And the Band Played On

PG-13

1993

2 hr. 20 min.

Drama

LGBTQ+

List

100%

12 Reviews

Tomatometer

88%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

In 1981, epidemiologist Don Francis (Matthew Modine) learns of an increased rate of death among gay men in urban areas. The startling information leads him to begin investigating the outbreak, which is ultimately identified as AIDS. His journey finds mostly opposition from politicians and doctors, but several join him in his cause. As it becomes apparent that people have personal reasons to turn the other cheek, Francis persists. Meanwhile, the number of deaths continues to grow.

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Mr. Goodbytes J

A well-done investigative drama. Its impressively veteran cast provides a well thought-out, realistic television film, and its screenplay doesn't hold back in telling the truth about its controversial situation. Mr. Modine's Dr. Francis is the embodiment of common sense in the film-- the voice of reason and soundness. His character, of course, did exist and was an actual scientist, and did actual things in the film. However, the filmmakers also use Dr. Francis as a bridge between us, the audience, and the scientists trying to discover and develop a cost-effective method of treating the virus. One refreshing element of the film is the constant use of archive footage from news in the 1980s. It helps anchor the movie in the aesthetic of the time.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/02/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I have watched it on & off over the years I am glad HBO never got rid of it

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

robert p

An awesome movie about gays getting killed from the newly spreading aids!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

One of the most moving I have ever seen.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A story telling masterpiece. Set between the early 1970's and through parts of the 1980s, it follows the researchers who did ground breaking research on HIV. This made for TV movie is undoubtedly one of the best.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A riveting, still relevant film about the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Yes, being a film from 1993 on a script from the 80's it has a lot of doom and gloom that no longer applies today, but the film shows the sheer terror that HIV held over the gay community in North America, the homophobia that kept research from happening in the early days, and it shows what social conservatism can do to a nasty virus that has no limits or boundaries or political agenda. This is a must see for the younger generations that do not realize the battles that were waged in the past to get to where we are today. The cast is full of big names, who lent their names to a classic that would continue to tell the story for generations into the future. One lasting thing the movie shows is that health research does not always move at the pace nor for the reasons we would all like, and the movie accurately portrays the Americans avoiding the reality that HIV was discovered in France, and the first tests were developed to detect and help with the virus outside US borders. But due to politics and egos, if it wasn't for Reagan's lack of funding, it was the ego of the American medical establishment that kept success from happening in the early days. Its a remarkable journey for a virus that ravaged humanity for nearly two decades before there was any worthwhile treatment.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

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Roger Spottiswoode

Director

Matthew Modine

Dr. Don Francis

Alan Alda

Dr. Robert Gallo

Lily Tomlin

Dr. Selma Dritz

Richard Gere

The Choreographer

Steve Martin

The Brother

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Tony Scott

Variety

As a TV movie about a highly sensitive subject, overall it's a moving experience.

Oct 17, 2018

Full Review

Howard Rosenberg

Los Angeles Times

And the Band Played On adds its own snare-drum resonance to the AIDS catastrophe, beating elements of Randy Shilts' journalism into a passionate, incisive condemnation of the government's public health policy regarding this epidemic.

Jan 25, 2018

Full Review

Sheila Johnston

Independent (UK)

I enjoyed seeing A-list actors in the sort of small supporting role they would never otherwise accept. And they got the film made.

Nov 14, 2017

Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

The movie is long on virtue, but it’s naturally compelling — a cosmic murder mystery.

Rated: B

Aug 31, 2022

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 3/5

Jul 14, 2005

Full Review

Sarah Chauncey

Reel.com

No production could accurately reproduce Randy Shilts' chilling account of the early days of AIDS, but this comes close.

Rated: 4/5

Jun 6, 2004

Full Review

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Synopsis

In 1981, epidemiologist Don Francis (Matthew Modine) learns of an increased rate of death among gay men in urban areas. The startling information leads him to begin investigating the outbreak, which is ultimately identified as AIDS. His journey finds mostly opposition from politicians and doctors, but several join him in his cause. As it becomes apparent that people have personal reasons to turn the other cheek, Francis persists. Meanwhile, the number of deaths continues to grow.

Director: Roger Spottiswoode
Production Co: HBO Films
Rating: PG-13, TV-PG
Genre: Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2016
Sound Mix: Stereo

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