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The People Speak (film)

February 11, 2024

The People Speak is a 2009 American documentary feature film that uses dramatic and musical performances of the letters, diaries, and speeches of everyday Americans. The film gives voice to those who, by insisting on equality and justice, spoke up for social change throughout U.S. history and also illustrates the relevance of this to today's society.

The People Speak
DVD cover
Directed byHoward Zinn
Chris Moore
Anthony Arnove
Written byHoward Zinn
Anthony Arnove
Based on
A People's History of the United States
by
Produced by
Music byPieter A. Schlosser
Release dates
  • February 2009 (2009-02) (MoMA)
  • December 13, 2009 (2009-12-13)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The film is narrated by historian Howard Zinn and is based on his books A People's History of the United States (1980) and, with Anthony Arnove, Voices of a People's History of the United States (2004).

The People Speak was directed by Chris Moore, Arnove, and Zinn.

Production edit

The film was shot on location in Boston, in front of live audiences at Emerson's Cutler Majestic Theatre in January 2008 and at Malibu Performing Arts Center, Malibu.

Cast edit

Screenings edit

Clips from the film were screened at the Democratic National Convention in August 2008 and at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2008.[1] The movie opened MoMA's Documentary Fortnight in New York in February 2009 and was screened on April 16, 2009 at the Atlanta Film Festival.[2][3] In November 2009, the movie premiere was held at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York.

The People Speak premiered on The History Channel on Sunday, December 13, 2009.

Reviews edit

The film was well received by the critics. The Los Angeles Times described it as "Striking, exhilarating... the performances are thrilling".[4]

USA Today reported Damon as saying: "This is the perfect format for a history lesson. You’re getting the actual historical text verbatim, so there’s no spin, performed by these great actors. History is intimidating. There’s so much to know. If I could go back to college again, I would be a history major."[5] According to the newspaper, Springsteen taped at his ranch in New Jersey while Brolin was at work and Brolin said: "They ended up spending five or six hours. And I got this little card from Bruce Springsteen that said: ‘Josh, thank you so much for making my childhood dream come true. I had the greatest day of my life.’"[5]

Soundtrack edit

The People Speak soundtrack on Verve Records features Bruce Springsteen, who performs with just a guitar and harmonica in his New Jersey home recording studio, and John Legend who sings solo backed by a piano at a Boston theatre, as well as others (including Taj Mahal, Allison Moorer, The Black Crowes' Rich Robinson and X's Exene Cervenka and John Doe) at the Malibu Performing Arts Center, where they perform both vintage and recent protest-music classics.

Springsteen reprises the John Steinbeck/Woody Guthrie-inspired "The Ghost of Tom Joad" from his 1995 album of the same name; Dylan sings Guthrie's "Do Re Mi"; and two early Dylan songs "Masters Of War" and "Only A Pawn In Their Game" are performed by Eddie Vedder and Rich Robinson, respectively.

One of the best-known songs of the Great Depression, "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?", is sung by Moorer; Newman is at his piano for "Sail Away", the title track from his 1972 album; Legend performs Marvin Gaye's 1970s anthem "What's Going On"; Mahal plays "Blues With A Feeling"; and Cervenka and Doe revive X's roots rocker "See How We Are" from 1987. More recent protest songs are Fiasco's "American Terrorist", first heard on his 2006 debut album; Pink's "Dear Mr. President," heard on her album of that same year; and Browne's "The Drums Of War", which debuted on his 2008 album Time the Conqueror.

The soundtrack, on Verve Records, features new songs by Allison Moorer, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Eddie Vedder, Exene Cervenka, Jackson Browne, John Doe, John Legend, Lupe Fiasco, P!nk, Randy Newman, Rich Robinson, and Taj Mahal.

The People Speak – International edit

The People Speak UK edit

Colin Firth developed the British version of the film together with History UK and the film's US producers Anthony Arnove and Chris Moore. Like the original, the UK version draws on writings that have influenced British history and it includes performances by British screen and stage actors. Performers include Ian McKellen, Joss Stone, Saffron Burrows, Mark Strong, Celia Imrie, Noel Clarke, Sir Ben Kingsley, Mark Steel, Stephen Rea and others.

The documentary aired on History UK on October 31, 2010.

