The Times of Harvey Milk (1984)

This documentary, about the first openly gay politician in American history to be elected, has that rare ability to makes us happy and sad, joyous and angry, jubilant and celebratory as well as humbled and realistic. It's the story of an American triumph and an American tragedy.

Milk was a camera store owner in San Francisco who achieved political office in the late 70's. How this occurs is a good part of the film's opening. Many of Milk's old friends, which range from a teamster to a lesbian biker are interviewed for the film. Their loving and humorous recollections of the man make us care about him as well.

I won't tell Milk's story, cause the film does that so well. If there is any complaint to be lodged against the documentary, it is that it doesn't have enough for us about Milk's early life. His youth, his family, and how he became interested in politics are almost completely ignored. Also, no one whop had a relationship other than friendship with the man is interviewed leading us to wonder whether there was no one, or if so who is it and what happened to him.

But there is such a wealth of film featuring Milk to view thanks to news footage from the time that we certainly feel like we get to know the man. The collection of moments we get here are interesting and run the gamut from amusing to heartbreaking. It is a wonder that so much of this has survived. Thank God for television archives.

Milk's tale ends tragically, with his death and it's aftermath, leading us to wonder what might of been... Milk certainly had the charisma and the honest care about people to become a major political persona in the future. He may have even been the first gay president. Who knows? We never will.

Note:

Narrated by Harvey Fierstien. Directed and Edited by Robert Epstien. Narration written by Judith Coburn and Carter Wilson. Co-edited by Deborah Hoffman. Rosa Von Praunheim is credited for providing some additional footage.

The film has had to be amended some since it release. It opens with a added title card which tells it won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 1984. It closes with another title card, this one quite startling, about the fate of Milks' assassin, Dan White.

Music by Mark Isham. The song "You Make Me Feel Mighty Real" by Sylvester is also used.

For years it has been rumored that a biopic about Milk would be made. Robin Williams is just one of the many names who have been mentioned as eager to star in the film. The title would be "The Mayor of Castro Street."

Note: Review written in 1998

Report Card

Script: A+

Acting: C

Cinematography\Lighting: A

Special Effects\Make Up: A

Music: A+

Final Grade: A+