King [DVD]

Having enjoyed watching the movie  Malcolm X  with Denzel Washington in the title role, I wondered if a movie had been made about the other major figure in the civil-rights/human-rights movement of the 1950s & '60s, Dr Martin Luther King Jr. I searched Amazon's DVD section for him, & sure enough, there was a movie--with Paul Winfield playing the title role. Although the movie itself was made in 1978, the DVD's copyright year is this very year, 2005. The DVD bonus material includes interviews of Ossie Davis, who knew & admired both MLK & MX, as well as played Daddy King in the movie. I was amazed to learn that Al Freeman Jr (who played Elijah Muhammad in the MX movie) also played one of MLK's colleagues in the MLK movie, & that all 4 of the real King children (Yolanda, Martin III, Dexter & Bernice) played other characters in the movie.Among the differences between the movie & the facts is that the church bombing in which the 4 girls died actually happened after, instead of before, MLK's "I Have A Dream" speech. Also, the funeral scene shows 4 caskets, whereas in real life one family opted for a separate funeral. As for the meeting between MLK & MX, it happened in Washington DC surrounded by reporters & photographers, not in Chicago behind a closed door; in fact, MX had already been killed by the time MLK went to Chicago. And of course, the names of a few characters were changed.All in all, it's a wonderful movie, with 3 parts lasting about an hour & a half each. Now that I have DVDs of both MLK & MX, I keep them side by side in front of the rest of my DVD collection.

This movie had a profound impact on white me! I thought Paul Winfield did an excellent job as Dr. King. I have read that "CASTING" is the key to any great movie, and in this case it was outstanding! Cicely Tyson was superb as Coretta. I could not stop crying through most of the movie. It was fascinating seeing Dr. King's daughter, Yolanda, playing Rosa Parks during the Montgomery bus boycott. I was also fascinated by seeing Dr. King's sister, Christine, singing a solo during one of the church services. Dr. King's son, MLK III was supposedly in the movie, too. Could you imagine if our first BLACK President of the United States had been Dr. King, or even his son, MLK III???? Would white and black American soldiers be killing hated Muslims by the millions? My how we refuse to learn from the history portrayed in this movie! And, how many years after the Civil War did the Civil Rights movement take place? How many of you readers know that Dr. King's Mother, Mama King, was shot and killed on 06/30/74 while playing the organ during Sunday service at Ebenezer Baptist Church? What profound sacrifices this loving family has made for every human on this troubled planet! Thank you, Amazon, for making this very special movie available....

Besides Movies like JFK(1991.) MALCOLM X (1992.) KING MOVIE That I've seen years ago ALOT on TV when I was coming up. very tense but One of the best Movies of History times.

If you're looking for a detailed review, look elsewhere. This IS an important, well done three part "docu-drama" that is well acted.This review is added solely to point out that the "extras" are deplorably skimpy. The mini-"documentaries" aren't worth a lot (though what Ossie Davis has to say is interesting). One of the most significant figures in modern American history and we get this? The film itself deserves 5 stars. One star is deducted because this DVD could and should have been a far more profound teaching tool about King, the Civil Rights Movement and not only where we've come from but where we need to go from here.

Movie was very good and was shipped in a reasonable amount of time.

Long before "Selma" there was "King". This mini-series used to come on every year during Black History Month when I was a little girl. That was the only time the networks would air it on TV. (This was before cable) Paul Winfield as King is fantastic!! Other black actors such as Howard E. Rollins, Ossie Davis, Ernie Hudson, Terry Alexander, Al Freeman Jr., all appear in this film as well as three of King's children. They don't play themselves, but none the less they do appear. Directed By Abby Mann, this film is a must have in your DVD collection.

This movie is obsolete which was a major find which is the theme ofAmazon...

I loved this movie,the late actor Paul Winfield played Dr King to perfection. He captured his essence and life.he moved me.this movie was moving and powerful. The late Ossie Davis convincingly played his father Martin sr. If you looked up Martin St photo n Ossie Davis's as the father they have an uncanny resemblance. Cicely Tyson played Coretta beautifully although I hated lightening of her skin by make up.this should have been in movie theaters it deserves an Oscar

3 part tv miniseries form the late 70’s about the rise of Martin Luther King jr. Well rounded preformances.My favourite part was the meeting between King and Malcom X. One who preached love and peace. The other who preached hate and violence.

One of the great mini series of it's day and still stands the test of time. have my own copy last year and I ordered another one this month from ImportCD and received the wrong DVD so I'm still in negotiation to get that resolved. Paul Winfield is flawless, the speeches are perfect.

excellant