The People Speak Australia edit

The Australian version was filmed by Foxtel and The History Channel Australia on 9 July 2012 at Carriageworks in Redfern, Sydney in front of a live audience.[6] It was produced by WTFN Entertainment and directed by Phillip Tanner. It was aired on The History Channel Australia on 2 December 2012.[7]

Australian performers include Alex Dimitriades, Asher Keddie, Chris Haywood, Claudia Karvan, Dan Wyllie, David Wenham, Jack Thompson, Madeleine Madden, John Jarratt, Leah Purcell, Magda Szubanski, Rebecca Gibney, Ryan Kwanten, Sam Worthington. There were musical performances by Christine Anu, Julia Stone and Tex Perkins. Narration was by Thomas Keneally.[7]

The People Speak – Education edit

An educational version of The People Speak is in production, in association with Voices of a People's History of the United States.

References edit

  1. ^ Cieply, Michael (5 September 2008). "More Fun, Less Politics, at Toronto Film Festival". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  2. ^ "Documentary Fortnight 2009: MoMA's International Festival of Nonfiction Film and Media – MoMA". The Museum of Modern Art.
  3. ^ . atlanta.bside.com. Archived from the original on 2009-04-03.
  4. ^ McNamara, Mary (12 December 2009). "'The People Speak'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  5. ^ a b Freydkin, Donna (12 December 2009). "Josh Brolin's 'The People Speak' relates history 'verbatim'". USA Today. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  6. ^ . Foxtel. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  7. ^ a b Knox, David (4 November 2012). "Airdate: The People Speak". TV Tonight. Retrieved 2 December 2012.

External links edit

  • Official website[dead link]
  • The New York Times
  • The People Speak at The History Channel
  • The People Speak at IMDb  

