“Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time…”
-  Martin Luther King, Jr., Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, December 10, 1964

In the 79-year history of the Academy Awards, three Awards ceremonies have been postponed.  One of those instances followed the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on April 4, 1968. 

Nearly two years later, on March 24, 1970, King: A Filmed Record…Montgomery to Memphis premiered as a one-time screening event to benefit the Martin Luther King, Jr. Special Fund.  Conceived by producer Ely Landau with associate producer Richard Kaplan, the visual content of this epic three-hour documentary consists only of newsreel and other period footage, from the Montgomery bus boycott of 1955 through the assassination of the civil rights leader in 1968. 

The documentary uses no narration – only the speeches of Dr. King and dramatic readings that thematically bridge the sequences of actuality footage.  The voice performances of such luminaries as Harry Belafonte, Ruby Dee, Ben Gazzara, Charlton Heston, James Earl Jones, Burt Lancaster, Paul Newman, Anthony Quinn, Clarence Williams III, and Joanne Woodward were directed by Sidney Lumet and Joseph Mankiewicz.  

In the years since its benefit premiere, King: A Filmed Record was shortened for the occasional television broadcast and a videocassette release.  This special afternoon presentation in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day returns the original full-length theatrical version to the big screen.  The rare, pristine print is from the collection of the Academy Film Archive.  Commonwealth United Corporation.  1970.  35mm.  Black and white.  185 mins.

Academy Award® nominee: Documentary Feature (Landau, producer)