In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech at the 1963 March on Washington, All Saints Cinema will show a documentary.
The Oscar-nominated film, “King: A Filmed Record … Montgomery to Memphis,” uses original newsreel of King’s speeches, protests, arrests and other rare footage to give an in-depth look at King’s role in the rise of the civil rights movement. It starts in 1955 Montgomery, Ala., and culminates in 1968 with King’s assassination in Memphis, Tenn.
The documentary features readings and commentary by Harry Belafonte, Ruby Dee, James Earl Jones and other noteworthy supporters. In 1999, the U.S. Library of Congress deemed it “culturally significant,” and it is preserved in the National Film Registry.
All 185 minutes of “King: A Filmed Record” were originally screened in theaters for only one night in 1970. However, a shortened version of the film has since occasionally been circulated.
But Wednesday, viewers at more than 40 venues in the country will see the film in its entirety, restored and re-mastered.
John Fraser, one of the managers of All Saints Cinema, said the cinema will show the film twice, first at 6 p.m. on Wednesday and again on Sep. 1 at 2 p.m.
“We felt like this was an anniversary worth commemorating,” he said.
After the film, the Rev. Dr. Henry Steele, who participated in the March on Washington 50 years ago at the age of 20, will speak about his experience.
“It was exciting, exhilarating; tremendously inspiring,” he said. “And it was so good to see the rallying crowd and great support that was afforded to the movement at that time.”
Steele is the son of the late Rev. Dr. Charles Kenzie Steele, a leader of the Tallahassee bus boycott and co-founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
All Saints Cinema is located at 918 Railroad Ave. Admission is $8 for the public and $5 for students and Tallahassee Film Society members. For more information about the local showings of “King: A Filmed Record … Montgomery to Memphis,” visit Tallahasseefilms.com or contact Fraser at 850-386-4404.
Credit: Kino Lorbor Inc.