1979. Freeman made his Horror Story (2013-2016), Chi-Raq (2015), Survivor reputation primarily in television. He debuted as a (2015), White Bird in a Blizzard (2014), Black Nativity television actor in the series Suspicion (1957) in 1958, and (2013), Olympus Has Fallen (2013), Green Lantern his soap opera debut came in 1967 in The Edge of Night (2011), Jumping the Broom (2011), Notorious (2009), (1956). He was nominated for Primetime Emmy Awards Gospel Hill (2008), Nothing But the Truth (2008), Meet the for My Sweet Charlie (1970) and for Roots: The Next Browns (2008), Meet the Robinsons (2007), Mr. 3000 Generations (1979), in which he played Malcolm X. He (2004), The Rosa Parks Story (2002, TV Movie), Music of acted in 48 films and television shows, some of which are the Heart (1999), How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998), Law & Order (1990-2004, TV Series), Down in the Delta (1995), Malcolm X (1992), The (1998), Homicide: Life on the Street (1995-1996, TV Jacksons: An American Dream (1992, TV Movie), Passion Series), Assault at West Point: The Court-Martial of Fish (1992), City of Hope (1991), (1991), Johnson Whittaker (1994, TV Movie), Malcolm X (1992), Alien Nation (1990, TV Series), Thirtysomething (1989, One Life to Live (1978-1988, TV Series), The Cosby Show TV Series), The Cosby Show (1985-1988, TV Series), F/X (1985, TV Series), Roots: The Next Generations (1979, TV (1986), and Ryan's Hope (1975, TV Series). Mini-Series), King (1978, TV Mini-Series), Kojak (1976, TV Series), Hot L Baltimore (1975, TV Series), Maude Albert Hall (b. November 10, 1937, Brighton, ) is (1974, TV Series), To Be Young, Gifted, and Black (1972, probably most famous for his role as Chief Phillips in TV Movie), Mod Squad (1972, TV Series), Castle Keep Apocalypse Now (1979). Contemporary audiences will (1969), The Detective (1968), Dutchman (1967), The probably recognize Hall as stern judge Seymour Walsh, a Defenders (1965, TV Series), Black Like Me (1964), recurring guest-role, on the David E. Kelly shows, Ally Suspicion (1958, TV Series), The Mask (1958, McBeal and . He has acted in 78 films, Short), and The Edge of Night (1956, TV Series). including Men of a Certain Age (2009-2011, TV Series), Outlaw (2010, TV Series), Days of Our Lives (2010, TV Debi Mazar (b. August 13, 1964 in , New York) Series), Not Easily Broken (2009), National Treasure: skipped college and went to work as a makeup artist in Book of Secrets (2007), ER (2006, TV Series), Grey's NYC, where she became a fixture on the 1980s downtown Lee—MALCOLM X—5 club scene , much of which can be seen in her first film Cop (2013, TV Series), (2009-2011, TV Downtown 81, which follows a day in the life of artist Series), Rabbit Hole (2010), Rain (2006), South Beach Jean-Michel Basquiat. It was doing make-up for videos (2006, TV Series), Law & Order (1996-2005, TV Series), where she befriended a then-struggling , who Law & Order: Trial by Jury (2005, TV Series), A Killer convinced Mazar to get into acting (the two remain best Within (2004), Blind Horizon (2003), 100 Centre Street friends to this day). Recently, Mazar is most known for (2001, TV Series), Ali (2001), (2000, her work as as press agent Shauna Roberts on the HBO TV Series), Nash Bridges (1996-1999, TV Series), series Entourage. She also starred on the Cooking Chanel, Homicide: Life on the Street (1998-1999, TV Series), Lulu along with her husband, Gabriele Corcos, on the show on the Bridge (1998), NYPD Blue (1996-1998, TV Series), Extra Virgin. She has acted in 96 films and TV shows, (1996, TV Series), Smoke (1995), The such as She's Funny That Way (2014), Return to Babylon Usual Suspects (1995), Seven Songs for Malcolm X (1993, (2013), Lovelace (2013), Entourage (2004-2011, TV Documentary), Malcolm X (1992), Bob Roberts (1992), Series), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2008, TV Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man (1991), Mo' Series), Be Cool (2005), NYPD Blue (2005, TV Series), Better Blues (1990), King of New York (1990), Do the CSI: Miami (2004, TV Series), Collateral (2004), Right Thing (1989), School Daze (1988), The Equalizer Deception (2003), Friends (2002, TV Series), Marry Me or (1986, TV Series), (1984-1985, TV Series), Die (1998), Frogs for Snakes (1998), Trees Lounge (1996), Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), The Cotton Club Forever (1995), Burke's Law (1995, TV Series), (1984), The Brother from Another Planet (1984), Go Tell It Bullets Over Broadway (1994), L.A. Law (1993-1994, TV on the Mountain (1984), Trading Places (1983), Running Series), Money for Nothing (1993), So I Married an Axe (1979), and Et Salammbo? (1970, Short, voice). He is also Murderer (1993), Malcolm X (1992), Singles (1992), Little the singer for the theme song on the popular kid’s show Man Tate (1991), Jungle Fever (1991), (1990) The Electric Company (1971-1977). and Downtown 81 (1981). Bobby Seale (b. October 22, 1936 in Dallas, Texas) was Giancarlo Esposito (b. April 26, 1958 in Copenhagen, co-founder of The Black Panthers along with Huey Denmark) grew up in theatrical family, thus it was perhaps Newton. Both men were heavily inspired by the teachings inevitable that young Giancarlo would appear on stage of Malcolm X created the Black Panther Party to resist sooner or later, and he did, at age 8, appearing on police brutality and the killing of blacks; using violence if Broadway as a slave child in Maggie Flynn in 1966. More necessary. In 1968, Seale wanted the public to know about Broadway work followed through the '60s and early-'70s, the formation and the history of the Black Panthers. He followed by some small roles in movies. TV work followed wrote the book, Seize the Time: The Story of the Black in the 1980s with increasingly significant parts in a string Panther Party and Huey P. Newton, later published in of high profile series until he became well established as a 1970. This book describes the evolution of the Black character player both on TV and in a number of movies. He Panthers and the continuous struggle for human liberation. came to the public's attention playing Agent Mike Seale is one of the "Chicago 8" along with Abbie Hoffman, Giardello in the TV series Homicide: Life on the Street Jerry Rubin, David Dellinger, Tom Hayden, Rennie Davis, (1993) in 1998 and since then has rarely been off our John Froines, and Lee Weiner, who were charged with screens. Recently, a audience has knows him for conspiracy and inciting to riot, in the wake of the 1968 his portrayal of “Gus” on Breaking Bad. Esposito had Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Was acted in 158 films and television series, among them are sentenced to four years in prison during the "Chicago 8" Money Monster (2016, post-production), The Jungle Book trial. After constant outbursts and verbal attacks on the (2016, completed), Once Upon a Time (2011-2016, TV judge, Seale was bound and gagged and severed from the Series), The Pills: Sempre meglio che lavorare (2016), trial earlier after his sentence. From then on, the "Chicago Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015), Poker Night 8" were known as the "Chicago 7". Seale has two acting (2014), Batman: Assault on Arkham (2014, Video), Axe credits, Malcolm X (1992) and Rude Awakening (1989). Lee—MALCOLM X—6

