Point of Order

Released Jan 14, 1964

1h 37m

Documentary

List

100%

Tomatometer

6 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

Leftist filmmaker Emile de Antonio compiled this documentary out of 187 hours' worth of kinescopes recorded during the 1954 Senate Army-McCarthy Hearings. Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin, previously an obscure lawmaker of little importance, had risen to public notice due to his unfounded charges of Communist influence in all levels of government, including the United States Army. Presented without narration, the film shows both McCarthy and his claims crumbling under scrutiny.

Vincent Canby

Variety

In a film of its kind, it's difficult to to know where the praise should go, but certainly, in addition to de Antonio and Talbot, to editor Robert Duncan and editorial consultants David Bazelon and Richard: Rovere.

Mar 18, 2024

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Paul Taylor

Time Out

de Antonio's debut feature is perhaps the purest expression of his analytical approach to documentary and the 'media-event'.

Jun 24, 2006

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TIME Staff

TIME Magazine

The Army-McCarthy hearings were superb political theater. In this fascinating film, a 97-minute précis of what television audiences saw at the time, the theater is heightened by intelligent and impartial editing.

Jan 14, 2006

Full Review

Judith Crist

New York Herald Tribune

Point of Order! is not only a testament to the ultimate -- albeit belated -- triumph of democratic decency over demagoguery -- but also a grim reminder of what had happened here.

Mar 18, 2024

Full Review

Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

The editing is adroit and impartial and the results are hypnotically absorbing.

Oct 21, 2019

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Audience Member

A fascinating look into McCarthy's power.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

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Audience Member

klassic poly doc-not me cup.....

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

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Audience Member

How do you show exactly how cruel and self serving Joseph McCarthy was as a Senator? In his own words and without commentary. 50 years later and it still sickens me.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Duplicate entry in Flixster database. Same film as "Point of Order" Flixster database # 770934156. There's 17 reviews for this film over there. I reported the incorrect info. Someone punched off all the backlog one morning (to get rid of it without doing the work). So I got an email back saying it was fixed. But as you can see for yourself, they're both still here. .

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

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Audience Member

I know I am supposed to think Salesman is the best documentary of the 1960s, but this one is so so so incredible. The McCarthy meltdown is beyond belief.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

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Emile de Antonio

Director

Roy M. Cohn

Himself (archive footage)

Joseph McCarthy

Himself (archive footage)

Joseph N. Welch

Himself (archive footage)

Emile de Antonio

Writer

Robert Duncan

Writer

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Synopsis

Leftist filmmaker Emile de Antonio compiled this documentary out of 187 hours' worth of kinescopes recorded during the 1954 Senate Army-McCarthy Hearings. Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin, previously an obscure lawmaker of little importance, had risen to public notice due to his unfounded charges of Communist influence in all levels of government, including the United States Army. Presented without narration, the film shows both McCarthy and his claims crumbling under scrutiny.

Director: Emile de Antonio
Producer: Daniel Talbot, Emile de Antonio
Screenwriter: Emile de Antonio, Robert Duncan
Distributor: Continental Distributing Inc.
Production Co: Point Films
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 14, 1964, Limited
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 35mm