Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12891 in DVD
• Released on: 2009-01-26
• Rating: Exempt
• Format: PAL
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 85 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
A devastatingly skillful and emotionally compelling documentary, The Times of Harvey Milk charts the political rise and brutal slaying of the first openly gay city official in the United State, Harvey Milk. Ironically, the same election that brought Milk to the board of city supervisors of San Francisco also elected the man who killed him, a former police officer and fireman named Dan White. After White shot both Mayor George Moscone and Milk, his defense lawyers convinced the jury that White's judgment was impaired by depression and junk food, resulting in a conviction for manslaughter instead of murder, a verdict that prompted riots. With care and conviction, The Times of Harvey Milk captures not only Milk himself, but also the political and social landscape in which these events took place. The interviews, with friends, politicians, and journalists are articulate and heartfelt, expressing the impact that Milk had upon this historical moment. --Bret Fetzer

DVD Description
Winner of the 1984 Academy Award for best documentary, this is the moving and ultimately life-affirming portrait of the first openly gay man elected to political office in California.
In 1978, Harvey Milk was elected to the San Francisco city council, becoming the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in California. One year later, he and Mayor George Moscone were shot and killed by Milk’s fellow council member, former police officer Dan White. The Times of Harvey Milk recreates the tumultuous story of Milk’s grass-roots political organizing and election, through the shocking murders and their repercussions—from the eloquent candle-light memorial joined by tens of thousands of San Franciscans on the evening of the assassinations, to the angry mobs who stormed City Hall in the aftermath of the lenient sentence White received at his murder trial.

Review
Brilliant and gripping --Los Angeles Times

Customer Reviews

Classic documentary of the life of a gay hero
Gay rights campaigner Harvey Milk became San Francisco City Council's first openly gay man elected to public office in 1978. Soon afterwards he was shot dead by fellow councillor and demented homophobe Dan White. This documentary was doing the rounds in UK cinemas in 1985 and it chronicles Milk's life with heart warming comments from his friends, fellow workers and people that knew him closely. This is a fitting tribute to one of my all time heroes.

Great
Thought provoking- I was so moved by the Gus Van Sant's film 'Milk' that I immediately went out to buy this which I heard was the inspiration and I was really taken by it- this is a moving tribute to the legendary political figure and great man, Harvey Milk. The recording of Dan White's confession was chilling and emotional, as were the selected clips of Harvey's public appearences. I really reccommend this documentary- it's interesting and factual and explained a lot of what (I decided afterwards) I needed to know.

this didnt piggyback it was an inspiration
Milk is a great film with oustanding performances but it rightly credits this award winning documentary at the top of its credits. Credit where credit is due......