Al Sharpton (b. October 3, 1954 in Brooklyn, New York) Play (Barrymore), the 1977 Emmy Award for Outstanding is an American civil rights activist, Baptist minister, Lead Actor in a Limited Series (Arthur Hailey's the television/radio talk show host and a trusted White House Moneychangers (1976)) and the 1994 Emmy Award for adviser. In 2004, he was a candidate for the Democratic Outstanding Voice-Over Performance (Madeline (1989)), nomination for the U.S. presidential election. He hosts his and the 2012 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor own radio talk show, (Beginners (2010)). Plummer Keepin' It Real, and he notoriously turned down the makes regular guest role of Gandalf in Peter appearances on Fox News Jackson's Lord of the Rings (such as on The O'Reilly trilogy, and admits to Factor), CNN, and regretting that decision. The MSNBC. In 2011, he was actor also claims Jean Renoir's named the host of La Grande Illusion (1937) as MSNBC's Politics Nation, the film that has moved him to a nightly talk show. tears more often than any Sharpton has been other during his lifetime. frequently in the media for Plummer has acted in over leading protests against grand jury decisions exonerating 200 films and TV shows, some of which are Remember white policemen in the deaths of unarmed African- (2015), Pixies (2015), Danny Collins (2015), The Forger Americans in Ferguson, Missouri, and Staten Island, New (2014), Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight (2013), The Girl York. It is also speculated that Sharpton is the basis for the with the Dragon Tattoo (2011), Priest (2011), The Tempest character "Reverend Bacon" in the novel and film The (2010), 9 (2009), The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus Bonfire of the Vanities (1990). Sharpton has acted in 6 (2009), The New World (2005), Syriana (2005), National proper films and TV series: Triumph Awards (2015, TV Treasure (2004), Ararat (2002), A Beautiful Mind (2001), Movie), Madea Goes to Jail (2009), Holla (2002, TV On Golden Pond (2001, TV Movie), American Tragedy Series), Mr. Deeds (2002), Cold Feet (1999), and Malcolm (2000, TV Movie), Nuremberg (2000, TV Mini-Series), X (1992). Winchell (1998, TV Movie), Blackheart (1998), Twelve Monkeys (1995), Harrison Bergeron (1995, TV Movie), Christopher Plummer (b. December 13, 1929 in Toronto, Dolores Claiborne (1995), Malcolm X (1992), A Marriage: Ontario, Canada) likely to always be remembered as Georgia O'Keeffe and Alfred Stieglitz (1991, TV Movie), "Captain Von Trapp" in the atomic bomb-strength Where the Heart Is (1990), Nabokov on Kafka (1989, TV blockbuster The Sound of Music (1965) (a film he publicly Short),Vampire in Venice (1988), Gandahar (1988), despised until softening his stance in his 2008 Dragnet (1987), An American Tail (1986), Dreamscape autobiography In Spite of Me), his later film work includes (1984), The Thorn Birds (1983, TV Mini-Series), The such outstanding performances as Sherlock Holmes in Scarlet and the Black (1983, TV Movie), Little Gloria... Murder by Decree (1979), the chilling villain in The Silent Happy at Last (1982, TV Movie), Somewhere in Time Partner (1978), his iconoclastic Mike Wallace in The (1980), Hanover Street (1979), Murder by Decree (1979), Insider (1999), the empathetic psychiatrist in A Beautiful International Velvet (1978), The Man Who Would Be King Mind (2001), and as Leo Tolstoy in The Last Station (1975), The Day That Shook the World (1975), The Return (2009). It was this last role that finally brought him of the Pink Panther (1975), Battle of Britain (1969), Lock recognition from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Up Your Daughters! (1969), Oedipus the King (1968), The Sciences, when he was nominated as Best Actor in a Night of the Generals (1967), Inside Daisy Clover (1965), supporting role. Plummer’s first paying role was in The Sound of Music (1965), The Fall of the Roman Empire Machina Infernale (1947) by Jean Cocteau, in which he (1964), Johnny Belinda (1958, TV Movie), General worked with another young Montreal actor, William Electric Theater (1956, TV Series), Producers' Showcase Shatner. The two were reunited years later when they both (1955, TV Series), Kraft Theatre (1955, TV Series), Ponds appeared in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country Theater (1954, TV Series), Broadway Television Theatre (1991). Is one of 9 actors to have won the Triple Crown of (1953, TV Series), Suspense (1953, TV Series), Studio One Acting (an Oscar, Emmy and Tony); the others in in Hollywood (1953, TV Series), and Encounter (1953, TV chronological order are Thomas Mitchell, Melvyn Douglas, Series). , Jack Albertson, Jason Robards, , and . In 2012, he became Karen Allen (b. October 5, 1951 in Carrollton, Illinois) is the 21st performer to have received the Triple Crown of probably best known for her portrayal of the feisty heroine Acting: the 1974 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical pitted against in (Cyrano) and the 1997 Tony Award for Best Actor in a (1981). However, Allen trained in the early part of her Lee—MALCOLM X—7 career as a classical actress and enrolled at the Actors suspects in the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. Studio and with Lee Strasberg in New York. During this Perhaps his best-known case was that of the Chicago period she made several student films and directed and Seven, who were tried on charges that they conspired to acted in several plays. In 1976 she made her first film incite riots that made a tumult of the 1968 Democratic appearance in the award-winning small film, The National Convention in Chicago. Kunstlter managed to get Whidjitmaker (1976). Her first major film role came as the defendants acquitted of conspiracy, although five were "Katy" in 1978's National Lampoon's found guilty of crossing state lines with intent to riot. (1978) which became one of the biggest hits of the year, However, the lawyer’s many sharp exchanges with Judge obtained "classic" status and launched a whole host of Hoffman brought young "hot" stars. However, shortly after Animal House Mr. Kunstler a (1978) opened Karen was struck by a rare and dangerous contempt-of- eyesight condition called Kerato Conjunctivitis. Luckily, court sentence of the condition subsided and Karen could continue her 4 years 13 days. dramatic rise to the top. Lead roles in cult favorites like However, all The Wanderers (1979) and the controversial thriller convictions, Cruising (1980) followed, as did smaller parts as in Woody including Mr. Allen's (1979). However, it was her Kunstler's, were performance in Rob Cohen's A Small Circle of Friends overturned on appeal, and he spent no time in jail. Kunstler (1980), as well as her turn in Animal House (1978), that appeared in three TV shows and films: as himself for one caught the eye of a certain . Strangely, episode of the television series Law & Order in the 1994 following the huge success of Raiders of the Lost Ark episode of "White Rabbit", as a lawyer for Jim Morrison in (1981) Karen chose to spend over two years out of the The Doors (1991) and as a judge in Malcolm X (1992). In limelight - concentrating on smaller, more personal late 1995, Kunstler died in New York of heart failure at the projects. She won a major award for her performances on age of 76, where his last major public appearance was at Broadway, won critical acclaim for her creation of "Abra" the commencement ceremonies for the University at in the hugely successful ABC production of Buffalo's School of Architecture and Planning. (1981) and had parts in two smaller films: Alan Parker's Shoot the Moon (1982) and Split Image (1982) co-starring Peter Boyle (b. October 18, 1935 in Norristown, and . She also writes plays, Pennsylvania—d. December 12, 2006, age 71, in New screenplays and poetry, owns her own Astranga Yoga York City, New York) spent his early childhood in enterprise and spends time at her Berkshire Mountains Philadelphia, where his father was a sought-after local TV farm or Upper Westside Manhattan townhouse. Her acting personality and children’s show host. Boyle initially roles include Bad Hurt (2015), White Irish Drinkers considered becoming a priest, joining the Christian (2010), A Dog Year (2009), and the Brothers religious order at one point while attending La Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), Briar Patch (2003), Salle University in Philadelphia. He left the monastery Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2001, TV Series), In after only a few years when he "lost" his calling. The tall the Bedroom (2001), The Perfect Storm (2000), Falling Sky (6' 2"), hulking, prematurely bald actor wannabe struggled (1998), 'Til There Was You (1997), Law & Order (1996, through a variety of odd jobs (postal worker, waiter, TV Series), King of the Hill (1993), Malcolm X (1992), The bouncer) while simultaneously building