The Murder of Fred Hampton
The Murder of Fred Hampton | |
---|---|
Directed by | Howard Alk |
Produced by | Mike Gray |
Starring | Fred Hampton Rennie Davis Edward Hanrahan Bobby Rush |
Cinematography | Howard Alk Mike Gray |
Edited by | Howard Alk John Mason |
Distributed by | Facets Multi-Media Chicago Film Group, MGA Inc |
Release date |
|
Running time | 88 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
The Murder of Fred Hampton is a 1971 American
When they learned of Hampton's death, filmmakers Howard Alk and Mike Gray, director and producer, respectively, went to his apartment, which was still unsecured. They took film footage of the crime scene. They later used this to challenge news reports and police testimony about the events. They also conducted investigative reporting into Hampton's death, with related material included in the film. Their conclusion is expressed in the title.
In 2021, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".[3]
Synopsis
The documentary is split into two parts: a portrait of Fred Hampton and an investigative report into his death in the police raid. Through re-enactments, evidence from the scene, and interviews, the documentary argues that Hampton was murdered, in an assassination by the Chicago police.[4]
Cast
- Fred Hampton
- Rennie Davis
- Edward Hanrahan, Cook's County State's Attorney
- Don Matuson
- Bobby Rush
Release
The film was released in
Reception
In retrospective reviews in the early 21st century, David Walker of DVD Talk rated it 4.5/5 stars and wrote,
"As a documentary, The Murder of Fred Hampton serves as a lasting memorial to Hampton's great legacy and tragic killing. Equally important, the film is an example of the power of independent media in providing the truth, when much of the mainstream media simply chooses to recycle the information they are given without digging beneath the surface."[5]
See also
References
- ^ a b Ebert, Roger (1971-10-11). "Interview with Mike Gray". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved 2014-01-04.
- ^ Gray, Mike. "Mike Gray - The Murder of Fred Hampton". Mike-Gray.org. Retrieved 2008-09-25.
- ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (December 14, 2021). "National Film Registry Adds Return Of The Jedi, Fellowship Of The Ring, Strangers On A Train, Sounder, WALL-E & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
- ^ "The Murder of Fred Hampton - Forum 50 2020". www.berlinale.de. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
- ^ Walker, David (2007-05-29). "The Murder of Fred Hampton". DVD Talk. Retrieved 2014-01-04.
- ^ Ebert, Roger (2008-08-21). "Looking back at 1968, through a lens". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved 2013-01-04.
- ^ Weiler, A. H. (1971-10-05). "The Murder of Fred Hampton (1971)". The New York Times. Retrieved 2014-01-04.
- Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 2014-01-04.
- ^ Murray, Noel (2007-06-06). "American Revolution 2 / The Murder of Fred Hampton". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2014-01-04.