Academy NYC Screening to Honor
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
New York, NY – The influential words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will resonate once again as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ “Monday Nights with Oscar®” program presents a special afternoon screening of “King: A Filmed Record…Montgomery to Memphis” on Monday, January 21, at 3 p.m. at the Academy Theater in New York City. Richard Kaplan, the film’s associate producer, will participate in a pre-screening discussion.
In the 79-year history of the Academy Awards®, only 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” 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 the 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.
Nominated for an Academy Award in the Documentary Feature category, “King” uses no narration – only the speeches of Dr. King and dramatic readings that thematically bridge the sequences of actuality footage. Sidney Lumet and Joseph Mankiewicz directed the 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.
In the years since its benefit premiere, “King” 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.
“Monday Nights with Oscar” is a monthly series showcasing high-quality prints of films that have been nominated for or won Academy Awards.
Tickets for “King: A Filmed Record…Montgomery to Memphis” are $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members and students with a valid ID. Tickets may be reserved by calling 1-888-778-7575. Depending on availability, tickets may be purchased in person on the afternoon of the screening. Doors open at 2:30 p.m. All seating is unreserved.
The Academy Theater is located at 111 East 59th Street in New York City.
Editors: Downloadable images are available at http://photos.oscars.org.
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©A.M.P.A.S.®
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
8949 Wilshire Boulevard Beverly Hills, CA 90211-1972
(310) 247-3000
www.oscars.org
publicity@oscars.org
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