up his credits on Turning (1992), Animal Behavior (1989), (1988), stage and waiting for that first big break. Things started Backfire (1988), (1987), Shoot the progressing for him after appearing in the national Moon (1982), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Cruising company of "The Odd Couple" in 1965 and landing TV (1980), The Wanderers (1979), Manhattan (1979), and commercials on the sly. Peter's breakout film role did not Animal House (1978). come without controversy as the hateful, hardhat-donning bigot-turned-murderer Joe (1970) in a tense, violence- William Kunstler (b. July 7, 1919 in New York City, New prone film directed by John G. Avildsen. The role led to York—d. September 4, 1995, age 76, in Manhattan, New major notoriety, however, and some daunting supporting York) was known as the gravel-voiced radical lawyer parts in T.R. Baskin (1971), Slither (1973) and as Robert whose wild hair seemed to symbolize his distrust of Redford's calculating campaign manager in The Candidate government and his kinship with unpopular people and (1972). During this time his political radicalism found a causes. Often championing of left-of-center causes dated visible platform after joining Jane Fonda and Donald from the early days of the civil rights movement and Sutherland on anti-war crusades, which would include the spanned the bitterest days of the War. One of his anti-establishment picture Steelyard Blues (1973). This early clients was the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. At the period also saw the forging of a strong friendship with time of his death, he had a role in the defense of the former Beatle John Lennon. Following a superb turn as Lee—MALCOLM X—8

Billy Bob Thornton's unrepentantly racist father in the violence. His statement from the dock received sobering Oscar-winner Monster's Ball (2001), the considerable international publicity. On June 12, 1964, remainder of his films were primarily situated in frivolous eight of the accused, including Mandela, were sentenced to comedy fare such as The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002), life imprisonment. From 1964 to 1982, he was incarcerated The Santa Clause 2 (2002), Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters at Robben Island Prison, off Cape Town; thereafter, he was Unleashed (2004), and The Santa Clause 3: The Escape at Pollsmoor Prison, nearby on the mainland. During his Clause (2006), typically playing cranky curmudgeons. years in prison, Nelson Mandela's reputation grew steadily. Perhaps his most famous late-career role is that of the gruff He was widely accepted as the most significant black and grouchy Frank Barone in Everybody Loves Raymond. leader in South Africa and became a potent symbol of He was nominated 7 times at the Primetime Emmy’s for resistance as the anti-apartheid movement gathered this role—and never won He did, however, win a strength. He consistently refused to compromise his Primetime Emmy 1996 for his guest role on The X-Files. In political position to obtain his freedom. Nelson Mandela addition to the above roles, Boyle acted in 94 films and was released on February 11, 1990. After his release, he television series including My Profile Story (2009, TV plunged himself wholeheartedly into his life's work, Movie), All Roads Lead Home (2008), Doctor Dolittle striving to attain the goals he and others had set out almost (1998), Cosby (1997, TV Series), The X-Files (1995, TV four decades earlier. Mandela won the Nobel Peace Prize Series), Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman in 1993 and the following year in the post-apartheid (1994-1995, TV Series), While You Were Sleeping (1995), election of 1994, he was elected as the first president of a Born to Be Wild (1995), NYPD Blue (1994-1995, TV democratic South Africa. Perhaps ore millions in his Series), Malcolm X (1992), Cannonball Fever (1989), The lifetime than any political figure in history have venerated Dream Team (1989), Red Heat (1988), Cagney & Lacey Nelson Mandela. (1988, TV Series), Walker (1987), Yellowbeard (1983), Hammett (1982), Outland (1981), Where the Buffalo Roam Ossie Davis (b. Raiford Chatman Davis on December 18, (1980), The Brink's Job (1978), Tail Gunner Joe (1977, TV 1917 in Cogdell, Georgia—d. February 4, 2005, age 87, in Movie), Taxi Driver (1976), Young Frankenstein (1974), Miami Beach, Florida) After serving in World War II, Crazy Joe (1974), The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973), Kid Davis embarked on an acting career that would span Blue (1973), Diary of a Mad Housewife (1970), Joe (1970), decades. He starred on Broadway and television and in The Monitors (1969), The Virgin President (1969), films. He also wrote and directed. Davis and his wife, Medium Cool (1969), and The Group (1966, uncredited). actress Ruby Dee, were prominently involved in the Civil Rights Movement. The name "Ossie" was bestowed accidentally, when a county clerk misheard his mother's pronunciation of the initials "R.C." Ossie enrolled at Howard University but dropped out in 1939 to pursue an acting career in New York City. He left New York to serve in World War II, returning in 1946. Davis modeled his career on the example of —an actor who was able to push past the stereotypical roles most frequently offered to . Like Poitier, Davis sought to bring dignity to the characters he played, including those with menial jobs or from poor background. Both Davis and Dee were civil rights activists, maintaining close relationships with Malcolm X, Jesse Jackson and Martin Luther King Jr., among others. Davis delivered a eulogy at Nelson Mandela (b. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born the funeral of Malcolm X and participated in a tribute to in Transkei, South Africa on July 18, 1918—d. December King at a New York service for the slain leader. In 1989, 5, 2013, age 95, in Houghton Estate, Johannesburg, South Davis and Dee were inducted into the NAACP Image Africa) was educated at University College of Fort Hare Awards Hall of Fame. In 1995, they received the National and the University of Witwatersrand where he studied law. Medal of Arts—the nation's highest honor conferred to an He joined the African National Congress in 1944 and was artist on behalf of the country. They were honored by the engaged in resistance against the ruling National Party's Kennedy Center in 2004. Davis acted in over 100 films and apartheid policies after 1948. He went on trial for treason TV shows, some of which are The L Word (2004-2005, TV in 1956-1961 and was acquitted in 1961. In 1963, when Series), Proud (2004), She Hate Me (2004), Baadasssss! many fellow leaders of the ANC and the Umkhonto we (2003), Deacons for Defense (2003, TV Movie), Dinosaur Sizwe were arrested, Mandela was brought to stand trial (2000), City of Angels (2000, TV Series), Cosby (1999, TV with them for plotting to overthrow the government by Series), Doctor Dolittle (1998), 12 Angry Men (1997, TV Lee—MALCOLM X—9

