Documentary filmmaker Sam Pollard hits a slam dunk with a two-part documentary, Bill Russell: Legend, about the NBA great. Russell wasn’t just a legend with the Boston Celtics on the court. Off the court, he was an activist in the Civil Rights movement. Russell spoke out against segregation. He joined a number of Black athletes in showing solidarity with the late Muhammad Ali when the boxer chose not to fight in the Vietnam War. The…
"Bill Russell: Legend Profiles Boston Celtics Great"Tag: Sam Pollard
MLK/FBI becomes the first feature-length documentary to really examine the FBI’s surveillance and harassment of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Freedom of Information Act can be a wonderful tool when used. In this instance, we’re allowed to see declassified files that show how longtime FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover targeted the likes of Dr. King. These files were declassified in 2017-2018 so it’s a quick production on that part. That Hoover targeted King certainly…
"New York FF 2020: MLK/FBI"
Sam Pollard’s documentary, Sammy Davis, Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me is the first major documentary to spotlight the life of the late Rat Pack member. The documentary features interviews with Billy Crystal, Norman Lear, Jerry Lewis, Whoopi Goldberg and Kim Novak, among others, including Nixon staffers such as former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. We are treated to never-before seen photos as well as numerous clips from Davis’ career. For someone such as Davis, it’s beyond crazy…
"Chicago Film Festival – Sammy Davis, Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me"