February 11, 2024
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The People Speak is a 2009 American documentary feature film that uses dramatic and musical performances of the letters diaries and speeches of everyday Americans The film gives voice to those who by insisting on equality and justice spoke up for social change throughout U S history and also illustrates the relevance of this to today s society The People SpeakDVD coverDirected byHoward ZinnChris MooreAnthony ArnoveWritten byHoward ZinnAnthony ArnoveBased onA People s History of the United Statesby Howard ZinnVoices of a People s History of the United Statesby Howard ZinnAnthony ArnoveProduced byDan Abrams Ara Katz Art Spigel David G Johnson Craig Roessler Jesse Singer Carolyn Mugar Jodie Evans Max PalevskyMusic byPieter A SchlosserRelease datesFebruary 2009 2009 02 MoMA December 13 2009 2009 12 13 CountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishThe film is narrated by historian Howard Zinn and is based on his books A People s History of the United States 1980 and with Anthony Arnove Voices of a People s History of the United States 2004 The People Speak was directed by Chris Moore Arnove and Zinn Contents 1 Production 2 Cast 3 Screenings 4 Reviews 5 Soundtrack 6 The People Speak International 6 1 The People Speak UK 6 2 The People Speak Australia 7 The People Speak Education 8 References 9 External linksProduction editThe film was shot on location in Boston in front of live audiences at Emerson s Cutler Majestic Theatre in January 2008 and at Malibu Performing Arts Center Malibu Cast editAllison Moorer Benjamin Bratt Bob Dylan Bruce Springsteen Chris Robinson Christina Kirk Danny Glover Darryl D M C McDaniels David Strathairn Don Cheadle Eddie Vedder Harris Yulin Jasmine Guy John Legend Josh Brolin Kathleen Chalfant Kerry Washington Lupe Fiasco Marisa Tomei Martin Espada Matt Damon Michael Ealy Mike O Malley Morgan Freeman P nk Q orianka Kilcher Reg E Cathey Rich Robinson Rosario Dawson Sandra Oh Sean Penn Staceyann Chin Viggo Mortensen Jon Claire LeeScreenings editClips from the film were screened at the Democratic National Convention in August 2008 and at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2008 1 The movie opened MoMA s Documentary Fortnight in New York in February 2009 and was screened on April 16 2009 at the Atlanta Film Festival 2 3 In November 2009 the movie premiere was held at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York The People Speak premiered on The History Channel on Sunday December 13 2009 Reviews editThe film was well received by the critics The Los Angeles Times described it as Striking exhilarating the performances are thrilling 4 USA Today reported Damon as saying This is the perfect format for a history lesson You re getting the actual historical text verbatim so there s no spin performed by these great actors History is intimidating There s so much to know If I could go back to college again I would be a history major 5 According to the newspaper Springsteen taped at his ranch in New Jersey while Brolin was at work and Brolin said They ended up spending five or six hours And I got this little card from Bruce Springsteen that said Josh thank you so much for making my childhood dream come true I had the greatest day of my life 5 Soundtrack editThe People Speak soundtrack on Verve Records features Bruce Springsteen who performs with just a guitar and harmonica in his New Jersey home recording studio and John Legend who sings solo backed by a piano at a Boston theatre as well as others including Taj Mahal Allison Moorer The Black Crowes Rich Robinson and X s Exene Cervenka and John Doe at the Malibu Performing Arts Center where they perform both vintage and recent protest music classics Springsteen reprises the John Steinbeck Woody Guthrie inspired The Ghost of Tom Joad from his 1995 album of the same name Dylan sings Guthrie s Do Re Mi and two early Dylan songs Masters Of War and Only A Pawn In Their Game are performed by Eddie Vedder and Rich Robinson respectively One of the best known songs of the Great Depression Brother Can You Spare a Dime is sung by Moorer Newman is at his piano for Sail Away the title track from his 1972 album Legend performs Marvin Gaye s 1970s anthem What s Going On Mahal plays Blues With A Feeling and Cervenka and Doe revive X s roots rocker See How We Are from 1987 More recent protest songs are Fiasco s American Terrorist first heard on his 2006 debut album Pink s Dear Mr President heard on her album of that same year and Browne s The Drums Of War which debuted on his 2008 album Time the Conqueror The soundtrack on Verve Records features new songs by Allison Moorer Bob Dylan Bruce Springsteen Eddie Vedder Exene Cervenka Jackson Browne John Doe John Legend Lupe Fiasco P nk Randy Newman Rich Robinson and Taj Mahal The People Speak International editThe People Speak UK edit Colin Firth developed the British version of the film together with History UK and the film s US producers Anthony Arnove and Chris Moore Like the original the UK version draws on writings that have influenced British history and it includes performances by British screen and stage actors Performers include Ian McKellen Joss Stone Saffron Burrows Mark Strong Celia Imrie Noel Clarke Sir Ben Kingsley Mark Steel Stephen Rea and others The documentary aired on History UK on October 31 2010 The People Speak Australia edit The Australian version was filmed by Foxtel and The History Channel Australia on 9 July 2012 at Carriageworks in Redfern Sydney in front of a live audience 6 It was produced by WTFN Entertainment and directed by Phillip Tanner It was aired on The History Channel Australia on 2 December 2012 7 Australian performers include Alex Dimitriades Asher Keddie Chris Haywood Claudia Karvan Dan Wyllie David Wenham Jack Thompson Madeleine Madden John Jarratt Leah Purcell Magda Szubanski Rebecca Gibney Ryan Kwanten Sam Worthington There were musical performances by Christine Anu Julia Stone and Tex Perkins Narration was by Thomas Keneally 7 The People Speak Education editAn educational version of The People Speak is in production in association with Voices of a People s History of the United States References edit Cieply Michael 5 September 2008 More Fun Less Politics at Toronto Film Festival The New York Times Retrieved 6 May 2020 Documentary Fortnight 2009 MoMA s International Festival of Nonfiction Film and Media MoMA The Museum of Modern Art Atlanta Film Festival 2009 The People Speak atlanta bside com Archived from the original on 2009 04 03 McNamara Mary 12 December 2009 The People Speak Los Angeles Times Retrieved 7 May 2010 a b Freydkin Donna 12 December 2009 Josh Brolin s The People Speak relates history verbatim USA Today Retrieved 7 May 2010 The People Speak Australia s Finest Actors and Musicians Come Together Foxtel Archived from the original on 2 November 2012 Retrieved 2 December 2012 a b Knox David 4 November 2012 Airdate The People Speak TV Tonight Retrieved 2 December 2012 External links editOfficial website dead link The New York Times The People Speak at The History Channel The People Speak at IMDb nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The People Speak film amp oldid 1197347223, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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