Movie), Home of the Brave (1996, TV Movie), I'm Not titans like Woody Allen, John Cassavetes, and Orson Rappaport (1996), Get on the Bus (1996), The Client Welles. (1994), Lincoln (1992, TV Movie), Malcolm X (1992), His films, which deal with different facets of the Gladiator (1992), Jungle Fever (1991), Joe Versus the black experience, are innovative and controversial even Volcano (1990), Do the Right Thing (1989), School Daze within the black . Spike Lee refuses to be (1988), Avenging Angel (1985), The House of God (1984), content with presenting blacks in their “acceptable” Harry & Son (1984), Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy stereotypes: noble Poitiers demonstrating simple moral 'Satchel' Paige (1981, TV Movie), Ossie and Ruby! (1980, righteousness are nowhere to be found. Lee’s characters TV Series), All God's Children (1980, TV Movie), Roots: are three-dimensional and often vulnerable to moral The Next Generations (1979, TV Mini-Series), King (1978, criticism. His first feature film, She’s Gotta Have It, dealt TV Mini-Series), Hawaii Five-O (1974, TV Series), The with black sexuality, unapologetically supporting the CBS Festival of Lively Arts for Young People (1974, TV heroine’s promiscuity. His second film, School Daze, Series), Love, American Style (1973, TV Series), Night drawing heavily upon Lee’s own experiences at Morehouse Gallery (1969, TV Series), Bonanza (1969, TV Series), College, examined the black university experience and The Outsider (1967, TV Movie), 12 O'Clock High (1966, dealt with discrimination within the black community TV Series), The Fugitive (1966, TV Series), Slattery's based on relative skin colors. His third film, Do the Right People (1965, TV Series), The Defenders (1961-1965, TV Thing, dealt with urban racial tensions and violence. His Series), Car 54, Where Are You? (1962-1963, TV Series), fourth film, Mo’ Better Blues, dealt with black jazz and its Playhouse 90 (1960, TV Series), Kraft Theatre (1955, TV milieu. His fifth film, Jungle Fever, dealt with interracial Series), The Emperor Jones (1955, TV Movie), The Joe sexual relationships and their political implications, by no Louis Story (1953), Fourteen Hours (1951), No Way Out means taking the traditional, white liberal position that love (1950). should be color blind. His sixth film, Malcolm X, attempted no less than a panoramic portrait of the entire racial struggle in the United States, as seen through the life story of the controversial activist. Not until his seventh film, Crooklyn, primarily an autobiographical family remembrance of growing up in Brooklyn, did Spike Lee take a breath to deal with a simpler subject and theme. Lee’s breakthrough feature was She’s Gotta Have It, an independent film budgeted at $175,000 and a striking box-office success: a film made by blacks for blacks which also attracted white audiences. She’s Gotta Have It reflects the sensibilities of an already sophisticated filmmaker and harkens back to the early French New Wave in its exuberant embracing of bravura techniques—intertitles, black-and-white cinematography, a sense of improvisation, characters directly addressing the camera—all wedded Charles Derry: “Spike Lee,” from The St. James Film nevertheless to serious philosophical/sociological Directors Encyclopedia. Ed. Andrew Sarris. Visible Ink, examination. The considerable comedy in She’s Gotta , 1998. Have It caused many critics to call Spike Lee the “black Woody Allen,” a label which would increasingly reveal Born Shelton Jackson Lee in Atlanta, Georgia, 20 March itself as a rather simplistic, muddle-headed approbation, 1957; son of jazz musician . Education Morehouse particularly as Lee’s career developed. (Indeed, in his College, B.A., 1979; New York University, M.A. In work’s energy, style, eclecticism, and social commitment, Filmmaking; studying with . he more resembles Martin Scorsese, a Lee mentor at the NYU film school.) Even to characterize Spike Lee as a Spike Lee is the most famous African-American to black filmmaker is to denigrate his talent, since there are have succeeded in breaking through the Hollywood today virtually no American filmmakers (except Allen) establishment to create a notable career for himself as a with the ambitiousness and talent to write, direct, and major director. What makes this all the more notable is that perform in their own films. And Lee edits as well. he is not a comedian—the one role in which Hollywood Do the Right Thing, Lee’s third full-length feature, has usually allowed blacks to excel—but a prodigious, is one of the director’s most daring and controversial creative, multifaceted talent who writes, directs, edits, and achievements, presenting one sweltering day which acts, a filmmaker who invites comparisons with American culminates in a riot in the Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn. From its first images—assailing jump cuts of a Lee—MALCOLM X—10 woman dancing frenetically to the rap “Fight the Power” stronger of the two personalities; and the film—ending as it while colored lights stylistically flash on a location ghetto does with grief—seems Spike Lee’s version of Fellini’s block upon which Lee has constructed his set—we know Amarcord. For a white audience, Crooklyn came as a we are about to witness something deeply disturbing. The revelation: the sight of black children watching cartoons, film’s sound design is incredibly dense and complex, and eating Trix cereal, playing hopscotch, and singing along the volume alarmingly high, as the film continues to assail with the Partridge family, seemed strange—because the us with tight close-ups, extreme angles, moving camera, American cinema had so rarely (if ever?) Shown a colored lights, distorting lenses, and individual scenes struggling black family so rooted in popular-culture directed like high operatic arias. iconography all Americans could relate to. Scene after Impressive, too, is the well-constructed screenplay, scene is filled with humanity, such as the little girl stealing particularly the perceptively drawn Italian family at the groceries rather than be embarrassed by using her mother’s center of the film who feel so besieged by the changing, food stamps. Crooklyn’s soundtrack, like so many other predominantly black neighborhood around them. A variety Spike Lee films, is usually cacophonous, with everyone of ethnic characters are drawn talking at once, and its sympathetically, if improvisational style unsentimentally; perhaps suggests Cassavetes or never in American cinema Scorsese. Lee’s 1995 film, has a director so accurately Clockers, which deals with presented the relationships drug dealing, disadvantage, among the American urban and the young ‘gansta,’ was underclasses. Particularly actually produced in shocking and honest is a conjunction with Scorsese, scene in which catalogs of whose own work, racial and ethnic epithets are particularly the seminal shouted directly into the Mean Streets, Lee’s work camera. The key scene in Do often recalls. the Right Thing has the Another underrated character of Mookie, played film from Lee is Jungle by Spike Lee, throwing a Fever (from 1991). Taken garbage can through a pizzeria window as a moral gesture for granted is how well the film communicates the African- which works to make the riot inevitable. The film ends American experience; more surprising is how persuasively with two quotations: one from Martin Luther King Jr., and perceptively the film communicates the Italian- eschewing violence; the other from Malcolm X, American experience, particularly working-class rationalizing violence in certain circumstances. attitudes.... Do the Right Thing was one of the most controversial films of the last twenty years. Politically The most important film in the Spike Lee oeuvre conservative commentators denounced the film, fearful it (if not his best) is probably Malcolm X—important because wo9uld incite inner-city violence. Despite widespread Lee himself campaigned for the film when it seemed it acclaim the film was snubbed at the , would be given to a white director, creating then an epic outraging certain Cannes judges; despite the accolades of with the sweep and majesty of David Lean and a clear many critics’ groups, the film was also largely snubbed by political message of black empowerment. If the film on the the Motion Picture Academy, receiving a nomination only whole seems less interesting than many of Lee’s films for Spike Lee’s screenplay and ’s (because there is less Lee there), the most typical Lee performance as the pizzeria owner. touches (such as a triumphant coda which enlists South Both Mo’ Better Blues and the much underrated African President Nelson Mandela to play himself and Crooklyn owe a lot to Spike Lee’s appreciation of music, teach young blacks about racism and their future) seem particularly as handed down to him by his father, the among the film’s most inspired and creative scenes. If musician Billy Lee. Crooklyn is by far the gentler film, more cautious and conservative, in some ways the film is presenting Lee’s and his siblings’ memories of growing up also Lee’s most ambitious: with dozens of historical with Bill Lee and his mother. Typical of Spike Lee, the reconstructions, and