X
  • 2015
  • Unrated
  • NHK BS1
  • 1 h 19 m
  • 2015
  • Unrated
  • NHK BS1
  • 1 h 19 m

Summary On March 8, 1971, The Citizens' Commission to Investigate the FBI, as they called themselves, broke into a small FBI office in Media, Pennsylvania, took every file, and shared them with the American public. These actions exposed COINTELPRO, the FBI's illegal surveillance program that involved the intimidation of law-abiding Americans and...

Directed By: Johanna Hamilton

Written By: Gabriel Rhodes, Johanna Hamilton

  • 2015
  • Unrated
  • NHK BS1
  • 1 h 19 m
  • 2015
  • Unrated
  • NHK BS1
  • 1 h 19 m

1971

Metascore Generally Favorable Based on 10 Critic Reviews
73
User Score Generally Favorable Based on 6 User Ratings
7.8
My Score
Hover and click to give a rating Saved

Summary On March 8, 1971, The Citizens' Commission to Investigate the FBI, as they called themselves, broke into a small FBI office in Media, Pennsylvania, took every file, and shared them with the American public. These actions exposed COINTELPRO, the FBI's illegal surveillance program that involved the intimidation of law-abiding Americans and...

Directed By: Johanna Hamilton

Written By: Gabriel Rhodes, Johanna Hamilton

Top Cast

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Bonnie Raines

Self - Citizens' Commission

John Raines

Self - Citizens' Commission

Bob Williamson

Self - Citizens' Commission

Keith Forsyth

Self - Citizens' Commission

Bill Davidon

Self - Citizens' Commission

Betty Medsger

Self - Reporter, The Washington Post

Terry Neist

Self - Former FBI Agent

Athan Theoharis

Self - Professor of History, Marquette University

J. Edgar Hoover

Self - Director of the FBI

Sanford Ungar

Self - Journalist

Ben Bradlee

Self - Executive Editor, The Washington Post

Katharine Graham

Self - Publisher, The Washington Post

George McGovern

Self - Senator, South Dakota

Bob Dole

Self - Senator, Kansas

Richard Nixon

Self - 37th President of the United States

Neil Welch

Self - Former FBI Agent

Anne Flitcraft

Self

David Kairys

Self - Civil Rights Lawyer

John J. Rooney

Self - Congressman, House Appropriations Subcommittee

Carl Stern

Self - Former NBC Reporter

View All Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 10 Critic Reviews
73
80% Positive
8 Reviews
20% Mixed
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 10 Critic Reviews
73
80% Positive
8 Reviews
20% Mixed
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
91
Feb 4, 2015
Director Johanna Hamilton should be credited for getting these faces in front of the camera, to humanize political rebellion of an early era not as some sepia-toned memory, but a story of very human individuals.
By Gabe Toro FULL REVIEW
80
Mar 12, 2015
Don't mistake a lack of flash for an absence of substance. The story told here couldn't be more significant or more timely.
By Kenneth Turan FULL REVIEW
80
Feb 4, 2015
The film offers surprisingly cogent, lived-in evocations of a period too often glossed over in impersonal, by-the-book montages.
By Ronnie Scheib FULL REVIEW
75
Feb 5, 2015
Now, in Johanna Hamilton’s fiery truth-to-power documentary, those gray-haired agitators finally step out of the shadows to explain what they did and why they did it (with the help of some slightly hokey dramatic reenactments). Their message—namely, Who will watch the watchmen? — remains as important today as it was 44 years ago.
By Chris Nashawaty FULL REVIEW
70
Feb 5, 2015
Ms. Hamilton’s straightforward documentary skillfully interweaves reminiscences by members of the group with re-enactments of the burglary.
By Stephen Holden FULL REVIEW
60
Feb 5, 2015
This is a terrific time capsule with a resonant message.
By Joe Neumaier FULL REVIEW
50
Feb 4, 2015
It’s mainly instructive in that it shows how liberals believe the end always justifies the means.
By Kyle Smith FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

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User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 6 User Ratings
7.8
100% Positive
6 Ratings
0% Mixed
0 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings

User Reviews

 View All
User Score
Generally Favorable Based on 6 User Ratings
7.8
100% Positive
6 Ratings
0% Mixed
0 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings

There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.

Details

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Production Company Fork Films, Big Mouth Productions, Motto Pictures, Candescent Films
Release Date Feb 6, 2015
Duration 1 h 19 m
Rating Unrated
Genres
Website https://www.facebook.com/1971film
View All Details

Awards

International Documentary Association
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Cinema Eye Honors Awards, US
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Full Frame Documentary Film Festival
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination

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