the biggest budget in his entire career. vision in Crooklyn is by no means a sentimental one, and Malcolm X proved definitively to fiscally conservative the father comes across as a proud, if weak, man; talented, Hollywood studio executives that an African-American if failing in his musical career; loving his children, if not director could be trusted to direct a high-budget “A film.” always strong enough to do the right thing for them. The The success of Malcolm X, coupled with the publicity mother, played masterfully by Alfre Woodard, is the machine supporting Spike Lee, helped a variety of young Lee—MALCOLM X—11 black directors—like John Singleton, the Wayans brothers, Not at all. [Pause.] The funny thing to me is when white and Mario Van Peebles—all break through into people accuse blacks, when they see somebody black mainstream Hollywood features. who’s angry, they say, “Why are you so angry?” [Laughs.] And indeed, Lee seems often to be virtually If they don’t know why black people are angry, then everywhere. On television interview shows he is called there’s no hope. I mean, it’s a miracle that black Americans upon to comment on every issue relevant to black America: are as complacent and happy-go-lucky as we are. from the O.J. Simpson verdict to and the . In Malcolm said, “Yes, I’m an bookstores, his name can be extremist. The black race in found on a variety of published America is in extremely bad books on the making of his condition. You show me a black films, books created by his own man who isn’t an extremist and public relations arm particularly I’ll show you one who needs so that others can read about the psychiatric attention.” process, become empowered, Or is dead. But I don’t think I find their own voices, and have that much anger. I don’t follow in Lee’s filmic think I’m angrier than I have a footsteps....There may be no right to be. other American filmmaker working today who is so willing You get angry on a personal to take on all comers, so politically committed to make level though—like at Cannes when you said Do the Right films which are consistently and unapologetically in-your- Thing was “robbed” of an award. face. Striking, too, is that instead of taking his inspiration It was really anger at Wim Wenders, that’s who. from other movies, as do the gaggle of Spielberg imitators, Lee takes his inspiration from real life—whether the “I have a Lousiville slugger baseball bat deep in my closet Howard Beach or Yusef Hawkins incidents, in which white with Wim Wenders’ name written on it,” is what you wrote. racists killed blacks, or his own autobiographical memories [Laughs.] I just said that. I would never hit him in the head of growing up black in Brooklyn. with a bat. What I was talking about was that it got back to As Spike Lee has become a leading commentator me that the reason Wim Wenders didn’t like the film was on the cultural scene, there has been an explosion of Lee that he considered what Mookie does [throwing a garbage scholarship, not all of it laudatory: increasing voices attack can through the window of a pizzeria and triggering a riot] Lee and his films for either homophobia, sexism, or anti- as unheroic. But the James Spader character in sex, lies, Semitism. Lee defends both his films and himself, pointing and videotape, what’s heroic about jerking off with an 8- out that because characters espouse some of these values millimeter camera? I didn’t understand that thinking. does not imply that he himself does, only that realistic [Soderbergh’s sex, lies, and videotape won the award.] portrayal of the world as it is has no place for political correctness.... Yeah, but that wasn’t a movie about heroism. I mean, that Notable also is the director’s assembly—in the wasn’t even an issue in that movie? style of Bergman and Chabrol and Woody Allen in their But why have two separate rules? prime—of a consistent stable of very talented collaborators, including his father, Bill Lee, as musical Do the Right Thing, even in its very title, sets up a moral composer, production designer Wynn Thomas, producer universe and a code, so it’s going to provoke a kind of , and cinematographer , scrutiny on the action that a movie in which things are among others. He has also used many of the same actors more relative will not. from one film to another, including , Denzel See, I never buy that shit. Because I want my shit—I mean, Washington, his sister , , Samuel L. if you’re going to critique my work use the same Jackson, Ossie Davis, and Ruby Dee, helping to create a motherfucking standards for everybody. Don’t let shit slide climate which propelled several to stardom and inspired a and call me anti-Semitic every single way and then the shit new wave of high-level attention to a variety of breakout goes by and nobody says nothing about the other stuff, African-American performers. work that’s just racist in general. from Inner Views Filmmakers in Conversation. David I was trying to say that the film itself, within its own Breskin. Da Capo Press NY 1997 universe, sets up an expectation of moral action and heroism, and— Do you feel you’re an angry person? Lee—MALCOLM X—12

All I’m saying is that they gave out twelve or thirteen But only white people want to know why he does it I spoke awards. Thirteen films got awards that at twenty-five universities last year and year and we didn’t get one. that’s al I ever got asked. “Did Mookie do the right thing?” I know you’ve complained about not receiving Oscars as well, but don’t you What do you tell them? ever feel that your work is more I feel at the time he did. Mookie is doing validated by not receiving the awards it in response to the police murdering than if you were everybody’s favorite? Radio Raheem, with the infamous I understand that. See, I’m not saying Michael Stewart choke hold, in front of that awards are validating my work, his face—also knowing this is not the saying it’s great. But if you win an first time that something like this has Academy Award, you know how much happened, nor will it be the last. What money a film makes after it wins one? people have to understand is that almost That’s it. Studios don’t spend a million every riot that’s happened here in dollars on a campaign just to get the America involving black people has award, but they know the award will happened because of some small incident bring in a lot more revenue. That’s why like that: cops killing somebody, cops I wanted it for Do the Right Thing. beating up a pregnant black woman. It’s incidents like that that have sparked riots across America. ...I’m not asking about Jewish-black relations, I’m asking And that’s all we were doing was using history. Mookie why you think Jews are more unified than black people. cannot lash out against the police, because the police were As far as America is concerned? Because I don’t think gone. As soon as Radio Raheem was dead, they threw his Jews have ever been taught to hate themselves the way ass in the back of the car and got the hell out of there so black people have. I mean that’s the whole key: self-hatred. they could make up their story. That’s not to say that Jewish people haven’t been persecuted. I’m not saying that. But they haven’t been What about attacking Sal? taught to hate themselves to the level black people have I think he likes Sal too much. For Mookie, in my mind, been. When you’re persecuted, it’s natural for people to Sal’s Pizzeria represents everything, and that’s why he come together; but when you’re also taught at the same lashed out against it. It was Mayor Koch, it was the cops— time that you’re the lowest form of life on earth, that everything. you’re subhuman, then why would you want to get together with other people like that? Who do you hate? Yourself.... That’s “the power” to him? It’s the power at the moment. But when it’s burnt down, How many people have asked you, “Does Mookie do the he’s back to square one, even worse. Look at all those right thing?” riots: black people weren’t burning downtown, they were [Laughs.] How many people are there in New York City? burning their own neighborhoods....

And what’s your answer to them? One of the disturbing things to me about the reaction to Black people never ask me that. It’s only white people. that film is that people focused on the burning of the pizzeria and not the death of Radio Raheem, and there Why’s that? might be a reason for that other than just hog-calling Because black people understood perfectly why Mookie racism. threw the garbage can through the window. No black The thing I like about Do the Right Thing, especially for person has ever asked me, “Did Mookie do the right critics, is that it was a litmus test. I think you could really thing?” Only white people. White people are like, “Oh, I tell how people thought and who they were. And if I read a like Mookie so much up to that point. He’s a nice review and all it talked about was the stupidity of burning character. Why’d he have to throw that garbage can the pizzeria, the stupidity of the violence, the looting, the through the window? Black people, there’s no question in burning, and not one mention of the murder of Radio their minds why he does that. Raheem, I knew exactly where they were coming from. Because people that write like that, who think like that, do Yeah, but why one does something and whether what one not put any value on black life, especially the life of young does is right are very different things. I know why he does black males. They put more importance on property, white- it, but– owned property.

Lee—MALCOLM X—13

he had risen to become a hero in the black community and a symbol of blacks' struggles, particularly during the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush. In the three years before the movie's release, sales of The Autobiography of Malcolm X had increased 300 percent, and four of his books saw a ninefold increase in sales between 1986 and 1991. Once Warner Bros. agreed to the project, they initially wanted Academy Award-nominated Canadian film director Norman Jewison to direct the film. Jewison, director of the seminal civil rights film In the Heat of the From Wikipedia: Night, was able to bring Denzel Washington into the Production project to play Malcolm X. Jewison and Washington Producer Marvin Worth acquired the rights to The previously worked together in the 1984 film A Soldier's Autobiography of Malcolm X in 1967. Worth had met Story. A protest erupted over the fact that a white director Malcolm X, then called "Detroit Red", as a teenager selling was slated to make the film. Spike Lee was one of the main drugs in New York. Worth was fifteen at the time, and voices of criticism; since college, he had considered a film spending time around jazz clubs in the area. As Worth adaption of The Autobiography of Malcolm X to be a dream remembers: "He was selling grass. He was sixteen or project. Lee and others felt that it was appropriate that only seventeen but looked older. He was very witty, a funny a black person should direct Malcolm X. guy, and he had this extraordinary charisma. A great After the public outcry against Jewison, Worth dancer and a great dresser. He was very good-looking, came to the conclusion that "it needed a black director at very, very tall. Girls always noticed him. He was quite a this point. It was insurmountable the other way...There's a special guy." grave responsibility here". Jewison left the project, though Early on, the production had difficulties telling the he noted he gave up the movie not because of the protest, entire story, in part due to unresolved questions but because he could not reconcile Malcolm's private and surrounding Malcolm X's assassination. In 1971, Worth public lives and was unsatisfied with Charles Fuller's made a well-received documentary, Malcolm X, which script. Lee confirmed Jewison's position, stating "If received an Academy Award nomination in that category. Norman actually thought he could do it, he would have The project remained unrealized. However, several major really fought me. But he bowed out gracefully". Jewison entertainers were attached to it at various times, including and Denzel Washington would reunite several years later , Eddie Murphy, and director . for The Hurricane, in which Washington played Screenplay imprisoned boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, who spent In 1968, Worth commissioned a screenplay from nearly twenty years in prison for a murder he claimed he novelist James Baldwin, who was later joined by Arnold did not commit before his conviction was overturned in Perl, a screenwriter who had been a victim of McCarthy- 1985. era blacklisting. However, the screenplay took longer to Spike Lee was soon named the director, and he develop than anticipated. Perl died in 1971. made substantial changes to the script. "I'm directing this Baldwin developed his work on the screenplay into the movie and I rewrote the script, and I'm an artist and there's 1972 book One Day, When I Was Lost: A Scenario Based just no two ways around it: this film about Malcolm X is on Alex Haley's The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Baldwin going to be my vision of Malcolm X. But it's not like I'm died in 1987. Several authors attempted drafts, including sitting atop a mountain saying, 'Screw everyone, this is the David Mamet, David Bradley, Charles Fuller and Calder Malcolm I see.' I've done the research, I've talked to the Willingham. Once Spike Lee took over as director, he people who were there." rewrote the Baldwin-Perl script. Due to the revisions, the Concerns over Lee's portrayal of Malcolm X Baldwin family asked the producer to take his name off the Soon after Spike Lee was announced as the credits. Thus Malcolm X only credits Perl and Lee as the director and before its release, Malcolm X received writers and Malcolm X and Alex Haley as the authors of criticism by black nationalists and members of the United The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Front to Preserve the Legacy of Malcolm X, headed by Production difficulties poet and playwright Amiri Baraka, who were worried The production was considered controversial long about how Lee would portray Malcolm X. One protest in before filming began. The crux of the controversy was Harlem drew over 200 people. Some based their opinion on Malcolm X's inflammatory and often angry denunciation of dislike of Lee's previous films; others were concerned that whites before he undertook his hajj. He was, arguably, not he would focus on Malcolm X's life before he converted to well regarded among white citizens by and large; however, Islam. Baraka bluntly accused Spike Lee of being a Lee—MALCOLM X—14

"Buppie", stating "We will not let Malcolm X's life be is not a loan. They are not investing in the film. These are trashed to make middle-class Negroes sleep easier", black folks with some money who came to the rescue of compelling others to write the director and warn him "not the movie. As a result, this film will be my version. Not the to mess up Malcolm's life." Some, including Lee himself, bond company's version, not Warner Brothers'. I will do noted the irony that many of the arguments they made the film the way it ought to be, and it will be over three against him mirrored those made against Norman Jewison. hours." The actions of such prominent members of the Looking back on the experience of making the film African American community giving their money helped and the pressure he faced to finish the project as Lee produce an accurate film, envisioned it. Lee jokingly stated on the Request for black DVD's audio commentary interviewers that when the film was A month before the released, he and Denzel film was released, Lee asked Washington had their that media outlets send black passports handy in case they journalists to interview him. needed to flee the country. The request proved Concerns over controversial. While it was Washington's portrayal of common practice for Malcolm X celebrities to pick Washington agreed interviewers who were to play Malcolm X while Norman Jewison was scheduled known to be sympathetic to them, it was the first time in to direct the film. Still, Lee stated he never envisioned any many years in which race had been used as a qualification. actor other than Washington in the role. Lee, who had Lee clarified that he was not barring white interviewers worked with Washington on Mo' Better Blues (1990), cited from interviewing him, but that he felt, given the subject Washington's performance as Malcolm X in an Off matter of the film, that black writers have "more insight Broadway play as superb. However, some purists noted about Malcolm than white writers."1 that Washington was far shorter and had a far darker The request was turned down by the Los Angeles complexion than the real Malcolm X, who stood 6'4" and Times, but several others agreed including Premiere had notably reddish hair and a lighter complexion (due to magazine, Vogue, Interview and Rolling Stone. The Los his very fair-skinned Grenadian-born mother's partial white Angeles Times explained they did not give writer approval. ancestry) and bore only a passing resemblance to him. The editor of Premiere noted that the request created Budget issues internal discussions that resulted in changes at the Spike Lee also encountered difficulty in securing a magazine: "Had we had a history of putting a lot of black sufficient budget. Lee told Warner Bros. and the bond writers on stories about the movie industry we'd be in a company that a budget of over US$30 million was stronger position. But we didn't. It was an interesting necessary; the studio disagreed and offered a lower challenge he laid down. It caused some personnel changes. amount. Following advice from fellow director Francis We've hired a black writer and a black editor."1 Ford Coppola, Lee got "the movie company pregnant": Filming taking the movie far enough along into actual production to Malcolm X's widow, Dr. Betty Shabazz, served as attempt to force the studio to increase the budget. The film, a consultant to the film. The Fruit of Islam, the defense arm initially budgeted at $28 million, climbed to nearly $33 of the , provided security for the movie. million. Lee contributed $2 million of his own $3 million When Denzel Washington took the role of Malcolm X in salary. Completion Bond Company, which assumed the play, When the Chickens Come Home to Roost, which financial control in January 1992, refused to approve any dealt with the relationship between Malcolm X and Elijah more expenditures; in addition, the studio and bond Muhammad, he admitted he knew little about Malcolm X company instructed Lee that the film could be no longer and had not yet read The Autobiography of Malcolm X. than two hours, fifteen minutes in length. The resulting Washington prepared by reading books and articles by and conflict caused the project to be shut down in post- about Malcolm X and went over hours of tape and film production. footage of speeches. The play opened in 1981 and earned The film was saved by the financial intervention of Washington a warm review by Frank Rich, who was at the prominent black Americans, some of whom appear in the time the chief theater critic of . Upon film: , , Michael Jordan, Magic being cast in the film, he interviewed people who knew Johnson, Janet Jackson, , and Peggy Cooper Cafritz, Malcolm X, among them Betty Shabazz and two of his founder of the School of the Arts. Their brothers. Although they had different upbringings, contributions were made as donations; as Lee noted: "This Washington tried to focus on what he had in common with Lee—MALCOLM X—15 his character: Washington was close to Malcolm X's age described the film as "one of the great screen biographies, when he was assassinated, both men were from large celebrating the sweep of an American life that bottomed families, both of their fathers were ministers, and both out in prison before its hero reinvented himself." Ebert and were raised primarily by their mothers. Martin Scorsese both ranked Malcolm X among the ten Malcolm X is the first non-documentary, and the best films of the 1990s. first American film, to be given permission to film in In 2010, Malcolm X was selected for preservation in the Mecca (or within the Haram Sharif). A second unit film United States National Film Registry by the Library of crew was hired to film in Mecca because non-Muslims, Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically such as Lee, are not allowed inside the city. Lee fought significant". very hard to get filming in Mecca but Warner Bros. initially refused to put up the money for location shooting. New Jersey was considered for filming the Mecca segments. In the end, Lee got money and permission together for filming in Mecca.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed] In addition to Nelson Mandela, the film featured cameos by Christopher Plummer (as the prison's Catholic chaplain), Peter Boyle (as a police officer), William Kunstler (as a judge), as well as activists Al Sharpton and Black Panther Party co-founder Bobby Seale (as street preachers). The film was made shortly after Mandela's 1990 release from prison and during the negotiations to end on Malcolm X (Nov. 18, 1992) apartheid in South Africa. Lee explained that he made "the Spike Lee's "Malcolm X" is one of the great screen connection between Soweto and Harlem, Nelson and biographies, celebrating the whole sweep of an American Malcolm, and what Malcolm talked about: pan-Africanism, life that began in sorrow and bottomed out on the streets trying to build these bridges between people of color. He is and in prison before its hero reinvented himself. Watching alive in children in classrooms in Harlem, in classrooms in the film, I understood more clearly how we do have the Soweto." Mandela ends the film with a quote from power to change our own lives, how fate doesn't deal all of Malcolm X himself, with Malcolm in a film clip saying the the cards. The film is inspirational and educational - and it last four words. The quote goes: "We declare our right on is also entertaining, as movies must be before they can be this earth, to be a human being, to be respected as a human anything else. being, to be given the rights of a human being, in this Its hero was born Malcolm Little. His father was a society, on this earth, in this day, which we intend to bring minister who preached the beliefs of Marcus Garvey, the into existence by any means necessary." African-American leader who taught that white America Reception would never accept black people and that their best hope Malcolm X was released in North America on lay in returning to Africa. Years later, Malcolm would also November 18, 1992. The film was critically acclaimed, and become a minister and teach a variation on this theme, but has since garnered a score of 91% on movie review first he had to go through a series of identities and aggregator .1 Denzel Washington's conversions and hard lessons of life. portrayal of Malcolm X was widely praised and he was He was victimized by violence. His father was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor. murdered, probably by the Klan, which had earlier burned Washington lost to Al Pacino (Scent of a Woman), a down the family house. His mother was unable to support decision which Lee criticized, saying "I'm not the only one her children, and Malcolm was parceled out to a foster who thinks Denzel was robbed on that one."1 Washington home. won the Silver Bear for Best Actor at the 43rd Berlin He was the brightest student in his classes but was International Film Festival.1 The movie received a number steered away from ambitious career choices by white of awards at other festivals. teachers who told him that, as a Negro, he should look for The film grossed $9,871,125 in its opening weekend and something where he could "work with his hands." One of finished third after Home Alone 2: Lost in New York ($30 his early jobs was as a Pullman porter, and then, in Harlem, million) and Bram Stoker's Dracula ($15 million). he became a numbers runner and small-time gangster. According to Box Office Mojo, the film ended its run with During that stage of his life, in the late 1940s, he was a gross of $48,169,610. known as "Detroit Red," and ran with a fast crowd - The film was widely praised upon its release. including white women who joined him for sex and Roger Ebert ranked it No. 1 on his Top 10 list for 1992 and burglaries. Arrested and convicted, he was sentenced to Lee—MALCOLM X—16 prison; the movie quotes him that he got one year for the liberal orthodoxy of the mid-1960s taught that racism in burglaries and seven years for associating with white America could be cured by legislation, that somehow the women while committing them. Prison was the best thing hopeful words in the folksongs would all come true. that happened to Red, who fell into the orbit of the Black Malcolm doubted it would be that simple. Muslim movement of Elijah Muhammad and learned self- Yet he was not the monolithic ideologue of his respect. public image, and one of the important achievements of The movie then follows Malcolm as he sheds his Lee's film is the way he brings us along with Malcolm, so last name - the legacy, the Muslims preached, of that anyone, black or white, will be able to understand the slaveowners - and becomes a fiery street-corner preacher progression of his thinking. Lee's films always have an who quickly rises until he is the most charismatic figure in underlying fairness, an objectivity that is sometimes the Black Muslims, teaching that whites are the devil and overlooked. A revealing scene in "Malcolm X" shows that blacks must become independent and self-sufficient. Malcolm on the campus of Columbia University, where a But there was still another conversion ahead; during a young white girl tells him that her heart is in the right place pilgrimage to Mecca, he was embraced by Muslims of and that she supports his struggle. "What can I do to help?" many colors and returned to America convinced that there she asks. "Nothing," Malcolm says coldly, and walks on. were good people of peace in all races. His single word could have been the punch line for the Not long after, in 1965, he was assassinated - scene, but Lee sees more deeply, and ends the scene with probably by members of the Muslim sect he had broken the hurt on the young woman's face. There will be a time, with. later in Malcolm's life, when he will have a different This is an extraordinary life, and Spike Lee has answer to her question. told it in an extraordinary film. Like "Gandhi," the movie Romantic relationships are not Lee's strongest suit, gains force as it moves along; the early scenes could come but he has a warm, important one in "Malcolm X," between from the lives of many men, but the later scenes show a Malcolm and his wife, Betty (Angela Bassett), who great original personality coming into focus. To understand reminds her future husband that even revolutionary leaders the stages of Malcolm's life is to walk for a time in the must occasionally pause to eat and sleep. steps of many African Americans, and to glimpse where It is her sweetness and support that help him to the journey might lead. find the gentleness that got lost in Harlem and prison. Denzel Washington stands at the center of the film, Al Freeman Jr. is quietly amazing as Elijah in a performance of enormous breadth. He never seems to Muhammad, looking and sounding like the man himself be trying for an effect, and yet he is always convincing; he and walking the screenplay's tightrope between his seems as natural in an early scene, clowning through a character's importance and his flaws. Albert Hall is also railroad club car with ham sandwiches, as in a later one, effective, as the tough Muslim leader who lectures holding audiences spellbound on streetcorners, in churches, Malcolm on his self-image, who leads him by the hand into on television and at Harvard. He is as persuasive early in self-awareness, and then later grows jealous of Malcolm's the film, wearing a zoot suit and prowling the nightclubs of power within the movement. And there is a powerful two- Harlem, as later, disappearing into a throng of pilgrims to part performance by Delroy Lindo, as West Indian Archie, Mecca. Washington is a congenial, attractive actor, and so the numbers czar who first impresses Malcolm with his it is especially effective to see how he shows the anger in power and later moves him with his weakness. Malcolm, the unbending dogmatic side. Walking into "Malcolm X," I expected an angrier Accomplished storytelling Lee tells his story film than Spike Lee has made. This film is not an assault against an epic background of settings and supporting but an explanation, and it is not exclusionary; it characters (the movie is a gallery of the memorable people deliberately addresses all races in its audience. White in Malcolm's life). Working with cinematographer Ernest people, going into the film, may expect to meet a Malcolm Dickerson, Lee paints the early Harlem scenes in warm, X who will attack them, but they will find a Malcolm X sensuous colors, and then uses cold, institutional lighting whose experiences and motives make him understandable for the scenes in prison. In many of the key moments in and finally heroic. Malcolm's life as a public figure, the color photography is Reasonable viewers are likely to conclude that, intercut with a black and white, quasi-documentary style having gone through similar experiences, they might also that suggests how Malcolm's public image was being have arrived at the same place. shaped and fixed. Black viewers will not be surprised by Malcolm's That image, at the time of his death, was of a man experiences and the racism he lived through, but they may widely considered racist and dogmatic - a hatemonger, be surprised to find that he was less one-dimensional than some said. It is revealing that even Martin Luther King Jr., his image, that he was capable of self-criticism and was seen in documentary footage making a statement about developing his ideas right up until the day he died. Malcolm's death, hardly seems overcome with grief. The Lee—MALCOLM X—17

Spike Lee is not only one of the best filmmakers in own feelings, slow to ask us to wonder how others feel. America, but one of the most crucially important, because But maybe times are changing. Every Lee film is an his films address the central subject of race. He doesn't use exercise in empathy. He is not interested in congratulating sentimentality or political cliches, but shows how his the black people in his audience, or condemning the white characters live, and why. ones. He puts human beings on the screen, and asks his Empathy has been in short supply in our nation audience to walk a little while in their shoes. recently. Our leaders are quick to congratulate us on our

COMING UP IN THE SPRING 2016 BUFFALO FILM SEMINARS XXXII: APR 12 CLAIRE DENIS BEAU TRAVAIL 1999 APR 19 ARI FOLMAN WALTZ WITH BASHIR 2008 APR 26 MICHAEL HANEKE AMOUR 2012 MAY 3 TERRY GILLIAM THE FISHER KING 1991

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The Buffalo Film Seminars are presented by the State University of New York at Buffalo and the Dipson Amherst Theatre, with support from the Robert and Patricia Colby Foundation and the Buffalo News.

Lee—MALCOLM X—18

POETICS: (THE NEXT) 25 YEARS CONFERENCE: APRIL 9-10, 2016

Full Schedule: 2:00 Welcome: Cristanne Miller, Satish Tripathi, Penelope Creeley 2:15 Diane Christian/Bruce Jackson film of Creeley, Willy’s Reading 2:45 Reading by the winner of the UB Poetics/riverrun Poetry in the Community contest. 3:00 Break 3:15 The Inaugural Robert Creeley Lecture in Poetry and Poetics: Nathaniel Mackey, “Breath and Precarity” 4:30– Featured guests begin the Creeley poem reading; all are invited to read a favorite Creeley poem. 5:00 Reception in Muse Café 8:00 Community poetry reading, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Parrish Hall, 724 Delaware Avenue